Bob Denver

Robert Osbourne "Bob" Denver (January 9, 1935 – September 2, 2005) was an American comedic actor. He portrayed Gilligan on the television series Gilligan's Island and the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

Early life

Denver was born January 9, 1935, in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in Brownwood, Texas. He graduated from Loyola University in Los Angeles, California. He later coached physical education and taught mathematics and history at Corpus Christi School, a Roman Catholic elementary school in Pacific Palisades, California.

Career

Television and film career

While teaching at Corpus Christi in 1958, Denver shot the pilot for the TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and left teaching for his first professional acting job as a regular on the series when it was picked up in 1959. From 1959 to 1963, Denver appeared on Dobie Gillis as Maynard G. Krebs, the teenaged beatnik best friend of Dobie Gillis, played by Dwayne Hickman. While he was on Dobie Gillis, Denver also appeared on the NBC interview program, Here's Hollywood.