Tina Louise Didn’t Expect or Want ‘Gilligan’s Island’ to Last Long

Tina Louise, known for her role as Ginger Grant on Gilligan’s Island from 1964 to 1967, had initially little expectations for the show’s longevity. In an interview with New York Living, she revealed she thought the series would be short-lived and was initially reluctant to accept the role.

The ’60s series, which remains Tina’s most notable project, also boasts the distinction that she is now its only surviving cast member. Beyond Gilligan’s Island, Tina appeared in other popular shows and films like American Style, The Stepford Wives, CHiPs, and Dallas, even working alongside Elvis Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla Presley.

Tina remembers landing the role of Ginger after the original actress from the pilot episode was dropped. At that time, she had already won a New Star Of The Year Golden Globe for 1958’s God’s Little Acre and had joined the Actor’s Studio. Although she was busy with a Broadway production alongside Carol Burnett, a friend’s persuasion led her to accept the role, believing it would only last six months.

Unexpectedly, those six months turned into a three-year stint due to the show’s popularity until it was canceled after three seasons. The series ended reportedly because CBS executive William S. Paley preferred to keep Gunsmoke on air.

Though Tina never reprised her role in the ‘70s sequel movies Rescue from Gilligan’s Island, The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island, and 1981’s The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island, her portrayal of Ginger Grant left a lasting impact on viewers.

In a 2016 disclosure, she mentioned receiving an overwhelming amount of fan mail daily, with fans often stopping her in public to express how the series positively impacted their lives. She recalled a touching encounter with someone whose husband watched the show daily while battling cancer. Tina expressed gratitude for being part of a show that brought happiness to many, even though she initially joined the cast with reluctance.