Summer Fun: Remembering Gilligan’s Island

Bob Denver

Denver was a physical education, math, and history teacher before he landed his first acting gig as Maynard G. Krebs on the early 1960s sitcom, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, playing the titular character’s best friend. During this time he had small roles on various films on other television shows, which allowed him more exposure to public audiences. By the time his first sitcom ended, he had landed the role of Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island, which is what he is best known for to this day. He was not the producer’s first choice for the role, as producers originally offered it to Jerry Van Dyke, who turned down the role because he thought the show would not take off. Boy, was he wrong.