Tina Louise became a star overnight when she played Ginger on the popular TV show “Gilligan’s Island.” The New York native went on to have a successful career as an actress, singer, and model. Although she was often admired for her looks, not just her acting.

Today, Tina Louise is the only surviving cast member from “Gilligan’s Island.” The show had a big impact on her life, but she didn’t only act. At 90 years old, she’s still doing well, and it’s hard to believe she isn’t much younger when you see her now.

Let’s take a look at her amazing life, career, and how she looks today.

Tina Louise, born Tina Blacker on February 11, 1934, in New York City, had a candy store owner for a father and a fashion model for a mother.

Tina Louise – early life & career

When Tina Louise was just four years old, her parents divorced, which made her childhood quite complicated. She lived with various relatives and sometimes strangers, leading a somewhat unsettled life.

Tina didn’t initially dream of working in entertainment. But everything changed a few weeks before she was set to start at Miami University. After seeing a friend land a part in a Broadway play, she was inspired. She told her mother that she wanted to leave university because the drama department there didn’t meet her needs.

Her mother supported her decision, and Tina began studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan, New York, which she found to be a great school.

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While Tina Louise was studying acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, she also started modeling and working as a nightclub singer. In 1952, she made her Broadway debut in the musical “Two’s Company,” which starred Bette Davis. Her looks drew a lot of attention, and she even appeared in Playboy Magazine.

In 1957, Tina released her first music album called It’s Time for Tina. She continued working in theater and took on some small movie roles. But in 1958, her life took a big turn.

Breakthrough role in ‘God’s Little Acre

Tina Louise became a Hollywood star with her role as Griselda Walden in the film God’s Little Acre. The movie got great reviews, and Tina won a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.

“It was amazing,” she told Forbes. “The movie was shown at the Venice Film Festival, and I was treated like royalty. I didn’t have to worry about anything. People gave me bright red roses, and I thought, ‘Why not give them to the writer or director instead?’”

Instead of taking more Hollywood roles, Tina Louise chose a different path. After God’s Little Acre, she focused on Broadway and acted in Italian films. In 1962, after returning from Europe, she started studying with Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio.

“Everything Lee Strasberg said was important. He’d test how relaxed you were by seeing how your arm dropped,” Louise told Esquire. “He’d ask you to make a sound, and sometimes that would make people laugh or cry. It was all about deep relaxation.”

She added, “I learned a lot from Lee about finding deep relaxation to achieve what you’re working on. Then, when I was on Gilligan’s Island, it was a big change with people telling me to ‘Go right’ or ‘Go left.’”

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Gilligan’s Island made Tina Louise a Hollywood legend. Before she got the role, she was performing with Carol Burnett in the Broadway musical comedy Fade Out-Fade In. But when Tina read the Gilligan’s Island script, she wasn’t sure it was right for her.

Tina Louise as Ginger in ‘Gilligan’s Island’

In the pilot episode of Gilligan’s Island, the role of Ginger was played by Kit Smythe. But when they decided to change the character, Tina Louise was chosen for the part.

At first, Tina thought Ginger’s character was a mix of Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball, and she found the scripts a bit sharp. However, she soon saw that the show was light, funny, and charming.

“I always had fun with the show. Flirting is fun!” Louise told the NY Post.

Tina Louise stayed with the CBS sitcom for all three seasons and 98 episodes. Although people loved her role as Ginger, she never returned for any TV or movie reunions.

For years, fans have sent her letters and approached her to thank her for her role as Ginger.

“I get letters every day. I appreciate that people love the show. Once, someone told me that their husband, who was dying of cancer, watched the show every day,” Tina Louise said.

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“That means a lot to me. I really respect that people enjoy the show so much. I get it—when you need something to distract you, you really need it. When I was recovering in bed for two and a quarter months, I needed a distraction. Luckily, there was an exciting election on TV, and I was grateful for that, along with the books I read and the visitors I had.”

The writers didn’t want us to get off the Island

Even though Gilligan’s Island was very popular, it only lasted for three seasons. According to Tina Louise, the decision to end the show came from the network.

“The writers didn’t want us to leave the island,” Louise explained. “The show was still doing well when it ended. The network president wasn’t happy with the 1967 schedule and wanted to bring back Gunsmoke. So, they took our show off the air.” She added, “In syndication, it kept going and going.”

When the show ended, Tina returned to doing more dramatic roles.

She continued her successful career in both acting and music. She appeared in the TV series Kojak in 1974, and other roles included the 1975 movie The Stepford Wives, the 1987 comedy OC and Stiggs, and the 1992 film Johnny Sue with Brad Pitt.

Even after reaching retirement age, Tina didn’t stop following her passion. In 2014, she starred in the spiritual drama Tapestry and continued to find interesting new projects.

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Since publishing her memoir Sunday: A Memoir in 1997, Tina Louise has written several books. Her 2007 children’s book When I Grow Up was especially meaningful because she donated part of the proceeds to literacy programs. Tina has also been volunteering at local public schools since 1996.

She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. While she values these recognitions, she has sadly seen many of her colleagues pass away over the years. Tina Louise is the last surviving cast member of Gilligan’s Island. In 2020, her former castmate and friend, Dawn Wells, passed away from Covid-19.

This is Tina Louise from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ today

“Dawn was a very wonderful person. I want people to remember her as someone who always had a smile on her face,” Tina Louise told the New York Post. “Family is the most important thing, and she was family. She will always be remembered.”

“We were part of a great show that everyone loves and has brought comfort, especially during tough times.”

Tina Louise was married to TV talk show host Les Crane for four years before they divorced in 1971. They have a daughter, Caprice Crane, who is now a producer, screenwriter, and novelist. Tina also has two grandchildren, whom she calls “my two beautiful babies.”

At 90 years old, Tina still lives in her hometown of New York, in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.

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Even though Tina is getting up there in age—something that’s hard to believe when you see her pictures—she’s still open to meeting the right man.

Numbers are not what you look like

“I’m open to life,” Louise said. “These days, I don’t go out much. If I do, it’s usually just once every two weeks with a friend.”

When interviewed by the New York Post in 2021, she chose not to share her age.

“Don’t focus on numbers. They don’t define you or how you live your life,” Tina Louise added. “As Buddha said, ‘Live in the present moment. Wisely and earnestly.’”

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