We all know Bob Denver.
Not related to John Denver.
But definitely related to Dobie Gillis and Gilligan.
I didn’t personally know the guy, but I enjoyed watching Gilligan’s Island when I was a kid. I have to admit, though. The character Gilligan used to infuriate me, as he had no common sense. Even at that young age, I worried about his decision-making.
But back to Bob Denver. I write about him today because it is his birthday. He came into this world on January 9, 1935.
I should also mention that I have a brother and a sister born on this date, six years apart. Yes indeed. Happy Birthday to Ed and Jane, both much younger than Bob Denver. Same, same on birthdays for Richard Nixon, Joan Baez, Crystal Gale, Dave Matthews and Kate Middleton. Oh, and I shouldn’t forget Edouard Beaupré, a horse lifter (1881 – 1904). His short life may have resulted from all that horse lifting.
Anyway. Bob Denver. His full name was Robert Osbourne Denver. As mentioned, he is best known for his roles as Gilligan on the television series “Gilligan’s Island” from September 26, 1964, to April 17, 1967. And before that, the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.”
We watch all these shows, but seldom do we know the people behind the players.
For instance. Bob Denver didn’t really have his eyes on acting to start out. When he was 23, Bob was teaching physical education, math, and history at a Catholic school in Pacific Palisades. He was working as a teacher when he shot the pilot for Dobie Gillis. I suppose acting sounded like a better gig than teaching because that is the path he took.
And he must have been a ladies’ man or a flirt, or maybe he had trouble finding his frog, for he was married four times. Or there’s always the possibility that he wasn’t a very good husband. His wives were Maggie Ryan (1960), Jean Webber (1967), Carole Abrahams (1972), and Dreama Peery (1979).
But what about Bob anyway. I’d say he liked to have fun every once in a while. He got arrested twice for possession of marijuana. The first time was in 1971. The second time, in 1998. During that later incident, he was arrested for marijuana that had been delivered to his home. When he got caught, he originally said that the delivery came from Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island. I can see him now. “But Mary Ann sent it over, officer.” Later, he refused to name her in court. He switched up his song just a little, testifying that “some crazy fan must have sent it.” He pleaded no contest and received six months probation.
So Gilligan liked to relax a little, smoke a little weed, and watch the world pass by from a late-night sofa. That’s not so bad.
Later in his life, good old Gilligan — whoops, Bob Denver — returned to his adopted home of Princeton, West Virginia. There, he became an FM radio personality. He, and his fourth wife — Dreama — the one who must have finally been “it,” ran a small “oldies format” radio station down there.
Denver also made a little bit of money making public appearances where he would dress up as Gilligan. You know. Car dealerships and mall openings. And those were his remaining years.
You see. Bob Denver was a heavy smoker. He received cancer treatment and underwent heart bypass surgery in 2005. Then, on September 2, 2005, he died from complications, including pneumonia. This was shortly after having throat cancer surgery. He was only 70 years old at the time of death.
So, a little ode to Bob Denver. A guy who played a character hopelessly shipwrecked in the midst of hapless mistakes.
But there it is, really. Two great lessons.
Gilligan always had his heart in the right place. And even though his mistakes always seemed to mess up the group’s chances of getting rescued, they always forgave him. Because that “Little Buddy” was a good person with his heart in the right place.
Forgiveness is a form of kindness.
And. Having a good heart is the kindest thing of all.
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“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
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“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
― Mark Twain
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“In goodness there are all kinds of wisdom.”
— Euriphides
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Gillis. Gilligan. And what about Bob?
