Tina Louise Reveals That She Barely Made Any Money Working on 'Gilligan's Island'

WideOpenCountry ^ | 3/15/25 | Caleb Catlin

[DallasBiff]

You would think a hit show like Gilligan's Island would rake in the dough. Across three seasons, they received a ton of prestige and audiences still love it. The show currently resides at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, impressive for a show that's over 60 years old. However, according to Tina Louise, the legacy of the show doesn't exactly reflect the kind of pay they were getting at the time.

Recently, she spoke with Forbes to go over her illustrious career, particularly her time on Gilligan's Island. There, Tina says that across all 98 episodes, she didn't bring in much money, "like $1,500 an episode," as she puts it. Moreover, the streaming availability and cable reruns doesn't do Louise any favors either. You would think residuals would hold her over once she settled down from an acting career. Instead, it's quite the opposite. ""Nothing! Not a cent," she exclaims

[Dr. Franklin]

Her plastic surgeon needs to take an art class or two.. that’s not what people look like.

I wish I hadn't seen that photo. Women don't age well, and it's frequently better to just remember them how they were.

[Blue Highway]

Larry Fine died broke, crippled, and decrepit.

I thought Larry Fine just won an election in Florida...

[Yo-Yo]

Tina Louise was the prima donna of the show. Bob Denver, fresh off the TV series Dobie Gillis, was the star of the show at the time, and made the biggest bucks.

Tina Louise thought she should have been the star, and never participated in any of the 'reunion' Gilligan's Island shows.

She considered herself a serious actress and thought the show would typecast her as a ditzy comedienne.

[toddausauras]

This is where I’d love to be a billionaire...I’d read this and send Tina 10 million.

[Horkster]

Imagine the audacity, starting with the almost perfect canvas of *Ginger’s* face, and thinking, somehow, as a cosmetic surgeon, fully trained, “I can improve upon this, somehow, just watch!” - and *this* is the result...

[Fuzz]

She’s 91!

What the hell?

91!

[AZJeep]

I do not think $1,500 for episode is a chap change. Especially in 1960 dollars.
Those actors are soo spoiled!

[Fledermaus]

Why would you jump in to be a jerk?

[sit-rep]

Btt!!

[HIDEK6]

I could have told you that, then.

[ZinGirl]

I’ll be honest…haven’t read the comments BUT, randomly, decided to start watching DALLAS last week. “That’s Tina Louise?” was one of my first thoughts.

I’m a 70’s Gilligan’s Island girl..thought Ginger was the epitome of beauty. And she is definitely lovely. But later in life appreciated MaryAnn much moreso. MUCH later in life appreciated Russell Johnson for not only his hottiness 😀 but for his military bravery ❤️

[sit-rep]

I bet their ratings were thru the roof. I wonder what the comparison would be in today’s Ratings standards... Realizing of course TV wasn’t in every household like today...

[Kartographer]

In the early days of cable, it was said that Gilligan’s Island’, was on some were 24/7!

[sit-rep]

Not Guilty! Guilty!! Not Guilty!!!

[Karl Spooner]

Don't let the one in the pastel blue sweater get to ya, freepers..

.

https://youtu.be/S8rCy173y7Y?si=HRn6iBy1bcJfvKNU&t=5

[Responsibility2nd]

Back in the day the question was .... Mary Ann or Ginger?

Now that we’re older... we have to admit that Mrs. Howell looks pretty darn fine too.

[RBStealth]

doooh!

[Responsibility2nd]

If anyone wants to see Tina at their finest...

Watch God's Little Acre.

Oh, did I say their. I mean her.

[A_perfect_lady]

Boy, I wasn’t prepared for that photo.

[GingisK]

I bet their ratings were thru the roof.

Their ratings were pretty high.