In 1966, Bob Denver gave advice on how to be funny

Bob Denver knew how to be funny, and he wanted you to know how too.

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Bob Denver is known for being funny. It's just who he is. And if you need proof, watch him in the role of Gilligan on Gilligan's Island

In a 1966 interview with Richmond Times-Dispatch, Denver said Gilligan's Island was a great place to put his comedic talent on display. He was often seen as the oddball, but comedy is subjective. What you may find funny, others may not. And Denver was ok with that reality. 

However, Denver wasn't always that funny and he certainly never predicted becoming one of America's favorite funny men. 

"I had to develop one (sense of humor) because I was a shy one in my teens. I went through miseries. To cover up I became a smart-aleck, a practical jokester, until I found these antics only embarrassed people. I had to learn that a good sense of humor grows when you learn not to laugh at the expense of other people, unless they want you to."

Denver had a lot of experience with people laughing at him with his roles that included: Gilligan's Island, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Good Guys and more.

For most comedians just starting, getting up on stage and sharing pieces of themselves with an audience can be the most daunting part. For Denver, he kept himself laughing, even through the uncomfortable moments.

"All you can do is laugh back," he said. "If you can, even though angry, it will make them stop laughing. But if you react with anger, you have no place to go, no way to turn off the laughs."

Denver was always on, it seemed. Whether in his personal life, on the stage or on TV. He always seemed to know what to say next and how to make someone laugh.

"There'll be times when you just can't see the fun when others do," he said. "Then you'd better go to a quiet place and rest up a bit. You may be tired and preoccupied. It's no fun for others if your grim face haunts them. And you'll build an icy wall against fun-making with yourself. One touch of humor can thaw it down."

Denver had met many aspiring comedians throughout his career and said his fans stuck with him through The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and Gilligan's Island.

"They've stuck with me, and I've picked up some new fans along the way," he said. "The kids dig Maynard and Gilligan."


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34 Comments

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LoveMETV22 19 months ago
The Koko the Clown video has been shifted to a new location .
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Was Koko feeling overshadowed by the three CC clowns appearing on the page ? Poor Koko.
19 months ago
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LoveMETV22 19 months ago
Granted Koko the Clown was an animated character created by Max Fleischer. Koko was more entertaining than the 3 CC's combined.
19 months ago
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LoveMETV22 19 months ago
Betty Boop was a Max Fleischer creation. Popeye was created by E. C. Segar.
JHP 19 months ago
Well - sorry posters - but Bob Denver (Gilligan) was funny - Don Knotts as (BARN) wasn't.
Phineas2020 19 months ago
Well diversified actor
Phineas2020 19 months ago
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Adanor 19 months ago
Bob Denver and many other well known comedians had miserable childhoods and instead of sinking into self pity, anger, drugs, alcoholism, and/or a myriad of other ways of coping; they entered the wonderful world of getting laughs.
Runeshaper 19 months ago
“… a good sense of humor grows when you learn not to laugh at the expense of other people, unless they want you to."

This 👆 is so important ❤️
cperrynaples 19 months ago
I can't believe they haven't paid tribute to Robert Blake, who died this week at the age of 89! He turned down the role of Little Joe on Bonanza and starred on Baretta! Of course most people think of him as the white OJ because he got away with the murder of his wife too!
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McGillahooala cperrynaples 19 months ago
Yeah. He was a great actor and created some wonderful classic tv characters.
cperrynaples 19 months ago
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MrPerfect 19 months ago
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Coldnorth Pacificsun 18 months ago
He was controversial but his show Baretta was good. We all know that the bird was the true star
Andybandit 19 months ago
He was a good actor in GI and Dobby Gillis.
LoveMETV22 19 months ago

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It's a fun show, in its own quirky way. Bob Denver did a good job of portraying some of that quirkiness on Gilligan's Island.
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 19 months ago
Totally agree. IMO (too) I don't think Gilligan's Island ever could've been that Show without his (strange/fun) personality. The Story (above) about him, gave light to how much "craft" he actually put into his comedy. I always figured it was just part of him, as in a natural presentation. Quirky is the perfect description! I can't think of another comic quite like him, and never caught him speaking with interviewers.
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