Tina Louise Reveals How Little Money She Made From ‘Gilligan’s Island’

Gilligan’s Island might have a long-lasting legacy, however it wasn’t a very profitable deal for the actors concerned.

The ’60s sitcom portrayed a hodgepodge constitution of characters shipwrecked on a abandoned island, the place they spent the subsequent three seasons looking for methods to get dwelling (usually thwarted by first mate Gilligan’s errors). Regardless of airing within the ’60s, Gilligan’s Island continues to seek out new viewers with repeated reruns and its availability on streaming platforms. It’s a family identify for a lot of — however it did not make its solid that wealthy, regardless of their notoriety.

In a March 7 interview with Forbes, Tina Louise — who portrayed the film star Ginger Grant on the present — revealed that the solid members “made so little money” filming all 98 episodes, with every actor reportedly receiving “like $1,500 an episode,” she mentioned.

Although the reruns and availability on streaming platforms would lead many to imagine it a present that has continued to maintain Louise’s life post-acting, she confirmed to the outlet that she has not acquired any residuals from the present over the previous 60 years.

“Nothing! Not a cent,” the 91-year-old mentioned.

However plainly performing has by no means been in regards to the cash for Louise, who admitted elsewhere within the interview that she nearly stop Gilligan’s Island earlier than it aired. When providing recommendation for younger ladies trying to break into the enterprise, she advisable they “do a play” — even when it doesn’t make them any cash.

“Don’t be worried about getting money from that,” she mentioned. “You’ll have to have another job of some kind, but I would say to be seen, whether you made money or not, do a play. Just do something you have to do every single night. I think you bloom better, starting on the stage. That’s what I did.”

Louise’s performing profession slowed within the ’90s, and although she’s taken on a smattering of components all through the twenty first century (the newest of which was the function of Rose within the 2019 movie Tapestry), she admits that she doesn’t have an agent — however isn’t against returning to the display screen for the suitable challenge.

“Yes, I would [continue acting] — but it’s like dreaming will not make it so,” she mentioned. “I don’t think people come to find you, but if somebody asked me to do something that I wanted to do — that I found some reason to do — I would want to do it. I just don’t have representation in that area, but I mean, I can be found. I think it’s pointless to have an agent. Why would they do that at this point? I’m open to doing work. I just take one day at a time and I’m doing what I want to do.”

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However for now, her major aim is staying alive for one more 40 years on the request of her daughter — and he or she received’t entertain any thought that means in any other case.

“I’m not thinking about leaving. I don’t think of that,” she concluded. “I don’t want to think about it. I’m running to stay healthy. I’m walking to the gym. I’m just thinking about staying alive for my family. I love being alive.”