Ginger Grant Is Only Living Actress from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ & Grandma of Twin Grandkids Who Inherited Her Eyes
- Tina Louise, the only living actress from the "Gilligan's Island" cast, is now 90!
- The beautiful star abandoned her heels and girdles but still looked slim.
- Now she spends much time with her twin grandchildren, who have inherited their grandmother's stunning facial features.
Tina Louise was most famous for starring in the 1960s series "Gilligan's Island," where she appeared as the redheaded Ginger Grant on the sitcom. The actress' character was stranded with other patrons of the "three-hour tour."
In 1992, Louise revealed that she only starred in the show for three years, but the series was a significant success and is still discussed today. The star said it found fame because all the cast members played their parts well.
A promotional portrait of the "Gilligan's Island" cast Russell Johnson, Alan Hale Jr., Bob Denver, Dawn Wells, Tina Louise, Jim Backus, and Natalie Schafer in 1963 | Source: Getty Images
Louise shared how everyone wanted to be on a deserted island, and each person's fantasy was covered as someone was represented in the series for everyone.
Besides acting, the star married the late Les Crane for four years until their 1971 divorce. They welcomed a daughter, Caprice Crane, who resides in Los Angeles, and gave her mother two grandchildren, whom the actress described as:
"My two beautiful babies!"
Tina Louise at a formal event; circa 1970, in New York | Source: Getty Images
In 1996, Caprice's mother started reading to public school children in New York City. She continued doing that for the next 20 years and explained how no one had ever read to her, and she felt it was crucial to empower children to learn.
The actress, who'd retired, followed her reading passion without doing it in the public eye, and the children she read to didn't know she was a celebrity. One time, a teacher asked her students if they knew who Louise was, and one boy said she was a "helper."
Tina Louise posing for a photo, circa 1965 | Source: Getty Images
The comment touched the star as it had been who she wanted to be, a "person who helped." In 2023, Louise revealed that she would like to be stranded in New York if she could choose a place.
The star, a native New Yorker, said she even took trips to Manhattan during breaks and hiatus on "Gilligan's Island." In 1965, she revealed that New York was her "hobby" and that she dug the streets, the theater, and the people.
Louise shared how the city "charged" her up and loved the movement, electricity, and charm it gave. The celebrity once lived a busy life but always made time to go home to the Big Apple and has since settled down.
Louise divulged that she chose comfort when living in NY by opting for "dressy things." The star never wore a girdle any longer and rarely wore high heels or anything that constricted her, while orange was her favorite color because it matched her hair.
Although she had a successful career, Louise had to choose what was most important in her life and sacrifice for it. She also reached a significant milestone in 2023.
How Louise Left Hollywood to Be with Caprice?
While starring on "Gilligan's Island" from 1964 until 1967, Louise was often in the spotlight. The TV star was offered back-to-back roles in television shows and movies, but in early 1970, she vanished from Hollywood.
She wasn't around for two years and nine months, and people wondered what had happened to her. In 1973, Louise shared the truth about her disappearance, saying she didn't act at all during that period, adding:
"The reason is Caprice. When I had her, I had to make a choice."
The Hollywood veteran star had to choose between continuing her work or taking time off to be a good mother who gave her child genuine security. Caprice was welcomed after she and Les divorced.
Lousie said that when her daughter started nursery school, she felt "free enough" to begin working again. The doting parent returned to the career she loved because she had to make a living and wanted to act again after becoming more in tune with herself since having Caprice.
On February 11, 2023, Louise's daughter honored her on her 89th birthday by sharing a throwback Instagram post. The novelist wished her "beautiful mama" a happy birthday and shared how grateful she was daily that she could pick the phone up and call her, even when she had to assist Louise in figuring out Zoom or Facetime, stating:
"You are the most precious mama and YaYa, and we all love you more than you can possibly imagine."
Caprice said she couldn't wait to hug her mother soon because the actress was the best at giving them. The screenwriter concluded by wishing her parent many more birthdays and said they'd made a deal about that, and she would hold her to it.
The mother of two paid a birthday tribute to Louise yet again in February 2024 when she turned 90. Caprice shared photos of the pair in an embrace and a shot of them smiling.
In her caption, Caprice divulged that she had flown in to surprise her mom on her special day which was worth it. "Wishing this amazing woman the happiest birthday today (while doing my best to make sure of it.) Always love your people so they have no doubts," she wrote.
Caprice's followers flooded the comments section to wish her beloved parent a happy birthday. "Happy Birthday Ginger. You are so beautiful and age has nothing on you," penned one Instagram user.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Beautiful Tina Lousie," said another person. One remarked, "The sweetest gift ever! Happy Birthday to your gorgeous mom!"
In August 2017, Louise shared a gorgeous Facebook picture of her standing alongside her pregnant daughter. The redhead revealed that they'd had an incredible baby shower for Caprice after she told her on Easter Sunday that she was expecting twins.
The celebrity said the baby shower came with an elegant lunch, and they celebrated with their closest friends. The mother of one revealed expressed, "I am a very happy Yaya to be!"
In October 2022, Louise shared a Facebook post of her posing with her daughter and two grandchildren. The star stated how she had attended the children's Hello Kitty and Star Wars-themed birthday party.
A month later, the television writer/producer celebrated Thanksgiving by sharing a family photo of her, her children, and Louise posing in front of a sweet potato soufflé. Caprice also included several images of her kids posing in their holiday clothes.
However, she [Tina Louise] explained that she'd never resented the series and loved doing her part.
In 2021, the beloved actress also spent more time with her daughter and grandchildren, who opened Christmas presents together. That same year, Louise also posted pictures of her granddaughter and grandson embracing and sitting on the lawn in matching red and white outfits.
Fellow Facebook users pointed out how much the twins resemble Louise in the comments section of the uncaptioned post. One penned, "They both look very much like you. Strong genes!" "Your granddaughter is a mini you," commented another person. Someone echoed, "I see a resemblance in the girl."
Some said Louise's grandson looks much like her late husband. Caprice posted a throwback photo of the couple on Instagram once and several people mentioned that Les is his grandson's lookalike.
"The Best!!! How DNA lives on. You son looks like your Dad!" commented one user. Another individual echoed the same sentiments, while one wrote, "[...] I really see your Dad a bit in your little guy's face."
Others stated Caprice's daughter has her eyes. "Your kids are gorgeous! Daughter has mom's beautiful eyes and your son is you at that age!" said one user. The dark-haired beauty once shared side-by-side childhood pictures of her and her daughter including one throwback shot of her mother. Their eyes caught several users' attention on Instagram.
"It's really cool that you all have the same eyes," said one. Another exclaimed, "The eyes have it!" While a third user expressed, "Omg, she looks so much like her!" Fast forward to two years later, the twins started Kindergarten in 2023.
The siblings' famous grandmother gushed over them on Facebook, sharing photos of them wearing back-to-school sets designed by their mother. "Our sweet babies in the most darling back-to-school sets that just went on sale!" Louise captioned her post.
Her followers commented on the post, complimenting the grandchildren, "Beautiful children. I know they are the joy of your life, Miss Tina," gushed one person. "What a beautiful family Tina," said another. Someone else remarked, "They are adorable." While one other individual echoed, "Absolutely beautiful."
Two months after her grandkids started Kindergarten, Louise announced she recorded an audiobook. "Very excited to share with you the news that I've recorded an audio version of my book 'Sunday.' We also gave it a new cover that was very important to me," she wrote on Facebook.
Besides work, Louise also spends time with her grandkids. Caprice shared a picture of the trio in December 2023 coloring together. "Memories being made coloring a giant cardboard bakery with their one and only YaYa," she captioned the post.
Decades after being widely known for starring in "Gillan's Island," Louise sadly had lost all her former castmates from the classic sitcom, including Bob Denver.
Being the Last Surviving Actor from the Beloved Show
In December 2020, Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan's Island," died at age 82 after fighting COVID-19. Louise, the show's only surviving cast member, was saddened by the loss as Wells had been a wonderful person.
The actress wanted her former co-star to be remembered as always smiling. Louise said nothing was more important than family, and that's what Wells was, and she would always be remembered.
She heard about her co-star's death via a phone call from a friend in Hollywood. However, she did her best to stay healthy amid the pandemic by exercising and eating vegetarian lunches.
Tina Louise at the red carpet event for "Women Talking" during the 60th New York Film Festival on October 10, 2022, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Louise refused to appear in the 1978 film, "Rescue from Gilligan's Island," 2001's "Surviving Gilligan's Island," and other revivals. However, she explained that she'd never resented the series and loved doing her part. The star mostly enjoyed her role when a different director took over and wrote well for her character.
Tina Louise at The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on April 17, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Besides work, Louise became a resident in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan in 2021 and enjoyed reading and walking in the Katharine Hepburn Garden.
Louise also discussed her love life in an interview, revealing that she was ready to meet the right person and was "open to life." However, she wasn't going out too far, and when she did, it was once every two weeks with a friend.