Did You Know: Jayne Mansfield Could Have Been 'Ginger Grant' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 07-16-2012, 08:46 PM

Stars Who Turned Down TV Roles
7/16/12

Jayne Mansfield as Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island"

It's been said that the role of Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island" was created for actress Jayne Mansfield, but she reportedly turned down the part, which went to Tina Louise.

Sadly, Mansfield was killed in a car accident at the age of 34 in 1967, which was coincidentally the last year the show was on the air.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0..._1677019.html?

AB · 07-17-2012, 07:07 PM

The guys wouldn't have even tried to get off the island.

Retro4Life · 07-17-2012, 07:54 PM

Tina Louise defined the role, but I must say, Mansfield would have been awesome in it, too.

ph1l · 07-18-2012, 04:20 AM

It would have been interesting to see how the censors dealt with her assets.

Steve Carras · 07-22-2012, 05:08 PM

Woulda saved Tina Louise an image problem of typecasting.

The Flying Dutchmans · 07-22-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Stars Who Turned Down TV Roles
7/16/12

Jayne Mansfield as Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island"

It's been said that the role of Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island" was created for actress Jayne Mansfield, but she reportedly turned down the part, which went to Tina Louise.

Sadly, Mansfield was killed in a car accident at the age of 34 in 1967, which was coincidentally the last year the show was on the air.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0..._1677019.html?

It may have been said that it was created for Mansfield but it wasn't. Tina said in an interview that she was asked to play a Lucille Ball/ Marilyn Monroe character. She never mentioned Mansfield. To be honest, I think Tina did it better than Mansfield would have.

Marvo301 · 07-23-2012, 01:45 PM

I don't know if it's true that Jayne Mansfield was the first choice for Ginger but it is true that Jerry Van Dyke was the first choice to play Gilligan. He turned down the part because he thought "My Mother the Car " would be a much better and longer running show. (He was wrong!) It's also true that Carroll O"Conner auditioned for the part of the Skipper but Sherwood Schwartz didn't think he was right for the part.

treky · 07-25-2012, 01:38 AM

I'd always heard that Jerry Van Dyke turned it down because he read the pilot script and called it "the worst piece of crap I ever read!!" and they didn't use Carol O'Conner because they thought people would feel sorry for Gillagin when the skipper yelled at him.

Smilings · 11-24-2012, 03:47 PM

But with Jayne Mansfield, they would've had a way to float to safety.

07-16-2012, 08:46 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,140	Did You Know: Jayne Mansfield Could Have Been 'Ginger Grant' Stars Who Turned Down TV Roles 7/16/12 *Jayne Mansfield as Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island"* It's been said that the role of Ginger Grant on "Gilligan's Island" was created for actress Jayne Mansfield, but she reportedly turned down the part, which went to Tina Louise. Sadly, Mansfield was killed in a car accident at the age of 34 in 1967, which was coincidentally the last year the show was on the air. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0..._1677019.html?

07-17-2012, 07:54 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Tina Louise defined the role, but I must say, Mansfield would have been awesome in it, too.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

07-18-2012, 04:20 AM	#4
ph1l Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 1,362	It would have been interesting to see how the censors dealt with her assets.
	__________________ 60's TV forever

07-22-2012, 05:08 PM	#5
Steve Carras Sandra Bullock RULES! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 30, 2002 Location: Riverside County, CA Posts: 807	Woulda saved Tina Louise an image problem of typecasting.
	__________________ "And that's showbiz......kid" -Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger, Chicago, 2002)

07-23-2012, 01:45 PM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I don't know if it's true that Jayne Mansfield was the first choice for Ginger but it is true that Jerry Van Dyke was the first choice to play Gilligan. He turned down the part because he thought "My Mother the Car " would be a much better and longer running show. (He was wrong!) It's also true that Carroll O"Conner auditioned for the part of the Skipper but Sherwood Schwartz didn't think he was right for the part.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

07-17-2012, 07:07 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	The guys wouldn't have even tried to get off the island.

07-25-2012, 01:38 AM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I'd always heard that Jerry Van Dyke turned it down because he read the pilot script and called it "the worst piece of crap I ever read!!" and they didn't use Carol O'Conner because they thought people would feel sorry for Gillagin when the skipper yelled at him.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-24-2012, 03:47 PM	#9
Smilings Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 09, 2012 Location: California Posts: 417	But with Jayne Mansfield, they would've had a way to float to safety.