Gilligan comedy actor Denver dies

Gilligan's Island made Denver a TV icon

Comic actor Bob Denver, the star of 1960s US TV show Gilligan's Island, has died at the age of 70 following complications in his cancer treatment.

Gilligan's Island, about seven stranded people, was Denver's signature role and he continued to revel in it, attending conventions as the character.

He also appeared in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, alongside Dwayne Hickman.

"We were a comedy team and I was proud to be his straight man. He was a wonderful comedian," said Hickman.

Denver began his role as Gilligan in 1964, having already established himself as a much-loved TV star.

Sci-fi reunion

After the show finished in 1967 it continued to draw new fans through its many reruns.

The cast reprised their roles for a number of Gilligan's Island reunions, including The Castaways on Gilligan's Island in 1979 and an animated sci-fi version of the show in 1982 called Gilligan's Planet.

Gilligan's Island ran for three years

Guest appearances on other TV shows included The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Baywatch and Roseanne.

Denver developed a reputation for being supportive of his fellow cast members and was happy to attend fan festivals dressed up in Gilligan's trademark fishing hat.

Denver was born in New Rochelle, New York, and discovered acting while at university studying law.

Before finding regular acting he earned money as a teacher and a postal delivery worker.

A broken neck he suffered in 1956 prevented him from joining the Army.

Earlier this year he underwent a quadruple heart bypass and had more recently been treated for cancer.

Denver was married to wife Dreama for 28 and had five children and a grand-daughter.

"He was my everything and I will love him forever," Dreama Denver said in a statement.