Bob Denver

Overview

Born
January 9, 1935 · New Rochelle, New York, USA
Died
September 2, 2005 · Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA (complications following surgery for throat cancer)
Birth name
Robert Osborne David Denver
Nickname
- Little buddy
Height
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)

Bob Denver was attending college at Loyola-Marymount University, in Los Angeles, when he got into acting. At first, Denver wasn't sure he wanted to be an actor, but gradually gave in, deciding that's what he was going to do for a career. Before he became established, he worked as a mailman and teacher. He then got a screen test for the part of Maynard G. Krebs and to his surprise won the part. After four years on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959), Denver got his most famous part of Gilligan, in Gilligan's Island (1964). After Gilligan's three-year run ended he did a few other television shows (including the Gilligan wannabe Dusty's Trail (1973)) and Broadway plays. On September 2, 2005, he died of complications related to cancer treatment at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina. He had most recently lived in Princeton, West Virgina. He is survived by his wife Dreama Denver, and four children.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ken Severson

Denver's son, Patrick Denver played Young Gilligan in one of the episodes of Gilligan's Island (1964) during a dream sequence.
Often went out of his way to help his fellow cast members on Gilligan's Island (1964). This included trying to give Dawn Wells an equal share of publicity as Tina Louise and demanding that she and Russell Johnson be given an equal credit in the series' title sequence.
Used to work for the United States Postal Service as a postman, and as a high school teacher.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2005, his friend from the comedy series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959), actress-turned-California State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, who played boy-crazy Zelda Gilroy on the series, was granted her request that the Senate adjourn in Denver's memory.
In real life he is the exact opposite of the well-known inept and goofy characters he has portrayed on television.

[on his character Gilligan] People thank me for giving them a break from life.
[on his late Gilligan's Island (1964) co-star, Alan Hale Jr.] He was a big, lovable man who made everybody feel good. He had a great time with his life.
[on Gilligan's Island (1964)] It's silly, yes, but children laugh and adults can if they want to. It's aimed at the vast everybody.