Bob Denver, TV's Gilligan, dead at 70
Bob Denver dies
SepT 7, 2005
Bob Denver, who starred as the loveably nutty castaway Gilligan on the hit TV comedy "Gilligan's Island," has died, his agent confirmed. He was 70.
Denver died Friday at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina of complications from treatment he was receiving for cancer, his agent, Mike Eisenstadt, told the Associated Press. Denver's wife, Dreama, and his children, Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin, were with him when he died.
In April, Denver underwent cancer surgery to remove his voice box, leaving him speechless. At the time, he also was diagnosed with artery blockage and underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery in May.
Although it ran from only 1964-67, "Gilligan" has thrived in reruns. Its 98 episodes have attained a cult status, won new generations of fans and spawned a reality series.
Denver reprised his lovably dingy Gilligan character in two animated series, as well as a sci-fi version of the same concept. He even played Gilligan in an episode of "Baywatch." He starred in three telefilms based on "Gilligan": "Rescue From Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island" and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island."
Although Denver appeared in movies and onstage, his career was based in TV. In the late '70s, he made his most auspicious transition from TV, succeeding Woody Allen as the lead in Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" on Broadway.
Denver first became recognizable to TV audiences with his portrayal of the beatnik-type Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959-63). Maynard was Dobie's goofy friend who was "allergic" to work -- "What me, work?" he would shriek to Dobie's reproving father when it was suggested that Maynard do something useful. "The G. stands for Walter," he explained to queries about his middle initial.
Post-"Gilligan," Denver starred with the late Herbert Edelman in the sitcom "The Good Guys," playing cabbie Rufus Butterworth. On TV, Denver also starred in "Dusty's Trail" (1973), a "Gilligan"-style sitcom, and a Saturday morning kids' show, "Far Out Space Nuts" (1975).
Denver performed in the Phyllis Diller-starring comedy "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?" (1968), but overall his film performances were scant. He did a turn as a bongo player in "Take Her, She's Mine" (1963) and also performed in such fare as "Who's Minding the Mint?" (1967), "High School USA" (1983) and "Back to the Beach" (1987).
Denver also participated in two attempted pilot revivals of "Dobie Gillis."
Robert Denver was born Jan. 9, 1935, in New Rochelle, N.Y. He graduated from high school in Brownwood, Texas. While studying pre-law at Loyola University, he became interested in performing and joined up with the troupe the Del-Ray Players. Before landing the role of Maynard, Denver worked as a mailman as well as a history and math teacher in Pacific Palisades.
Since the '80s, Denver has appeared on the lecture circuit as well as such wide-ranging conventions as boat shows, events that could be thematically tied in to Gilligan.
Denver was married three times, most recently to Dreama Perry Denver, whom he married in 1976. The couple lived in Princeton, W.Va., where they co-hosted a syndicated radio show, "Weekend with Denver and Denver," wisecracking through selections of rock 'n' roll oldies.
Denver died Friday at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina of complications from treatment he was receiving for cancer, his agent, Mike Eisenstadt, told the Associated Press. Denver's wife, Dreama, and his children, Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin, were with him when he died.
In April, Denver underwent cancer surgery to remove his voice box, leaving him speechless. At the time, he also was diagnosed with artery blockage and underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery in May.
Although it ran from only 1964-67, "Gilligan" has thrived in reruns. Its 98 episodes have attained a cult status, won new generations of fans and spawned a reality series.
Denver reprised his lovably dingy Gilligan character in two animated series, as well as a sci-fi version of the same concept. He even played Gilligan in an episode of "Baywatch." He starred in three telefilms based on "Gilligan": "Rescue From Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island" and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island."
Although Denver appeared in movies and onstage, his career was based in TV. In the late '70s, he made his most auspicious transition from TV, succeeding Woody Allen as the lead in Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" on Broadway.
Denver first became recognizable to TV audiences with his portrayal of the beatnik-type Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959-63). Maynard was Dobie's goofy friend who was "allergic" to work -- "What me, work?" he would shriek to Dobie's reproving father when it was suggested that Maynard do something useful. "The G. stands for Walter," he explained to queries about his middle initial.
Post-"Gilligan," Denver starred with the late Herbert Edelman in the sitcom "The Good Guys," playing cabbie Rufus Butterworth. On TV, Denver also starred in "Dusty's Trail" (1973), a "Gilligan"-style sitcom, and a Saturday morning kids' show, "Far Out Space Nuts" (1975).
Denver performed in the Phyllis Diller-starring comedy "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?" (1968), but overall his film performances were scant. He did a turn as a bongo player in "Take Her, She's Mine" (1963) and also performed in such fare as "Who's Minding the Mint?" (1967), "High School USA" (1983) and "Back to the Beach" (1987).
Denver also participated in two attempted pilot revivals of "Dobie Gillis."
Robert Denver was born Jan. 9, 1935, in New Rochelle, N.Y. He graduated from high school in Brownwood, Texas. While studying pre-law at Loyola University, he became interested in performing and joined up with the troupe the Del-Ray Players. Before landing the role of Maynard, Denver worked as a mailman as well as a history and math teacher in Pacific Palisades.
Since the '80s, Denver has appeared on the lecture circuit as well as such wide-ranging conventions as boat shows, events that could be thematically tied in to Gilligan.
Denver was married three times, most recently to Dreama Perry Denver, whom he married in 1976. The couple lived in Princeton, W.Va., where they co-hosted a syndicated radio show, "Weekend with Denver and Denver," wisecracking through selections of rock 'n' roll oldies.
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