When Dreama Perry Denver first learned that she’d be starring opposite Bob Denver in a stage production of Play It Again, Sam, she couldn’t believe her ears. “I said, ‘Gilligan, really?’” Dreama recalls with a laugh in an interview with Closer. “Seriously, I’m going to do love scenes with Gilligan?” But as it turned out, Bob Denver was so much more than the iconic character that made him famous. Let me tell you, this guy wasn’t just a TV star; he was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a true patriot.
A Multifaceted Man Beyond Gilligan
Bob Denver wasn’t your typical Hollywood actor. Sure, he became a household name thanks to the zany antics of Gilligan’s Island, but there was so much more to him than meets the eye. Dreama, who was married to Bob for 26 years, paints a vivid picture of a man who was serious, low-key, and incredibly intelligent. “Bob was so much deeper than what people saw on screen,” Dreama shares. She dives into her memories, sharing family photos and treasured memorabilia in her new book, Island to Icon: The Many Lives of Bob Denver. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the man she loved and the life they built together.
Love at First Sight—or at Least a Handshake
Despite her initial reservations about working with the beloved Gilligan, Dreama admits that it was love at first sight when she finally met Bob in person. “The minute we shook hands,” she says, “we both thought, ‘Ah, there you are!’” That spark never faded. Dreama and Bob spent nearly three decades together, cherishing every moment of their life as a couple. “We never stopped being appreciative of what we had,” Dreama reflects. It’s clear that their bond was something truly special.
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A Family Built on Love and Togetherness
The couple created a warm, blended family that included Bob’s three older children from previous relationships and their son, Colin, born in 1984. “Bob was an incredible dad,” Dreama says fondly. “He adored his kids.” The family spent countless summers traveling together, creating beautiful memories in places like the Rocky Mountains and Hawaii. “We went on adventures, explored nature, and laughed until our sides hurt,” Dreama remembers. One Christmas, they even found themselves playing in rainbows on the beaches of Kauai. It’s moments like these that remind us of the joy and love that filled their lives.
But life wasn’t always easy. Their son, Colin, was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two. “What most people don’t know about Bob is that he spent the last 20 years of his life providing full-time care to our son,” Dreama reveals. “He stepped away from the spotlight to be there for Colin and for me. We faced everything together, and Bob never wavered in his love and devotion.” It’s a testament to his character and the strength of their family.
A Romantic and Patriotic Soul
Bob wasn’t just a loving husband and father—he was also a romantic at heart. One Christmas, he took out a full-page ad in the newspaper to express how much he loved Dreama. “He was very romantic, very attentive, and very sexy,” she says with a smile. But Bob’s love for his country ran just as deep. In 1968, he traveled to Vietnam at his own expense to entertain American soldiers. “There was a young soldier who was absolutely blown away to be sitting next to Gilligan!” Dreama recounts. “Bob was there for six weeks, not with the USO, but on his own. He was incredibly proud of that.”
Legacy Beyond Gilligan
While Bob sometimes struggled with being typecast as Gilligan, he understood the impact his characters had on people’s lives. “In 1968, Bob went to Vietnam to bring a little taste of home to our troops,” Dreama explains. “He felt blessed to have had that kind of success twice—first as Maynard G. Krebs on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and then as Gilligan.” Gilligan’s Island may have only aired from 1964 to 1967, but its legacy endures. “When they were making the show, they hoped it would last a couple of seasons,” Dreama notes. “They had no idea it would still be loved 60 years later!”
