Tina Louise, now 90 years old, is the last surviving cast member of the classic 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island, a show that ran from 1964 to 1967 and continues to air in reruns worldwide. Louise played Ginger Grant, the glamorous movie star stranded on a deserted island alongside seven other castaways. Her character stood in sharp contrast to Mary Ann Summers, the wholesome farm girl portrayed by Dawn Wells. Wells, who played Mary Ann, died on December 30, 2020, at the age of 82, due to complications from COVID-19.
While Louise is best remembered for her role on Gilligan’s Island, her career spanned Broadway, film, and television. She had starring roles in movies such as God’s Little Acre, The Trap, Day of the Outlaw, and The Wrecking Crew. She also appeared in The Happy Ending and the 1975 version of The Stepford Wives. Later film credits included The Kentucky Fried Movie, Johnny Suede, and Tapestry.
She was also a frequent guest star on television throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, appearing in shows like Bonanza, Route 66, Kojak, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Kung Fu, Night Rider, CHiPs, Dallas, and Married… with Children. Beyond acting, Louise was also a singer and released a record album titled It’s Time for Tina in 1957. From 1966 to 1971, she was married to radio and television announcer Les Crane, with whom she had one daughter in 1970.
She studied acting with Lee Strasberg and was a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. Louise was also an advocate for improving child literacy and wrote several books, including a memoir titled Sunday in 1997, and two children’s books: When I Grew Up in 2007 and What Does a Bee Do? in 2009. She also paints, and her artwork has been exhibited over the years.
Throughout the years, rumors circulated that Louise did not always get along with Bob Denver, who played Gilligan. In 2005, she wrote a memorial to him in the farewell issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine. Denver died on September 2, 2005, at the age of 70, from pneumonia after battling throat cancer. The rest of the main cast also passed away over the years.
Alan Hale Jr. , who played the Skipper, died from cancer on January 2, 1990, at age 68. Jim Backus, who portrayed Thurston Howell III, died from pneumonia on July 3, 1989, at age 76, after suffering from Parkinson’s disease for many years. Natalie Schafer, who played Lovey Howell, died from liver cancer on April 10, 1991, at age 90.
Russell Johnson, who played the Professor, died from kidney failure on January 16, 2014, at age 89. Gilligan’s Island remains part of popular culture, still airing in reruns around the world and in multiple languages.
