ARCHIVES: Revisiting West Virginia’s Connection to “Gilligan’s Island”


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The “Gilligan’s Island” cast. Gilligan (center front), played by Bob Denver, later met and married an actress from southern West Virginia, Dreama Perry, where they lived together until his death in 2005.

By DOUGLAS JOHN IMBROGNO | jan1.2021 | WestVirginiaVille.com

If you are noting the relentless toll of famous and not-so-famous people mowed down by COVID, you will know that actress Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann Summers on “Gilligan’s Island,” died on Dec. 30, at age 82 of complications from the virus. That leaves Tina Louise, who played Ginger Grant, as the sole surviving cast member of the iconic series. In this 2-part tribute, I revisit the Mountain State”s connection to “Gilligan’s Island” through West Virginia-born actress Dreama Perry Denver, “who brought ‘Gilligan’ back home with her” (as a childhood friend once marveled) where he lived with Dreama and their son until Denver’s death in 2005. Also below is Dreama’s own farewell to Dawn Wells.

“Gilligan’s Island” occupies an outsize place in the psyche of those of us of a certain age. I think that is partly because there just didn’t used to be all that much mass entertainment back in the day — the latter part of the 1960s, when the series aired.


“Gilligan’s Island” only ran for three years on TV, from 1964-67, yet retains a tenacious and nostalgic hold in the cultural memory banks.


Nowadays, an avalanche of entertainment clogs our TVs, phones, and computers. So much of it clamors for our attention that it’s impossible to keep up. Plus, unlike touchstone, communal shows like “Gilligan’s Island,” it’s unusual anymore to share common entertainment reference points, except for the occasional smash hit such as “Game of Thrones” or “Queen’s Gambit.”

“Gilligan’s Island” ran for only three seasons, from 1964-67 (with spin-off movies and endless re-runs), yet it retains a tenacious, nostalgic hold in cultural memory banks. It helps that it was about as innocent an ensemble comedy as you could hope for, full of distinct characters, anchored by the goofy charm of Denver himself. For those of us with a crush on Mary Ann and/or Ginger, there was that, too. (Your “Gilligan’s Island” crushes may vary.)


WestVirginiaVille.com photo-illustration of Bob Denver from “Gilligan’s Island.”

These observations are by way of offering up the following 2011 video profile I did of Dreama Denver, a West Virginia native who married Gilligan himself, the actor Bob Denver, after they met while working on a theatrical production.

The video came to mind after learning of Dawn Wells’ passing. I shot it as a companion piece to a Charleston Gazette-Mail story of Nov. 13, 2011, which profiled how a young actress from a small West Virginia town met Denver on stage, and how their lives were forever changed.


Bob and Dreama Denver. They met while working on a stage play together.

They married two years after their first kiss as characters in that stage production. When their son Colin was born with a severe disability, both gave up acting and moved to Southern West Virginia to care for him full time in the peace and quiet of the mountains.

Peace. Quiet. Except that Denver’s TV character was so famous that “Gilligan” hunters came looking for the “Gilligan’s Island” and “Dobie Gillis” star in the West Virginia hills, as Dreama recounts in the video — even spreading out a picnic feast at the end of their driveway once.

Then there were the folks who came looking for John Denver …


CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

Video by Douglas John Imbrogno

Over on Youtube, this video has been seen 140,837 times and has 111 comments. It receives new comments all the time — a testimony to the hold “Gilligan’s Island” still has on our memories. Plus, Dreama is a real sweetie. Enjoy the recollections it may stir.

PS: I wish I could link or reproduce my print interview with Dreama, but the story is missing in action in the Internet-O-Sphere (which, contrary to its billing, is not always forever). It would give context to some of Dreama’s comments about son Colin. The piece also mentions Little Buddy Radio, which is still on the air, and the non-profit Denver Foundation with which Dreama has been long involved.



Dawn Wells, America’s Sweetheart

Dawn Wells, who played “Mary Ann” on “Gilligan’s Island.”

Dreama Denver posted the following piece to bobdenver.com on the passing of Dawn Wells (1938-2020), who died on Dec. 30, from complications of COVID. The piece is reprinted with her permission.

By DREAMA DENVER | from bobdenver.com | dec31.2020

Nothing I say in this post will be sufficient because there are no words to convey the sadness I feel. Dawn was my friend for 45 years. She was also America’s sweetheart. Her life  force was not to be believed. Her curiosity was as boundless as her heart was huge. Her kindness to her fans was legendary. Just ask any fan who ever met her.

My heart breaks for the loss that I and so many others are feeling today. Somehow, it doesn’t seem possible that I’m talking about Dawn in the past tense. But I’m so grateful for her 82 beautiful years on this earth—years full of adventure and joy. Her impact in television, movies and  stage will live on, her legacy will never fade. 

I’ll  treasure our friendship until my last breath. I’ll remember the girl talks (so many girl talks); rooming together on the road; the fun we had at autograph shows; the way she lit up a room the minute she entered.

Our last visit was in February of 2019, when she came to Princeton to co-host the Denver Foundation’s “Valentines for Veterans” concert. I needed  her. She came. That’s who she was. She stayed at my house and we were  having so much fun she extended her visit for 2 extra days! I had no idea that would be our last time together and I’m beyond grateful for those five days of just being girlfriends.


Dawn Wells and Bob Denver in a scene from “Gilligan’s Island.”

My  heart is broken. Dawn and I always said we were meant to be friends. Even if I had never met Bob, we were certain the theater circuit would  have brought us together and our paths would have crossed. When we finally did meet on the set of “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island,” we became  friends instantly and that friendship lasted through the loss of  Natalie, Jim, Alan, Russell and the love of my life, Bob.

What  a reunion they must be having. They all loved each other so much, and what a blessing that I became part of the castaway love fest.

Dawnie,  I love you. I can’t believe you’re gone. I pray you’re at peace. My heart hurts. This has been so difficult to write and I’m afraid I  haven’t done you justice. You were a bright light in this sometimes dark world. You were my friend, loved by me and so many others. 

The ultimate  dilemma was never really a dilemma at all — Ginger or Mary Ann?

It was always  Mary Ann …

Rest In Peace, my beautiful friend.


Mary Ann and Mrs. Gilligan
Dreama Denver and Dawn Wells.

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