Summer Fun: Remembering Gilligan’s Island

Gilligan’s First Name Is Willy

When CBS gave Sherwood Schwartz the green light, he knew he had to create some iconic names for his misfit cast. Schwartz combed through the phone book to find names for his characters, which is where he came up with “Willy Gilligan.” Gilligan’s first name isn’t really said in the series, and Bob Denver swears that his characters first name is Gilligan (not his last name), but isn’t that a fabulous name for such a goofy, dim-witted, but lovable character? Schwartz stands by his assertion that Gilligan was, is and always will be Willy Gilligan.