Bob Denver Passed Away

[Lightyear]

Bob Denver, whose portrayal of goofy first mate Gilligan on the 1960s television show "Gilligan's Island," made him an iconic figure to generations of TV viewers, has died, his agent confirmed Tuesday. 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 death was first reported by "Entertainment Tonight."

Denver had also undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery earlier this year.

Denver's wife, Dreama, and his children Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin were with him when he died.

"He was my everything and I will love him forever," Dreama Denver said in a statement.

Denver's signature role was Gilligan. But he was already known to TV audiences for another iconic character, that of Maynard G. Krebs, the bearded beatnik friend of Dwayne Hickman's Dobie in the "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," which aired from 1959 to 1963.

"Gilligan's Island" lasted on CBS from 1964 to 1967, and it was revived in later seasons with three high-rated TV movies. It was a Robinson Crusoe story about seven disparate travelers who are marooned on a deserted Pacific Island after their small boat was wrecked in a storm.

The cast: Alan Hale Jr., as Skipper Jonas Grumby; Bob Denver, as his klutzy assistant Gilligan; Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer, as rich snobs Thurston and Lovey Howell; Tina Louise, as bosomy movie star Ginger Grant; Russell Johnson, as egghead science professor Roy Hinkley Jr.; and Dawn Wells, as sweet-natured farm girl Mary Ann Summers.

TV critics hooted at "Gilligan's Island" as gag-ridden corn. Audiences adored its far-out comedy.

Writer-creator Sherwood Schwartz insisted that the show had social meaning along with the laughs: "I knew that by assembling seven different people and forcing them to live together, the show would have great philosophical implications."

[MickeyMousePal]

RIP Bob Denver

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Oh gosh not ANOTHER celebrity death.

I always liked "Gilligan's Island"! It was goofy indeed, but very funny. Bob Denver was really good too. He'll be missed!

Now the only living celebrities from "Gilligan's Island" are:

Tina Louise .... Ginger Grant (1964-1967)
Russell Johnson .... Roy Hinkley (The Professor) (1964-1967)
Dawn Wells .... Mary Ann Summers (1964-1967)

[Siren]

RIP "Little Buddy"

[JiminyCrick91]

NO!! WHY?!? RIP. EVERYBODY IS LEVING US!!!!

[Taleeya]

Thats so sad! 70 is pretty young....

R.I.P.

[orestes.]

When my friend e-mailed me earlier todaya bout this I didn't believe her. He was 70 so that's not terribly young but I thought he'd be with us longer.

[chaychay102royal]

R.I.P Bob Denver

[Mr. Toad]

Siren beat me to it - So long little buddy.

Still remember years ago when Jim Bacchus died.

[anger is pointless]

thats awful the entire cast of gilligans island are almost all gone now i think only the ladies that played ginger and mary ann are left

but now hes gonna get to meet the old cast members again in heaven

goodbye little buddy well miss you

[orestes.]

I believe thhe Professor is still alive. A few months ago I was checking out Tina Louise's biography (she played Ginger) and I couldn't believe she was 71!

[Zoltack]

R.I.P Bob Denver. R.I.P Willie Gilligan.

[Disney Guru]

Yes,

Unfortunately my 2 favorite characters are now passed away

which were Thurston Howell, and his lovely wife Lovey Howell.

Jim Backus, and Natalie Schafer.

Were superb together. As the Howell's.

"The millionaire, and his wife"

But this is about Bob Denver, not Backus and Schafer.

____________________

R.I.P.

Bob Denver.

Your missed.

[anger is pointless]

gilligans first name was willie i never knew they mentioned his first name

[Zoltack]

gilligans first name was willie i never knew they mentioned his first name

Actually, I never watched the show I got the information from IMD.

[memnv]

Rest in Peace Mr Denver. May your memories will last forever