Bob Denver's date of birth on Wednesday, January 9th, 1935, was just a day after Elvis Presley's date of birth, on Tuesday, January 8th, 1935.
After surviving quadruple bypass surgery in early 2005, he was diagnosed with cancer only a few months before his death on September 2nd. Treated at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital, he died in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Denver often went out of his way to help his fellow cast members on "Gilligan's Island" (1964). This is included trying to give Dawn Wells an equal share of publicity as Tina Louise and demanding that she and Russell Johnson be given an equal credit in the show's title sequence.
Denver suffered a broken neck in 1956, which prevented him from getting inducted in the U.S. Army.
Denver, Colorado, was named in honor of his great-great grandfather James William Denver (1817-1892), who was the territorial governor of Kansas.
Denver's son, Patrick Denver played Young Gilligan in one of the episodes of "Gilligan's Island" (1964) during a dream sequence.
Discovered acting while studying law at Loyola University in Los Angeles in the 1950s.
Father of Patrick Denver, Megan Denver, Emily Denver and Colin Denver. Grandfather of Elana.
Graduated from Loyola University in Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) in 1957.
Had a son, Colin, with Dreama - had 3 other children from previous marriages.
His future co-star on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959), Dwayne Hickman, was a classmate at Loyola-Marymount.
In real life, he is diametrically opposite of the well-known inept and goofy characters he has portrayed on television. He is an enormously talented, introverted, and well-read man who loves children, especially his own.
Made his film debut in a small role in A Private's Affair (1959) starring Sal Mineo just prior to finding TV fame.
On Friday, October 15th, 1976, while preparing to appear in a stage production of Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" at the Tidewater Dinner Theatre in Norfolk, VA, was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, refusal to submit to a breath and blood alcohol tests, and driving without an operator's license.
On Tuesday, September 6, 2005, Bob's friend from the TV series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959), former actress-turned-California State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, who played boy-crazy Zelda Gilroy on the show, was granted her request that the Senate adjourn in Denver's memory.
Playing beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959) comedy series, Denver's most enduring line from that show was his freaked-out exclamation "Work!?" whenever anyone mentioned the word within hearing distance.
Raised in Brownwood, Texas where he graduated from high school. The family eventually moved to California.
Replaced Woody Allen as the protagonist in Allen's play "Play It Again, Sam" on Broadway in 1970.
Studying at Loyola Marymount in L.A. where he received a degree in political science, he switched from a possible law career to acting and made his West Coast stage debut in a late 50s production of "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial."
The first name of his Gilligan character, which was almost never mentioned on the show, was Willy.