Trivia

Denver's son, Patrick Denver played Young Gilligan in one of the episodes of L'île aux naufragés (1964) during a dream sequence.

Used to work for the United States Postal Service as a postman, and as a high school teacher.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2005, his friend from the comedy series Dobie Gillis (1959), actress-turned-California State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, who played boy-crazy Zelda Gilroy on the series, was granted her request that the Senate adjourn in Denver's memory.

Often went out of his way to help his fellow cast members on L'île aux naufragés (1964). This 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 series' title sequence.

In real life he is the exact opposite of the well-known inept and goofy characters he has portrayed on television.

His future co-star on Dobie Gillis (1959), Dwayne Hickman, was a classmate at Loyola-Marymount.

Had played the same character (Gilligan) on seven different series: L'île aux naufragés (1964), The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974), Gilligan's Planet (1982), The New Gidget (1986), ALF (1986), Alerte à Malibu (1989) and Meego (1997).

Playing beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the comedy series Dobie Gillis (1959), his most enduring line from that series was his freaked-out exclamation "Work!?" whenever anyone mentioned the word within hearing distance.

The Gilligan/Skipper slapstick exchange were modeled after the comedy duo/icons of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Enjoyed going sailing in real life. For obvious reasons, however, he dreaded it when he had to rent a boat. People often would say the same jokes to him every time oh a 3 hour tour ah.

Suffered a broken neck in 1956, which prevented him from induction into the United States Army.

Replaced Woody Allen as the protagonist in Allen's play "Play It Again, Sam" on Broadway in 1970.

Studying at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles 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 1950s production of "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial".

He owes a major part of his success to Jerry Van Dyke (Dick's brother). Van Dyke was the first choice to play Gilligan on L'île aux naufragés (1964). Van Dyke turned down the role calling it "the worst thing I ever read." Van Dyke later regretted his decision.

Father of Patrick Denver, Megan Denver, Emily Denver and Colin Denver. Grandfather of Elana Denver.

After surviving quadruple bypass surgery in early 2005, he was diagnosed with cancer only a few months before his death on September 2. Treated at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital, he died in Winston-Salem, NC.

Graduated from Loyola University in Los Angeles, CA (now Loyola Marymount University) in 1957.

Worked with exotic-animal trainer Ralph Helfer's African lion Zamba twice from Dobie Gillis (1959) and L'île aux naufragés (1964).

Raised in Brownwood, TX. The family eventually moved to California, where he graduated from Long Beach Jordan High School.

Was arrested for marijuana possession in 1971 and 1998.

Had a son, Colin, with Dreama - had 3 other children from previous marriages.

Made his film debut in a small role in Les Déchaînés (1959) starring Sal Mineo just prior to finding television fame.

On Friday, October 15, 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, he 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.

Passed away on September 2, 2005, four months shy of what would have been his 71st birthday on January 9, 2006.

He was born just one day after Elvis Presley. Both had played a love interest of Michele Carey: Denver in Fureur à la plage (1968) and Presley in Le grand frisson (1968).

Brother-in-law of Ed Begley.

The cartoon character of 'Shaggy Rogers' in "Scooby-Doo" incarnations, is modeled after Denver's Dobie Gillis (1959) character, 'Maynard G. Krebs'.

Was almost mauled by Zamba on the set of "Feed the Kitty" but Ralph tackled the Lion in mid-air.

His Dobie Gillis (1959) co-star Dwayne Hickman passed away on what would've been Denver's 87th birthday in 2022.

He and his wife Dreama ran a small "oldies format" radio station, WGAG-LP 93.1 FM.

He auditioned for the role of Putzie in Grease (1978).