Tina Louise says she’s been stiffed by makers of ‘Ginger’ doll

“Gilligan’s Island” glamor gal Tina Louise claims Warner Brothers put out a doll based on her iconic TV character Ginger Grant without her knowledge – and she feels shipwrecked.

The $12 vinyl doll by Funko was released on Feb. 27 and is the spitting image of the flame-haired Hollywood bombshell, down to the beauty mark on her cheek.

“Set sail to an island of whacky adventures with Pop! Ginger Grant,” trumpets the ad for the 4-inch figure dressed in psychedelic beach garb. “This Hollywood star shines in one of her many, many, many dazzling outfits. This castaway wouldn’t mind being marooned in your ‘Gilligan’s Island’ collection.”

The actress, who lives in Turtle Bay, only learned about the action figure from her daughter — and when dozens of the mini-me’s started arriving at her home from fans looking to have them autographed.

She happily complied — but wondered who was profiting from her likeness.

Tina Louise, who starred as Ginger Grant on “Gilligan’s Island,” is currently wrapping up her latest project — the republishing of her 1997 memoir, “Sunday” in print and as an e-book.
Fadil Berisha

“I’m grateful for what I have. I have enough. But this is not right,” Louise told The Post.

The enduring beauty — who asked that The Post not mention her age — posted her dismay on Facebook, which has generated 1,200 comments of support.

“I was just addressing my fans. I couldn’t take it anymore,” Louise said, adding she “was never brought into the conversation when these toys were being created.


The Funko "Ginger Grant" doll
The $12 vinyl “Ginger Grant” doll by Funko was released on Feb. 27 and is the spitting image of the flame-haired Hollywood bombshell, down to the beauty mark on her cheek.

Ginger Grant
Tina Louise pictured in an episode of “Gilligan’s Island.”
Courtesy Everett Collection

“And as someone who has never received a single residual check for ‘Gilligan’s Island’ in all these years of it continuously running, I would have hoped that Warner Brothers would have considered me when they were licensing the rights to my likeness on these dolls.”

Louise feels Warner Brothers is taking her for a ride, not unlike the sitcom’s “three-hour tour” famously gone awry.

“Even though the doll has my red hair and my beauty mark in the same exact spot on her face, they believe the doll is made after the ‘character.’ It’s me!” said the woman named the “World’s Most Beautiful Redhead” by the National Art Council in 1958. “So I am, once again, not being paid for the use of my likeness and not even getting a licensing fee.”


Louise strikes a pose with her “Gilligan’s Island” castmates, Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.) and Gilligan (Bob Denver).
Getty Images

Louise is the last surviving castaway from the classic CBS show about seven shipwrecked strangers that debuted Sept. 26, 1964.

It lasted 98 episodes and three years but has been in syndicated reruns for decades.

Funko Pop! is also selling dolls of castaways Gilligan, The Skipper, Thurston Howell III, his wife, Lovey, Mary Ann, and The Professor.


Tina Louise, "Ginger," with fellow  castaways Thurston Howell III and his wife, Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell.
Funko Pop! is also selling dolls of castaways Gilligan, The Skipper, Thurston Howell III (above, Jim Backus), his wife, Eunice “Lovey” Wentworth Howell (above, Natalie Schafer), Mary Ann, and The Professor.
CBS via Getty Images

mary ann, gilligan and ginger
As for that burning age-old question of Ginger or Mary Ann? “It’s a game people like to play,” Louise told The Post. “Half of the country doesn’t agree. What do you want from me?”
Courtesy Everett Collection

Warner Brothers reps declined to comment.

In the meantime, the effervescent Golden Globe winner remains busy.

She attended a Manhattan screening of Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” this week and is wrapping up her latest project — the republishing of her 1997 memoir, “Sunday,” in print and as an e-book.


Golden Globe winner Tina Louise
Tina Louise began her career on stage in the mid-1950s before landing her breakthrough role in the 1958 drama film “God’s Little Acre,” for which she earned her a Golden Globe Award.
Courtesy Everett Collection

“The main thing is that the reader can hear my voice…I had many emotional moments when I was doing it. It’s powerful stuff,” she said.

In a 2021 interview with The Post, Louise revealed the kind of guy she’d want to be stuck with on a tropical island in real life.

And it wasn’t Brad Pitt.

“He’d be funny, have a good heart and money wouldn’t matter if we were stuck on an Island — I like John Oliver (the “Last Week Tonight” host) the starlet said.

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