22 Surprising Secrets About “Gilligan’s Island” You Need To Know
15. Alan Hale Jr. Dressed Up As The Skipper While Battling Cancer To Comfort A Terminally Ill Boy, Who Happened To Love ‘Gilligan’s Island’
Alan Hale Jr. died of cancer at age 68 in Los Angeles. But he left a lasting impression on many generations.
14. Mary Ann Is Everyone’s Favorite Character According To Online Polls
It’s not surprising adorable little Mary Ann is everyone’s favorite character. She’s followed by Gilligan, with poor Mrs. Howell being the least favorite.
13. Actress Natalie Schafer Only Agreed To Film The Pilot For The Free Trip To Hawaii
Wouldn’t you take the free trip, too? The rest of the series was filmed in California.
12. The Professor And Mary Ann Were Originally Left Out Of The Theme Song
Surprisingly, The Professor and Mary Ann were added into the opening song after actor Bob Denver, a.k.a. Gilligan threatened to refuse the use of his name in the credits. The pair were then quickly added into the ending of the theme song.
11. The Role Of The Skipper Was The Most Difficult To Cast
Schwartz said finding the right actor to play The Skipper was the toughest role to cast. He wanted someone who was commanding, yet affectionate towards Gilligan. He definitely picked the right guy with Alan Hale Jr.!