Who is Ginger Grant?
Ginger Grant, one of the main characters on the CBS-TV
series "Gilligan's Island," was also on that 3-hour Tour, she is a
famous actress, it is said throughout the show that she has met many famous old
stars like Cary Grant.
Ginger Grant is a "movie star", and would casually
mention names of some of the biggest movie stars of the day, as co-stars or
acquaintances, suggesting that she too was a great star. She also mentions her
roommate and fellow actress, Debbie Dawson, several times. In the series'
Season 1 Episode 1 "Two on a Raft", Ginger is also "singing in a
club in Waikiki", possibly the same gig mentioned by the radio announcer
where she was "still wearing the evening gown from her last
performance". "When I first broke into show business, I used to work
with a magician", Ginger confesses in Season 1 Episode 33 "It's
Magic". In Gilligan's Island's pilot episode ‘Marooned’, actress Kit
Smythe, was hired to portray Ginger; who was then a secretary.
Ginger was sometimes seen helping the Professor with his
experiments, dressed in a lab coat and spectacle frames, and they conspired
together in the episode 'Ship Ahoax' to make it appear as though she were
fortune-telling. They also shared romantic scenes, although these were usually
in the form of a "lesson in love", such as in the episodes 'Erica
Tiffany-Smith to the Rescue' and 'The Postman Cometh'. It is possible the creator
of the show intended to develop a relationship between the pair, but this never
eventuated on screen.
She also appears to have been the object of desire of The
Skipper (Alan Hale, Jr.) in several episodes. The Skipper chooses Ginger as his
preferred contestant in the "Miss Castaway Pageant" held on the
island (Season 2 Episode 2 "Beauty Is As Beauty Does"). In addition,
when Skipper loses his memory in the first season Episode 30 "Forget Me
Not", he is much more attracted to Ginger than Mary Ann, asking Ginger,
"Hi, beautiful what's your name?" while leering at her with delight.
Ginger's response, not knowing of the Skipper's memory loss answers, with
appropriate Hollywood pique, "Ginger, big boy, what's yours?"
Ginger sides with Thurston Howell, III, on many occasions,
acting as a witness during a trial over treasure, serving as a sort of spy to
divulge information from Gilligan by scratching his back and allowing herself
to be bribed by Howell, such as during the "election" of who was to
be President of the island. It should also be noted that her secret agent code
name and her measurements were both 36-25-36.
Being around the same age as her, Ginger is also close
friends with Mary Ann.
Ginger Grant, due to many prior film roles in Hollywood,
spent her time on the island occasionally taking on the roles of chanteuse,
barefoot fortune-teller, lab assistant, hair stylist, and psychoanalyst – as
well as fronting the hastily formed island musical trio: The Honeybees. She
also had to deal with a doppelganger, a plain mousy girl named Eva Grubb (also
played by Tina Louise).
Unlike the other female castaways who appeared in more than
one set of clothes, Ginger initially appeared only in her evening gown until
later episodes also included changes in apparel for her as well.
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Casting
Jayne Mansfield, a late-1950s sex symbol, was offered the
role of Ginger after the departure of Kit Smythe, who played Ginger as a
secretary in the pilot episode, ‘Marooned’. When Ginger was converted to a movie
star, the producers swapped the actresses, and asked Mansfield, who was a
Marilyn Monroe-esque, to portray the character. Notwithstanding, she turned it down and was
replaced by Tina Louise.
Tina Louise was a perfect fit, despite the fact that she
disliked the character and for years felt it had ruined her career as being a
"serious" actress. Judith
Baldwin, played her in the first and second reunion film, ‘Rescue from
Gilligan's Island’ and ‘The Castaways on Gilligan's Island’. However, Baldwin didn't return for the third
sequel, The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island; therefore, Constance
Forslund, played her in the third and final reunion film to date.
The actress
Kristen Dalton played Ginger in Surviving Gilligan's Island.
Tina Louise didn't
reprise her role in the animated-spinoffs either, in The New Adventures of
Gilligan Jane Webb voiced her, while in Gilligan's Planet she was replaced by
her co-star Dawn Wells. Roseanne Barr portrayed the role of Ginger in a parody
episode of Roseanne.
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Kit Smythe
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| Kit Smythe, the original Ginger Grant |
Kit Smythe. Born in 1940, she originated the role of Ginger
Grant in the unaired pilot episode of the CBS-TV series "Gilligan's
Island," before getting replaced in the role by Tina Louise, who assumed
the role on the series. She would go on to appear in TV series such as
'Bewitched," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Burke's Law"
and "Gunsmoke." her final television acting performance was in an
episode of "Police Woman" in 1976.
As of 2005, Smythe was still performing as a showgirl in "The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies' in Palm Springs, California.
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Tina Louise
Born February 11, 1934, Tina Louise Blacker is an American
actress, singer, and author, best known for "Gilligan's Island." She
was born an only child in New York City to a Jewish family. The name
"Louise" was allegedly added during her senior year in high school
when she mentioned to her drama teacher that she was the only girl in the class
without a middle name. He selected the name "Louise" and it stuck.
She attended Miami University in Ohio where she began
studying acting, singing and dancing, taking acting classes under Sanford
Meisner at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan. She also
dabbled in modeling between acting roles, appearing on the covers of several
pin-up magazines such as Adam, Sir! and Modern Man with later pictorials
presented to Playboy by Columbia Pictures studio in an effort to further
promote her career.
Her acting debut came in 1952 in the musical revue, Two's
Company, followed by roles in other Broadway productions, such as "John
Murray Anderson's Almanac" "The Fifth Season," and "Will
Success Spoil Rock Hunter?". During the 1950's, she appeared in such early
live television dramas as "Studio One," "Producers'
Showcase" and "Appointment with Adventure" while concurrently
appearing on Broadway. As a singer, she released one album, "It's Time for
Tina," which was released originally on Concert Hall in 1957 and later
reissued on Urania Records in 1958, the same year as her Hollywood film debut
was in "God's Little Acre."
The National Art Council named her the "World's Most
Beautiful Redhead." She became an in-demand leading lady for major stars
like Robert Taylor, Richard Widmark and Robert Ryan, later turning down roles
in the film versions of "Li'l Abner" and "Operation
Petticoat" to take roles on Broadway and in Italian cinema. When she
returned to the United States, she began studying with Lee Strasberg and became
a member of the Actors Studio. She appeared in the TV show, "The Real
McCoys," and the 1964 beach party film, "For Those Who Think
Young" with Bob Denver, prior to the development of "Gilligan's
Island."
While she was staring in the Broadway musical, "Fade
Out, Fade In," she was called to star as the role of Ginger Grant in
Gilligan's Island, after the part was turned down by Jayne Mansfield. It is
believed her agent at the time might have lied to her about the importance of
her role to get her to take the job. She also reportedly said in a magazine
interview that working on TV was nothing compared to real acting. Publically,
it became known she was unhappy with the role and worried that it would
typecast her, but she remained cordial to her co-stars. The character did make
her a pop icon of the era, and after the series ended in 1967, Louise continued
to work in film, such as "The Wrecking Crew" in 1969 with Dean Martin
and the original TV movie, "Stepford Wives," in 1975.
After the show ended, Tina Louise gradually began to dislike
her role as Ginger Grant, and after the series ended, tried to distance herself
from the role as much as possible. Considering herself more as a serious
actress, she preferred portraying more dramatic roles in movies and television.
She fervently believed that the show hurt her career as a dramatic actress and
consequently refused to participate in future Gilligan projects, including the
animated spin-offs and television specials.
During her time on "Gilligan's Island," she was
romanced by and ultimately married radio and TV announcer/interviewer Les
Crane, whom she divorced in 1974. They had one daughter, Caprice Crane in 1970,
who became an MTV producer and a novelist. Tina went on to make numerous guest
appearances in various television series, including "Kojak"
"Dallas" and "Married With Children," as well as the TV
films, "Nightmare in Badham County," "Look What's Happened to
Rosemary's Baby," "SST: Death Flight" and "Friendships,
Secrets and Lies.'
In 1978, Tina was asked to reprise her role as Ginger in
Rescue from Gilligan's Island and turned it down, reportedly changing her mind
to reunite with the cast only to decide against it once more. The role was
recast with actress Judith Baldwin, who reportedly beat out actress Cassandra
Peterson, TV's "Elvira, The Mistress of the Dark." Tina publicly
never spoke of "Gilligan's Island" except to say it was a fun series
to work on, but her supporters point out that she always speaks very little on
her old acting projects.
She did make brief walk-on appearances on a few talk shows
and specials for "Gilligan's Island" reunions, such as "Good
Morning America" in 1982, "The Late Show" in 1988 and the 2004
TV Land Awards. In the Nineties, she was reunited with costars Bob Denver, Dawn
Wells, and Russell Johnson in an episode of Roseanne, later choosing not to
reunite with them for the television film Surviving Gilligan's Island,
co-produced by Dawn Wells, where she was portrayed by actress Kristen Dalton.
With Denver's passing in 2005, Louise wrote a brief,
affectionate memorial to him in the year-end "farewell" issue of
Entertainment Weekly. She went on to star in the syndicated serial
"Rituals," in 1985, "O.C. and Stiggs" and the independent
"Johnny Suede" with Brad Pitt. Now living in New York City, Louise became
a volunteer teacher at Learning Leaders, a non-profit organization dedicated to
providing tutoring to New York City school children. It has been her passion to
help young students gain not only literary skills, but also confidence,
self-determination and proof of their own potential. She has written two books,
"Sunday: A Memoir" and "When I Grow Up," a children's book
that inspires children to believe they can become whatever they choose. She
published a second children's book, "What Does a Bee Do?" She is a member
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a lifetime member of the
Actors Studio.
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Judith Baldwin
A life member of the Actors Studio, Baldwin
amassed 46 screen credits between 1969 and her leading role in 2005's
"Every Secret Thing." When she was unable to return to the role of
Ginger, the role was recast for the film, The Harlem Globetrotters on
Gilligan's Island by Constance Forslund.
In 1987, Judith created the role of
Beth Logan on the CBS-TV daytime soap opera "The Bold and the
Beautiful," but she was soon replaced by Nancy Barrett from "Dark
Shadows," who became more closely identified in the role. Baldwin has an
impressive TV resume which includes guest starring in many television series,
including "Police Story," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "The
Fall Guy," "Hill Street Blues," "CHiPs,"
"Matlock," "Freddy's Nightmares," "Tales from the
Crypt," "Cybil" and "Six Feet Under." She has also
appeared in the movies, "The Stepford Wives," "I Was a Mail
Order Bride," "Deal of the Century," "The Stepford
Children," "Beaches," "Pretty Woman," "Exit to
Eden," "The Princess Diaries" and "Every Secret
Thing."
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Constance Forslund
Born June 19, 1950 in San Diego, California, USA, Constance
Forslund is an American actress who played the role of Ginger Grant in TheHarlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island, replacing Judith Baldwin who
appeared in the two previous TV films, Rescue from Gilligan's Island and The
Castaways on Gilligan's Island.
She also portrayed the late actress Marilyn
Monroe in "This Year's Blonde," one of a series of three movie
specials under the "Moviola" name. She has also made guest appearancs
on such TV shows as "Fantasy Island," "Taxi," "Trapper
John, M.D.," "CHiPs," "Magnum, P.I.," "The Love
Boat," "Murder, She Wrote," and "ER."
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Kristen Dalton
Born Kristen V. Hocking on February 14, 1966, Kristen Dalton
is an American actress from San Diego, California. Dalton got her big break
when she played a small role in Tango & Cash with Kurt Russell. She also
played a small role in A Night at the Roxbury, starring Will Ferrell and Chris
Kattan. She appeared as Jack Nicholson's character Frank Costello's girlfriend
Gwen in The Departed. She has since
starred in several other movies, such as Danielle Steel's "Family
Album," "They Nest" and Surviving Gilligan's Island in 2001
where she portrayed the dual roles of Ginger Grant and actress Tina Louise.
Dalton has guest starred in many television shows, but she
is perhaps best known for her role as reporter Dana Bright in USA Network's The
Dead Zone, starring Anthony Michael Hall.
Dalton's other television appearances include roles in
Beverly Hills, 90210, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, Sliders, Stargate
SG-1, and CSI: NY. She has also appeared in TV movies, such as Danielle Steel's
Family Album, They Nest, Babysitter Wanted and Gleason.
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Eva Grubb
Eva Grubb is a visitor to the island who came seeking
isolation from others because of her looks. Rejected by potential boyfriends
and suffering from an inferiority complex, she saved her money and bought the
boat to live by herself in exile, but whether she found the island on purpose
or chanced upon it is unrevealed.
When docking on shore, she is met by the
Skipper and Gilligan, who plead for her to rescue them. Instead, Eva tells
Gilligan and Skipper they can have her boat, provided they do not reveal the
island to anyone. The Professor considers Eva irrational and wants to get her
help, but hearing these plans, she attempts to hold everyone hostage on the
island, as well as sabotaging the boat by removing the spark plugs. Ginger
resolves to help Eva's opinion of herself by improving her looks, possibly
making Eva look just like herself. Buoyed by her looks, Eva vamps Gilligan, but
realizing she'd be over-shadowed by Ginger her whole life, she tries to replace
her. She ties up Ginger and poses as her at a party the Howells give in her
honor, rushing back and forth to cover both her identity and Ginger, who frees
her and exposes her. Convinced she could still replace Ginger, Eva sneaks away
under cover of dark to return to civilization, take back her boat and leave the
island. Her whereabouts are unknown.
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‘All About Eva’ is the 82nd episode of Gilligan's Island and
the 14th episode of the third season. It is best known as the one where Tina
Louise plays two characters. It aired December 12, 1966.
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Some Various Animated Images of Ginger Grant
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