Bob Denver Net Worth

Bob Denver’s Life and Career

Bob Denver was an American actor born in New Rochelle, New York, but raised in Brownwood, Texas. He commonly found TV work and was first seen on ‘The Silent Service’ series in 1957, then rising to stardom with a breakthrough role as Maynard G. Krebs, the beatnik best friend of Dwayne Hickman’s Dobie Gillis, on the CBS sitcom ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.’ He played this character for four seasons, which ended in 1963. From then on, he received international recognition due to his one-of-a-kind role as Gilligan, one of the lead characters, on the CBS sitcom ‘Gilligan’s Island.’ The show aired from 1964 to 1967 and continued gaining popularity over time.

Start of Television Career

Bob Denver’s acting career started in 1957, making his first appearance on TV’s ‘The Silent Service.’ His peak appeared to come two years later when he received his breakthrough role for CBS’s ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis’ as Maynard G. Krebs, Dobie’s fun loving and free-spirited best friend with a preference for berets and bongos. Denver played this part for four seasons, making himself an essential character. However, upon his casting as title character Gilligan in ‘Gilligan’s Island’ in 1964, his fame exploded.

Gilligan’s Island

‘Gilligan’s Island’ was about a group of people who became stranded on a supposedly uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean after their boat hit a storm. Denver played Gilligan, the first-mate who is kind-hearted but silly, known for messing everything up. The show was surprisingly a hit and aired up until 1967, running for three seasons before being cancelled. Despite its relatively short run, ‘Gilligan’s Island’ gained a lasting place in popular culture, surfacing in sequels and spinoffs such as ‘The New Adventures of Gilligan’ in 1974-75 and ‘Gilligan’s Planet’ in 1982.

Further Television Career

Post-Gilligan, Denver played Rufus Butterworth on the ‘The Good Guys’ series which ran from 1968 until 197. After that role, he played Dusty’s Trail on the Western comedy series from 1973-74 and had a lead role on the short-lived children’s series entitled ‘Far Out Space Nuts’ in 1975. His television appearances afterwards include variety-show cameos, supporting roles in El Cheapo movies, and even a brief return to network TV on the ‘Fox TV’ show, ‘High School U.S.A.’ where he played a high school principal.

Bob Denver’s Film Career

Bob Denver made his feature film debut portraying an Army private in Raoul Walsh’s 1959 musical comedy ‘A Private’s Affair’ alongside Sal Mineo. He also appeared as a singer at a coffeehouse in the comedic-drama called ‘Take Her, She’s Mine,’ starring James Stewart and Sandra Dee, once again showing up in a feature film. Next up, he starred in the 1964 beach party flick called ‘For Those Who Think Young’ before another comedy-crime production entitled ‘Who’s Minding The Mint?.’

Denver later appeared in romantic drama films like The Sweet Ride (1968), Did You Hear the one About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968). As for his last film role, Denver played a bartender in the 1987 beach party spoof ‘Back to the Beach’ which re-teamed him with his ‘Beach Party’ co-stars Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon.

Personal Life and Death

Bob Denver married four times in his life, with his first wife being Maggie Ryan whom he left when he moved to Hollywood. Later on, he married Jean Webber and was then wed to Carole Abrahams. Finally, in 1979, he married his last wife Dreama Perry until he passed away. His entire career is distinguished by his role as Maynard G. Krebs on the many loves of Dobie Gillis and Gilligan on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ for which he was most esteemed.

On September 2, 2005, after a battle with cancer, Denver died at 70 years old. In addition to his wife Dreama Perry, he is survived by his children, Colin, Emily and Patrick; his private funeral services were held on September 6, 2005 in Los Angeles.

Achievements

Denver secured himself an unforgettable legacy playing fun loving characters during the years he appeared in various comedies. Nevertheless, it was Denver’s embodiment of Gilligan that brought him widespread and enduring fame. Even long after his death, repeated reruns of ‘Gilligan’s Island’ are still celebrated as television classics with influences that have impacted pop culture in their time. Bob Denver will forever be remembered for his amazing contributions to the sitcom industry.