Eliot Stein Interviews Bob Denver
(c)Eliot Stein
I interviewed the late Bob Denver just before he went
to that great uncharted island in the sky.
Most Americans have a special place in their hearts for
Denver as the lovable Gilligan on "Gilligan's Island."
His first television starring role was that
of beatnik Maynard J. Krebbs on "Dobie Gillis."
ELIOT: Has it troubled you that you have been stereotyped because of
Gilligan?
BOB: Absolutely not. The new fans
are all little kids and everybody smiles when they see you.
You can't ask for more than that!
ELIOT: Do you make any money from the reruns?
BOB: Nope, I was paid off in 1968 for Gilligan.
ELIOT: Did you think at that time, the show would be aired in syndication forever?
BOB: Of course not, or I would have made a better deal!
ELIOT: Are you given any legal right to represent yourself as the
character "Gilligan" for public appearances?
BOB: They don't bother me about it.
Let's face it, I'm Gilligan!
ELIOT: What was your first big break in show business?
BOB: Maynard on "Dobie Gillis."
ELIOT: Did you create the character for the producer?
BOB: Max Shulman created the character for the pilot and I went
out and played it as a beatnik. I was pretty much left alone
to create it!
ELIOT: What do you think the reason is for the great love that
continues today for both Maynard and Gilligan?
BOB: I thinks it's a wonderful childhood memory. Gilligan is
timeless! If they brought the show back, it would be made the
same way!
ELIOT: Over the years, you pop up from time to time on TV sitcoms.
Do you get lots of requests to do this?
BOB: Anytime there is a dream sequence needed for a sitcom--
they call Gilligan!
ELIOT: Did you have anything other than that red shirt?
BOB: My dressing room consisted of red shirts, blue pants and hats.
That wasn't too bad because the skipper and professor had
the same PROBLEM! I had 24 red shirts to change every week!
ELIOT: Tell me about a show you did called "Space Nuts."
BOB: That was for Saturday mornings. We did 16 of them in 1973
on ABC. It amazes me how many people remember that.
ELIOT:What did you do before you took up acting?
BOB: I started acting when I was a junior in college. It was either
going to be acting or a law career. I worked at the post office before
that. I sometimes delivered mail to famous people!
(c)Eliot Stein
I interviewed the late Bob Denver just before he went
to that great uncharted island in the sky.
Most Americans have a special place in their hearts for
Denver as the lovable Gilligan on "Gilligan's Island."
His first television starring role was that
of beatnik Maynard J. Krebbs on "Dobie Gillis."
ELIOT: Has it troubled you that you have been stereotyped because of
Gilligan?
BOB: Absolutely not. The new fans
are all little kids and everybody smiles when they see you.
You can't ask for more than that!
ELIOT: Do you make any money from the reruns?
BOB: Nope, I was paid off in 1968 for Gilligan.
ELIOT: Did you think at that time, the show would be aired in syndication forever?
BOB: Of course not, or I would have made a better deal!
ELIOT: Are you given any legal right to represent yourself as the
character "Gilligan" for public appearances?
BOB: They don't bother me about it.
Let's face it, I'm Gilligan!
ELIOT: What was your first big break in show business?
BOB: Maynard on "Dobie Gillis."
ELIOT: Did you create the character for the producer?
BOB: Max Shulman created the character for the pilot and I went
out and played it as a beatnik. I was pretty much left alone
to create it!
ELIOT: What do you think the reason is for the great love that
continues today for both Maynard and Gilligan?
BOB: I thinks it's a wonderful childhood memory. Gilligan is
timeless! If they brought the show back, it would be made the
same way!
ELIOT: Over the years, you pop up from time to time on TV sitcoms.
Do you get lots of requests to do this?
BOB: Anytime there is a dream sequence needed for a sitcom--
they call Gilligan!
ELIOT: Did you have anything other than that red shirt?
BOB: My dressing room consisted of red shirts, blue pants and hats.
That wasn't too bad because the skipper and professor had
the same PROBLEM! I had 24 red shirts to change every week!
ELIOT: Tell me about a show you did called "Space Nuts."
BOB: That was for Saturday mornings. We did 16 of them in 1973
on ABC. It amazes me how many people remember that.
ELIOT:What did you do before you took up acting?
BOB: I started acting when I was a junior in college. It was either
going to be acting or a law career. I worked at the post office before
that. I sometimes delivered mail to famous people!
