“Gilligan’s Island” is celebrating its 50th anniversary!
First aired on CBS on Sept. 26, 1964, The NATIONAL ENQUIRER takes a special look at the stars who played the shipwrecked castaways of the S.S. Minnow – Gilligan (Bob Denver), the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.), the Professor (Russell Johnson), Mary Ann (Dawn Wells), Ginger (Tina Louise) and Mr. & Mrs. Howe (Jim Backus, Natalie Schaefer).
GILLIGAN & THE SKIPPER
It was “The Skipper” and his “Little Buddy” right to the very end! When Alan Hale Jr. died at 71 in 1990 following a brave battle with thymus cancer, Bob Denver said he “felt like he had lost his father” even though Hale was just 14 years older. Bob died of throat cancer in 2005 at age 70. Hale had his ashes scattered at sea. “It’s what ‘The Skipper’ would have wanted,” a source said.
THE PROFESSOR
Before his death last January, Russell Johnson – “The Professor” — told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview that he wanted to be reunited with his late son David, who died of AIDS in 1994. Johnson, 89, who died of kidney failure, said: “David was the pride and joy of my life.”
THE HOWELLS
Jim Backus and Natalie Schaefer were as eccentric as their TV characters – “Millionaire” Thurston Howell III and his kooky wife Lovey. “Off camera, Jim stayed in character like an upper crust New Englander worth millions but when it came time to buying lunch, he left his co-stars with the bill,” said a source. Backus (who also voiced "Mr. Magoo") died at 76 in 1989, while Natalie died in 1991 at age 90, leaving much of her fortune to her beloved teacup poodle CeCe.
GINGER & MARY ANN
Five decades later, the “Ginger or Mary Ann?” debate rages on. Dawn Wells told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview: “The whole argument boiled down to – did you want a best friend or did you want a lover? “Mary Ann was sweet – the ‘girl next door,’ while Ginger was va-va-va-Voom!” Dawn, 75, and Tina Louise, 80, who played Ginger, are the last two surviving cast members. While Dawn is celebrating the anniversary with her new book “Mary Ann’s Good Girls Guide to Life”, Tina said the show ruined her career.
RESCUED!
In a 1978 TV movie, the castaways FINALLY got off the island. A tsunami carried their makeshift raft out to sea. A Coast Guard chopper saw the smoke from a fire Gilligan started, towing them to Hawaii. In a classic twist, they became shipwrecked again after taking a reunion cruise on “Minnow II.”
