Bob Denver Spent Last Two Decades of Life Caring for Autistic Son: Most Beloved Classic TV Star?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2012/11/16 17:24:50

Related Topics: Bob Denver, Gilligan's Island, Dreama Denver

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Henry Winkler

Winkler's character "The Fonz" in "Happy Days" is arguably the most iconic TV character of all.

Bob Denver

Bob Denver's widow has revealed that the "Gilligan's Island" star made caring for his autistic son a priority.
Bea Arthur

Among her decades of credits, Bea starred in not one, but three, iconic sitcoms: "All in the Family," "Maude" and "The Golden Girls."
Henry Winkler

Winkler's character "The Fonz" in "Happy Days" is arguably the most iconic TV character of all.
Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby is such a well-loved icon that a colorful sweater is known around the world now as a "Cosby sweater"!
Alan Alda

The finale of "M*A*S*H," which starred Alda as "Hawkeye," is still rated one of the most-watched episodes of television in history.
Lucille Ball

Ball's show "I Love Lucy" was the first sitcom to be filmed in front of a live studio audience and is still incredibly influential.
Phil Silvers

"The Phil Silvers Show" gave us one of TV's best-loved police characters: Sgt. Bilko.
Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore caught our eyes on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," but then really stole our hearts with "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

Bob Denver Spent Last Two Decades of Life Caring for Autistic Son: Most Beloved Classic TV Star?

4,681 votes
Read all 165 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

	Bob Denver
	Bea Arthur
	Henry Winkler
	Bill Cosby
	Alan Alda
	Lucille Ball
	Phil Silvers
	Mary Tyler Moore

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Bob Denver	1,386 votes	30%
	Bea Arthur	126 votes	3%
	Henry Winkler	297 votes	6%
	Bill Cosby	552 votes	12%
	Alan Alda	232 votes	5%
	Lucille Ball	1,649 votes	35%
	Phil Silvers	89 votes	2%
	Mary Tyler Moore	350 votes	7%

He was beloved by millions for his role as Gilligan on “Gilligan’s Island,” but Bob Denver’s widow Dreama Denver has revealed a more serious side to the TV comedy icon. Speaking to FOX411’s Pop Tarts and in her upcoming memoir “Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island,” she reveals that Bob spent the last two decades of his life caring for his heavily autistic son, Colin.

“He was very under the radar and never put himself out there that much,” she explains. “I wanted the fans to know who he really was, because he was a special, special man, especially when dealing with our son Colin, who has severe autism.” She continues by saying that “he set aside the last 21 years of his life to be with me and take care of our son, who had to have full-time care, [because he] didn’t want me to do it alone. That speaks to the type of human being he was.”

Bob and Dreama started the Denver Foundation together, which offers help to families who have children with special needs.

Check out our gallery and decide: Who do you think is the most beloved classic TV star?

Add a comment above

kathy 2012/11/16 19:16:23

Bob Denver

+11
forgot about him! But anyone who puts their childrens live's first is #1 to me
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Jere 2013/04/03 14:06:34

Lucille Ball

She was one of the very best.

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spartacus.jones.5 2013/02/21 14:21:15

Phil Silvers

Sgt. Bilko wasn't a cop. He was in the Army. Scam artist who ran the motor pool.

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the fuze 2012/11/21 12:18:34

Bill Cosby

But I really like/liked all of them.

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XZQZQ 2012/11/21 09:16:54

Bob Denver

Bob Denver was terrific, as was Alan Hale.... Too bad ' Gilligan's Island ' was before actors got residual compensation in their contracts... That series is being showed somewhere in the world constantly.

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Pam 2012/11/21 05:53:23

Lucille Ball

Bob Denver is great but I will love Lucy forever!

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GrumpyCat 2012/11/21 03:02:40

Bob Denver

What about this guy?

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Jere to GrumpyCat 2013/04/03 14:07:42

Nope.

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jc 2012/11/21 02:00:21

Lucille Ball

+1
I love Lucy was a great show.But,why isn't Andy Griffith on the list.He was a great TV actor.

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Stve Veltkmp 2012/11/21 00:18:43

Bill Cosby

Poor design. Not clear that clicking on one of the names was a vote instead of an info page about them, a vote which cannot be changed later. Ended up mis-voting.

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Jan 2012/11/20 22:42:05

Henry Winkler

+1
I like all the work he does for children as well as him being 'The Fonz' I've also seen him in other things and think he is a good actor.

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SK-LIBERTY OVER EQUALITY 2012/11/20 18:24:00 (edited)

Lucille Ball

+1
I love Lucy. DUH =0)

actually i liked MTM and Alan Alda.

Edit to add: Carol Burnett was another fave.

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goblue1968 2012/11/20 17:12:24

Lucille Ball

+1
I voted for Lucille because she was on the list of choices, but I wanted to include Jackie Gleason and Milton Berle, because these were the first great TV comedians with regular
weekly shows that introduced comedy to TV back when that was new in most American homes (and color TV hadn't been broadcast nationally yet!). Jackie and Uncle Miltie played multiple characters and were able to be hilarious without using profanity.

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SK-LIBE... to goblue1968 2012/11/20 18:24:58

+1
Throw Jack Benny in there. my fave from that era.

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Resp 2012/11/20 12:31:05

Bill Cosby

+1

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jim 2012/11/20 10:42:17

Lucille Ball

+1
Lucy is to comedy and television what classical is to music. In 100 years people will still know about Chopin and Beethoven and no one will remember Justin Beiber. In 50 years no one will remember what TV personalities are currently on. But they will remember Lucille Ball.

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Laura 2012/11/20 03:55:12

Bill Cosby

+1
Bill Cosby has made a contribution to society.

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True~Male 2012/11/20 03:27:54 (edited)

Lucille Ball

+1
No one can ever top Lucille Ball --she was the queen of comedy-- Lucy always took good care of her children --even giving them a break to work with her in The Here's Lucy Shows

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jere.chievres 2012/11/20 01:45:40

Mary Tyler Moore

+3
At least she was pretty and had some killer legs!

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SK-LIBE... to jere.ch... 2012/11/20 18:26:13

+1
She was a hottie on the Dick Van Dyke Show.

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Soundstorm 2012/11/19 23:50:09

Bob Denver

+2
There was really only one reason I watched his show.

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Pat 2012/11/19 23:28:42

Mary Tyler Moore

+1
I've always like Mary Tyler Moore. Don't forget she also played Laura Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show for many years before she played Mary Richards on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
I also liked Fess Parker as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. There are so many favorites! Too many to name here.

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biggerman 2012/11/19 21:00:37

Bob Denver

+2
These two guys:

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PapaBC 2012/11/19 16:18:40

Lucille Ball

+2
The top three for me that come to mind are Ball, Moore and Cosby.

Denver not so much, Maybe after Silvers.

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swolfmoon 2012/11/19 09:00:22

Bill Cosby

+2
I used to love the Cosby Show when I was young. Course, Bea Arthur would be my second choice. I used to pretend that I hated Golden Girls when my grandma would make us watch it...but I loved it. Gilligan's Island always made me smile though...

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motownkittys 2012/11/19 05:28:23

Bill Cosby

+2
God bless Bob Denver and all the classic TV stars!

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C. C. Rider 2012/11/19 02:43:07

Lucille Ball

+6
Lucy and Desi changed TV history and were also very generous on many occasions.

Bob Denver is truly the most loved. Playing goofy lovable characters was really him in real life too. I never knew he had an austic son. Seem he kept his son under a great umbrella of protection from prying eyes. I don't know how he did it. May he rest in peace.

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Charles E to C. C. R... 2012/11/20 02:45:31

+1
He did what was right for his son and family without parading it for everyone to see.
In my mind that is the mark of a great person.

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C. C. R... to Charles E 2012/11/20 03:39:44

+2
I agree, and he is missed. I can not help but smile when I see him on TV. Almost every one from that series is gone, so I am very happy they are stil on in re runs

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Redneck Gal 2012/11/18 20:07:18

Lucille Ball

+1
There are other great choices listed...but Lucy is my personal favorite!!

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L K 2012/11/18 18:22:22

Henry Winkler

+1
The Fonze for sure.! He came out to my classroom and spoke the students about learning and working hard. He's really a great guy and has been a staple in Hollywood long after his Happy Days were over.

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Margaret Jacobson 2012/11/18 15:59:36

Bob Denver

+3
He seems o be a caring person.....these stars from yesterday's are great too ....they all should be considered to be winners in life too. May they all be remembered kindly forever !!

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Dave 007 2012/11/18 15:31:35

Bob Denver

+1
Bob was a good guy while Lucille was a bitch in real life.

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JustMe 2012/11/18 15:14:56

Bob Denver

+3
LOVE Gilligan's Island

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Torchmanner ~PWCM~JLA 2012/11/18 14:03:58

Bob Denver

+4
Home boy.

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Stacie 2012/11/17 19:47:30

Bill Cosby

+1

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RawRsaurus 2012/11/17 19:32:04

Bea Arthur

+1
Had to give some love for one of my Golden Girls.

It's actually a tie between Lucille and Bea.

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AdLib 2012/11/17 18:23:11

Bob Denver

+3
Bob Denver shots to the top of my list. There are a lot of people on this list that have and are championing some great causes, and I admire them greatly. However, Bob Denver lived his compassion deeply and for that reason he will remain my most beloved out of the celebrities listed.

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wilsonmja 2012/11/17 18:15:44

Henry Winkler

+6
ANDY GRIFFITH....duh

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Its Me,... to wilsonmja 2012/11/17 19:23:05

+1
Fonz went from the coolest person to the most hated person in the world. In his newest show, he is a police informant that sells out people for the $1,000. crime stopper cash.
Just goes to show SOME people will do ANYTHING for money. (Now he is trying to sell "reverse home loans" to steal old peoples homes.)

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wilsonmja to Its Me,... 2012/11/18 03:53:45

+1
Yeah.......I pretty much just picked a random name and I like him on Children's Hospital.

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