Gilligan

Gilligan is the eponymous main character of the 1960s American situation comedy television series, Gilligan's Island. Portrayed by actor Bob Denver, Gilligan is a well-meaning but clumsy first mate of the charter boat, the S.S. Minnow. Due to his bumbling nature and frequent mistakes, the Minnow is shipwrecked on an uncharted desert island in the Pacific Ocean, marooning the seven passengers and crew.

Gilligan's defining characteristics include his red shirt, white sailor hat, and his naivete. He is often the source of the group's misfortunes but is also frequently the one who inadvertently saves the day, albeit usually after causing more problems. While generally viewed as simple-minded, Gilligan possesses a strong sense of loyalty and a childlike innocence that endears him to the other castaways, despite their frustration with his ineptitude.

The character's background is largely unexplored in the series. He is known to be a Navy veteran (having served as a Seaman Second Class) and possesses some limited survival skills. The show's humor frequently revolves around Gilligan's inability to follow instructions, understand complex situations, or resist his own curiosity. He often refers to the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) as "Skipper," showing a close, albeit often tumultuous, relationship.

Gilligan has become a cultural icon, representing the lovable buffoon. The character's name is often used as a shorthand reference to incompetence or accidental misfortune. His enduring popularity is evidenced by ongoing reruns of Gilligan's Island and the character's frequent appearances in popular culture references.