The Many Faces of Ginger Grant

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

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

Born March 26, 1946, Judith Lee Baldwin is an American actress who replaced Tina Louise in the role of Ginger Grant in Rescue from Gilligan's Island and TheCastaways on Gilligan's Island.

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.

‘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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