Biography for
Tina Louise More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 February 1934, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Tatiana Josivovna Chernova Blacker

Height

5' 8½" (1.74 m)

Mini Biography

Born in New York City, Tina Louise was still in her teens when she burst upon the national scene by starring on Broadway in the critically acclaimed box office success Li'l Abner, based on the famous comic strip character created by Al Capp. Stellar reviews caught the attention of Hollywood and Tina signed up for her first feature film, God's Little Acre, which was an entry in the Venice Film Festival. It was at this point in her career that she began studying with Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio in New York because she believed it was "time to develop and deepen my knowledge of the craft." "Lee Strasberg," says Tina, "had the most dynamic effect on me. He influenced my life as no other man ever has."

After several more films, Tina returned to Broadway to star with Carol Burnett in Fade in, Fade Out. She continued her work in Hollywood, starring in the CBS sitcom, "Gilligan's Island" (1964) as Ginger Grant. Moving between Broadway, television and motion pictures, she next starred in The Happy Ending (1969), directed by Richard Brooks, The Stepford Wives (1975), with Katherine Ross, and Dog Day (1984), with Lee Marvin and French actress Mieux Mieux. She was cast as a regular on the first season of "Dallas" (1978) and has profuse credits in the Movies of the Week for ABC and NBC, including Friendships, Secrets and Lies (1979) (TV), The Day the Women Got Even (1980) (TV), Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby (1976) (TV), and the famed ABC movie Nightmare in Badham County (1976) (TV).

In 1991, Tina completed the filming of Johnny Suede (1991), in which she co-starred with Brad Pitt. The film marked the debut of director Tom DiCello, and won the 1992 Gold Leopard Award for Best Picture at the 44th International Film Festival at Lorcano, Switzerland. Other film and television followed with Stephen Elliot's new film, Welcome to Woop Woop (1997), and Growing Down in Brooklyn (2000) and guest starred in the syndicated television series, "L.A. Heat" (1996). In 2004, she received the coveted TVLand Pop Culture Icon Award in Los Angeles, which was aired nationally. She has made numerous television appearances from Rosie O'Donnell to Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, CNN and others.

A unique opportunity pursued Tina in 2005 with IGT (International Game Technology) in conjunction with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, when she inked a six-figure deal in exchange for 80 lines of voice-over work for a highly publicized gaming machine, a MegaJackpots product with the chance to win $1 million. The slot machines appeared in casinos from coast-to-coast as well as internationally.

Tina is an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. As a literacy and academic advocate, she became a volunteer teacher at Learning Leaders, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing tutoring to New York City school children. It has been her passion to help young students gain not only literary skills, but also confidence, self-determination and proof of their own potential. Besides continuing her volunteer work in literacy, she has written several books. Her first book, a personal memoir on her first eight years, entitled, Sunday, was published in 1998. She followed Sunday, with a children's book, "When I Grow Up", published in 2007. "Teaching children the skill of reading and a love for the written word is important because this will remain with them throughout their lives. If we can reach children at an early age, I believe it will make a difference. This thought brings me tremendous joy." Says Tina. She embarked on a book tour that included New York City and then continued to New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, Philadelphia and the Festival of Books at UCLA. Her third book, "What Does A Bee Do?" was published in 2009 (available only at Amazon.com) and was inspired by The Colony Collapse Disorder, otherwise known as Honey Bee Depopulation Syndrome. The book continues to be an educational tool for children, as well as adults and was recently approved by Joel Klein, chancellor of New York City Public Schools, and is tentatively awaiting on the E-Catalog for principals in the fall of 2010. An animated version of "What Does a Bee Do?" is in development.

Besides being an accomplished actress and author, she recorded an album, "It's Time for Tina", a sultry warm and breathy collection of standards. The enchanting album features music from saxophone legend Coleman Hawkins, and lyrics and music by George and Ira Gershwin, Jules Styne and Cole Porter. She also made her debut as a visual artist when she exhibited her paintings at the Ambassador Galleries, and later with newer works at the notable Gallery Stendhal in Soho. Most recently, she exhibited her original paintings at the Patterson Museum of Art. Tina continues to live in New York.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Howie@legacymediarelations.com

Spouse

Les Crane

(3 April 1966 - 1970) (divorced) 1 child

Trade Mark

Red hair and voluptuous figure

Trivia

Mother of Caprice Crane.

She attended Miami University in Ohio, and trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio.

Her Broadway debut was in "Li'l Abner," where she played Apassionata Von Climax. She shared her dressing room with another actress making her Broadway debut in the same play - Julie Newmar.

Created a health care company, "TLC" and marketed a parasol for women to keep the sun off their skin.

Although she is most associated with playing Ginger in "Gilligan's Island" (1964), she detests the role and has not appeared in any of the series' various reunion specials. According to Russell Johnson, Tina was told she would be the main star of the show when she was initially approached about doing it, and when she arrived in Los Angeles after accepting the offer, she found out otherwise. Johnson also recalls that while Tina remained professional throughout the show's run without raising a fuss, she "divorced herself from the show as soon as it went off the air".

Grew to resent her role on "Gilligan's Island" (1964) and refused to appear on any of the reunion shows following the series' cancellation (her character was played by Judith Baldwin). According to Sherwood Schwartz, however, she did offer to appear in the reunion show, Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978) (TV); however, the salary she demanded was considered too high.

"People walk up to me and say: 'Are you Ginger?' and I say: 'No. I'm Tina.' I do that to keep my sanity."

She and fellow "Gilligan's Island" (1964) cast member Dawn Wells have both been asked to appear together in numerous television ad campaigns over the years. However, the two actresses have never liked each other and have not spoken in years. They have turned down many of these offers. The most notable one was a commercial for Old Navy clothing stores, which would feature them as Mary Ann and Ginger, still stuck on the island.

She is a volunteer reading teacher in the New York school system. She is also a lifetime member of the Actors Studio.

Personal Quotes

[to director George Abbott during first dress rehearsal of "Fade Out, Fade In"] Mr. Abbott, do you mean I have to walk and talk at the same time?

The best movie you'll ever be in is your own life, because that's what really matters in the end.

[on her "Gilligan's Island" (1964) co-star Dawn Wells] Dawn and I have never been close, we just never clicked. She was very much about pleasing everyone and I have never been that way.

Where Are They Now

(December 2001) Today Tina Louise is a volunteer reading teacher in the New York school system. She is also a lifetime member of the Actors Studio.