‘Gilligan’s Island’ Star Tina Louise Wrote a Memoir About Her Rough Childhood
Tina Louise played the stunning Ginger Grant on Gilligan’s Island, and now, at 90 years old, she is still looking good, with that always-memorable red hair. She recently appeared on a talk show as part of her press tour to promote her new memoir titled Sunday: A Memoir, detailing her time as a child in boarding school.
When she was around six years old, she was sent by her parents to boarding school because they were going through a divorce. Times weren’t easy for her growing up in that school, surrounded by uncaring strangers. She lived for Sundays, the day when her parents could potentially visit. Based on the reviews, it seems like a short read, but also an emotional look into her young life that any true fan would love to learn about.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for FLC
Louise said that when her daughter was around eight years old, she started having memories of herself at that age. Memories that she pushed down for many years came rushing back, so she would record them, hoping to write a book about it one day. She wrote on her Facebook page, “I’ve been having fun doing press about my audiobook for the re-release of Sunday, my memoir written from my perspective as an 8-year-old. It’s really quite freeing and therapeutic to talk about it. The book is out now in various forms. 🙂”
Everett Collection
Louise also spoke about the long-lasting impact of Gilligan’s Island, and she admitted that she had no idea the show would become beloved by so many generations. She thought that it would only last six months at first! The show ran from 1964 to 1967, and reruns helped keep the show alive for new audiences.
Louise was just starting her career at that time and said she was in a Broadway show with Carol Burnett when they asked her to film the show. They reportedly weren’t happy with the person who filmed the pilot and thought that Louise would be a perfect fit as Ginger; and, of course, she was!
If you’re interested in reading the memoir, get it on Amazon here.
Remind 
Classic TV Shows of the ’50s & ’60s
September 2020
Test your knowledge, from Bonanza and Gunsmoke to I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek and more fun TV of the 1950s and 1960s.
Buy This Issue