Earlier than Bob Denver was the blundering first mate Gilligan (who did, actually, have a primary identify at one level), he was the jazz-loving beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” Max Shulman’s sitcom, which he tailored from his personal quick tales, centered on, properly, Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman), a younger man who was hopelessly fixated on the pursuit of wealth and success, satisfied they have been the keys to getting younger girls to fall in love with him. It was Denver as Dobie’s shut buddy Maynard who actually induced a stir, although, successful viewers over along with his laid-back, quirky persona and relatable aversion to work. (We respect a fella who would not kowtow to the calls for of the capitalist machine.)
As common as “Dobie Gillis” was for CBS, airing for 4 seasons from 1959 to 1963, it might quickly be eclipsed by one other comedy collection on the community anchored (no pun supposed) by Denver — “Gilligan’s Island,” in fact. Different members of the “Dobie Gillis” forged would take pleasure in various levels {of professional} success after the present ended. Nonetheless, it was a minor season 1 participant within the type of Warren Beatty who would have simply essentially the most vital post-series profession of the lot. Nonetheless a number of years out from his breakout efficiency in “Bonnie and Clyde,” the Oscar-winning Hollywood icon appeared in only a handful of “Dobie Gillis” episodes as Milton Armitage, a well-to-do jock at Dobie’s highschool and Dobie’s rival for the affections of sure ladies. (He was a rival in Dobie’s thoughts, not less than.)
Years later, Denver mentioned that he and his “Dobie Gillis” costars weren’t remotely shocked when Beatty turned an enormous identify. In truth, the way in which Denver remembered it, they foresaw early on that Beatty would ultimately go away his humble tv beginnings within the mud.
Beatty at all times knew easy methods to make an impression
It is price taking into account that actors did not readily crossover between movie and tv for a lot of the twentieth century; you have been both within the films otherwise you did TV exhibits. That modified dramatically with the rise of status TV and streaming, however on the time that Beatty and Denver have been engaged on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” there was little to no cause for Denver to assume his co-star would ever have a profession in movement photos. However, that is precisely what Denver believed would occur. Or, reasonably, that is how he informed the legend in his 1994 memoir “Gilligan, Maynard & Me,” writing that he and the remainder of the “Dobie Gillis” forged merely knew that Beatty “was not lengthy for episodic TV” (by way of Deseret Information).
Chatting with CJAD 800 AM, Montreal in 1994 to advertise his e book, Denver reiterated that the “Dobie Gillis” forged “knew [Beatty] wasn’t destined for state of affairs comedy. He was heading for the movement photos.” In each that interview and his memoir, Denver additionally recounted a very memorable incident on the present’s set involving Beatty. “Somebody locked [Beatty] in a dressing room onstage (as a prank),” Denver wrote in his e book. “He shouted a couple of instances to be let loose after which turned silent. It wasn’t till the center of the subsequent take that we heard from him. He was singing opera on the prime of his lungs.”
Beatty, sometimes called Hollywood’s authentic playboy, was identified for his larger-than-life charisma, and his antics on “Dobie Gillis” (very similar to the function he performed on the present) have been very a lot indicative of his skill to take command of any room he entered. “[Beatty] was solely with the collection for 5 or 6 episodes, after which a yr later he starred in ‘Splendor within the Grass,'” Denver famous in his memoir. Certainly, Beatty did an entire lot greater than that.