Was Tina Louise often unfairly maligned for disowning GILLIGAN'S ISLAND

[TMC]

Did she have a point? Prior to Gilligan's Island, she had appeared in a few well-received films, was doing a very successful Broadway play for Carol Burnett. The reason why she left the play was because she was told Gilligan's Island was going to be her show. By the time she realized she was fooled, she had already signed a contract.

She did Gilligan's Island for three years and when it got cancelled, she tried to go back but because of how popular the show was, casting agents only saw her as Ginger. So she missed out on a lot of opportunities because of the series.

[CosmicCharlie]

Tina was in the 1968 Movie Wrecking Crew with Dean Martin, which I never realized till now. She looks great here:

Beware Sexy Material

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cs2dHxp1W0&t=49s

[GentlemanJim]

I saw her in a number of dramatic roles, and IMO she was a poor actor, and could really only excel in a role as a "trophy" type woman.....so she is blaming GI for her own limitations.

[Duster76]

I was part of the discussion last June that's linked in TMC's comments, in my post I reviewed the careers of the cast after Gilligan's Island. Outside of Dawn there wasn't much evidence of anyone associated with the show being adversely effected by their time on the series.

Tina Louise found parts after the series ended, in fact I would say her before and after profile is pretty consistent. The problem seems to stem from her belief that she was a talent on her way to much bigger and better things when she mistakenly signed on for the Gilligan series. I thought it might be interesting to take a quick look at some other actresses born between 1933-35 (Tina was born in 34), this is a very partial list:

1933: Elizabeth Montgomery, Jayne Mansfield, Kim Novak, Joan Collins, Julie Newmar, Carol Burnett, Kathleen Nolan, Jackie Joseph, Hope Lange, Barbara Feldon


1934: Shirley MacLaine. Shirley Jones, Joanna Moore, Rue McClanahan, Joyce Van Patten, Joanna Barnes, Inger Stevens, Florence Henderson, Ann Wedgeworth, Louise Fletcher


1935: Diane Ladd, Lee Meriwether , Ruta Lee, Sharon Acker, Madlyn Rhue, Collin Wilcox Paxton, Nancy Malone, Marian Mercer, Lee Remick

Is Tina Louise more talented than some of them, maybe, is she that much better looking than some of them, maybe, but the point is there were a lot of very talented actresses born just in that three year period and objectively speaking talent/looks combined she is nowhere near the top. And again we are looking at a very short three year span.

I don't think her career was damaged by her time on Gilligan, she was lucky she got the part. In all likelihood she would be completely forgotten today, thought of as just another pretty face and dismissed without further comment.

[CosmicCharlie]

Agree- So Many Pretty Faces over the years on par with Tina's TV & Movie Appearances are now forgotten

Tina is Well Remembered

[Samme]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I don't think her career was damaged by her time on Gilligan, she was lucky she got the part. In all likelihood she would be completely forgotten today, thought of as just another pretty face and dismissed without further comment.

I agree. She should have enjoyed it. It was the best thing she ever did. Tina seemed to think going the Actor's Studio or wherever automatically qualified her for important roles, but it didn't. She should have enjoyed the show and worked from there. I wouldn't be surprised if she was offered other sitcoms and turned them down.