Tina Louise: Things You Probably Didn't Know About Shipwrecked Ginger

By Editorial Staff in Entertainment On 2nd January 2017

The iconic redheaded bombshell had a fascinating career off of Gilligan's Island. She's danced alongside Carol Burnett on Broadway, acted in Italian epics, written books, developed a parasol in the 1990s, and even sang jazz music. For decades, she fought to break the stereotype and succeeded in her fascinating roles outside of sitcom-dom. But she has been forever remembered as Ginger Grant, the hot-blooded 'movie star' there, on Gilligan's Isle.

#1 She Gave Herself The Middle Name 'Louise'

Born Tina Blacker, to a candy store owner in Brooklyn, she later became Tina Myers when her mother remarried. In high school, the aspiring actress decided to give herself a middle name since she was the only one without one and the name Louise stuck ever since!

#2 She Was A Model For Frederick's Of Hollywood

When she was 17, Tina Louise started studying acting, singing, and dancing at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan under Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg. Like many aspiring actresses, she had to make some money on the side and got into modeling. She ended up being in the Oct. Nov. 1958 issue of Frederick's catalog, which was basically equivalent to today's Victoria Secret's!

#3 She Posed Alongside Jayne Mansfield

She was listed in the Frederick's Catalog, along with actress Jayne Mansfield, as "Hollywood's Fastest Rising Star." The two would be linked once again when Mansfield turned down a role on a sitcom about seven castaways on an island. Louise, as we all know, got the gig instead. Mansfield went on to have a long career in movies.

#4 Tina Released A Jazz Album In 1957

Tina had a musical calling after she had a role in the Broadway play, Li'l Abner back in 1957. Shortly after, she released an album titled, It's Time for Tina, which consisted of Jazz songs such as "Embraceable You" and "I'm in the Mood for Love." Saxophone legend Coleman Hawkins blows on the tracks under Louise's casually seductive voice.

#5 She Was Named The World's Most Beautiful Redhead In 1958

Tina Louise stood out in the Gilligan's Island family for not only being the only redhead but being very beautiful. In 1958, after she debuted in the movie, God's Little Acre, the National Art Council named her the "World's Most Beautiful Redhead."

#6 She Starred In Several Italian Films

After she was dubbed the "World's Most Beautiful Redhead," many people wanted her in their movies, including the Italian cinema. Tina traveled abroad to the beautiful country to lend them her talents and did her first film with them, L'assedio di Siracusa (Siege of Syracuse) in 1960. Her most notable Italian film was Garibaldi, which was directed by famed producer and director Roberto Rossellini.

#7 She Played In A Movie With Bob Denver Before They Worked Together On Gilligan's Island

Tina Louise and Bob Denver actually had met before the filming of Gilligan's Island as they did a movie together. Both of them were cast in the 1964 summer flick, For Those Who Think Young and the film was released just months before the first episode of Gilligan's Island aired. Denver and Louise costarred in the summer teen comedy along with Nancy Sinatra and Ellen Burstyn.

#8 She Worked With Carol Burnett In A Hit Broadway Show

Before Tina Louise was cast in Gilligan's Island, she had a role in the Broadway musical, Fade Out-Fade In. The show starred the decorated comedian, Carol Burnett, which is probably one of the reasons the play received such high ratings. It was about a chorus girl who is given the lead role in a film, which is subsequently canned until a certain someone takes a look at it. Loise had to leave the Tony Award-winning cast when she started on Gilligan's Island.

#9 Tina Starred In One Of Brad Pitt's First Films

Brad Pitt was a nobody when he landed the title role in the quirky movie, an indie flick about an aspiring rockabilly singer with a massive pompadour. Director David Lynch came up with this flick, so you can imagine how far out it is. Tina played Mrs. Fontaine, while Pitt was the title character. Samuel L. Jackson was also in the film, which was very weird.

#10 There's A Restaurant In New Jersey Baring Her Name

A life goal is to become so famous that somebody names a restaurant after you, and they did for Tina. The eatery, Tina Louise, in Carlstadt, New Jersey is named after the famous redhead because the owner fell in love with her watching reruns of Gilligan's Island. The place calls its food "a taste of Asia," so you will find a variety of Asian cuisine. They may have coconut milk and banana pudding too.

#11 Two Rock Songs Mention Her Name

Long before "Uma Thurman" came out, two different songs were about Tina Louise. A restaurant wasn't the only thing in pop culture to reference the actress' name! Along with Jacqueline Onassis, Tina Louise is one of two celebrities to be part of B-52s 1979 song, 52 Girls. 26 years later, another rock group showed they were a fan of her by naming one of their songs on the album If You Don't Already Have a Look after her and the Dirtbombs released a single called "Tina Louise."

#12 She Also Has A Few Fans In Bobs Burgers Creators

As if a restaurant and two songs were not enough, the two girls on Bob's Burgers are named after the actress. Tina and Louise Belcher get their moniker from the famous redhead. The girls are told this in season one but have no idea who Tina Louise is so they watch Gilligan's Island.

#13 She Is An Author And So Is Her Daughter

Considering Louise has had an exciting life, it should be no surprise that she decided to write a memoir. Her book,'Sunday' was released in 1997, where she talks a lot about her childhood. She also wrote a children's book titled, When I Grow Up, published in 2007 and another one later on, What Does a Bee Do?. Her daughter, Caprice Crane is also an author and started out as an MTV writer. She now has two books out and one is being developed into a TV series on NBC.

#14 She Thinks Gilligan's Island Ruined Her Career

After the show ended in 1967, she was the only cast member that refused to appear in the post-series TV movies or even reunions. She claimed that she had been typecast and wanted nothing more to do with the series. She had many disagreements while filming the show over her character and almost left three different times. She said later that she wished she had. However, we would not have come to know the actress Ginger Grant if she had left. She blames the show for ruining her chances of becoming a serious actress

#15 She Started Her Own Business

In 1995 the actress became a business woman and founded her own health care company. She called it TLC (tender love and care) and created a parasol for women. She explained that the parasol "is an accessory to skin care. We are testing it in Southern California."

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