Bob Denver
The actor whose portrayal of a hapless castaway cemented 'Gilligan's Island' as an enduring piece of American television folklore.
1935–2005 (age 70)·American actor·Birthday: January 9·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bob Denver played the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,' delivering the signature 'You rang?' and a comic fear of work. He then took the role of Gilligan, the bumbling first mate on a three-season sitcom. His well-meaning but catastrophic mistakes kept seven castaways stranded indefinitely. Though the show ran only three seasons, its syndication success made Denver's face and red shirt recognizable to generations. He spent his later career embracing the character at fan events, understanding Gilligan had become an archetype of innocent, chaotic comedy. Denver died in 2005 at age 70.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bob was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Starred as the title character in 'Gilligan's Island,' a show that became a global phenomenon through endless syndication.
- Played the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,' earning widespread popularity.
- Reprised the role of Gilligan in numerous television reunion movies and animated series throughout the 1970s and 80s.
Did You Know?
He was a high school teacher and mailman before becoming a full-time actor.
He was offered the role of Ginger's movie star character on 'Gilligan's Island' before being cast as Gilligan.
His father was a veteran of the Army Air Forces who served during World War II.
He and his 'Gilligan's Island' co-star, Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), remained close friends for life.
“Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip.”
