CBS
Before he was known as the clumsy first mate Gilligan, Bob Denver was recognized as the jazz enthusiast and beatnik Maynard G. Krebs in “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” This sitcom, created by Max Shulman from his own short stories, revolved around Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman), a young man obsessed with the idea of wealth and success as the gateway to win the hearts of young women. Denver, playing Dobie’s best friend Maynard, won the audience’s hearts with his quirky, laid-back personality and his relatable aversion to work.
“Dobie Gillis,” which aired for four seasons from 1959 to 1963 on CBS, was soon overshadowed by another Denver-led comedy series on the same network, “Gilligan’s Island.” While other cast members of “Dobie Gillis” experienced varying levels of success post-series, it was Warren Beatty, a minor player in the first season, who would have the most notable career after the show. Beatty, who was still a few years away from his breakout role in “Bonnie and Clyde,” made a few appearances in “Dobie Gillis” as Milton Armitage, a wealthy jock and rival for Dobie’s love interests at his high school.
Later on, Denver stated that he and his “Dobie Gillis” co-stars were not at all surprised when Beatty became a big name. In fact, according to Denver, they predicted early on that Beatty would surpass his modest television beginnings.
Beatty always knew how to make an impression
CBS
It’s important to note that during much of the 20th century, actors did not often transition between film and television; you were either a movie actor or a television actor. This changed significantly with the advent of prestige TV and streaming. However, during their time on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” Denver had no reason to believe that Beatty would transition to film. Yet, that’s exactly what Denver predicted. In his 1994 memoir “Gilligan, Maynard & Me,” Denver wrote that he and the rest of the “Dobie Gillis” cast knew that Beatty “was not long for episodic TV.”
In a 1994 interview with CJAD 800 AM, Montreal, to promote his book, Denver reinforced the belief that the “Dobie Gillis” cast “knew [Beatty] wasn’t destined for situation comedy. He was heading for the motion pictures.” In both the interview and his memoir, Denver recounted a memorable incident involving Beatty on the show’s set. As Denver wrote in his book, “Someone locked [Beatty] in a dressing room onstage (as a prank). He shouted a few times to be let out and then became silent. It wasn’t until the middle of the next take that we heard from him. He was singing opera at the top of his lungs.”
Beatty, often dubbed as Hollywood’s original playboy, was known for his charismatic personality. His antics on “Dobie Gillis” were indicative of his ability to command any room he entered. “[Beatty] was only with the series for five or six episodes, and then a year later he starred in ‘Splendor in the Grass,'” Denver wrote in his memoir. Indeed, Beatty’s career far exceeded that.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
