Tina Louise

Tina Louise is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for her role as the movie star Ginger Grant in the situation comedy, Gilligan’s Island (1964–1967). Tina Louise was born Tina Blacker in New York City, the daughter of Betty and Joseph Blacker. Tina 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 (1958), 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.”
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 Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, Jule 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 Louise continues to live in New York City.
The act of creation is often associated with chaos and raw power, and as such the creative process is ever imbued with an extraordinary beauty that cannot be constrained lest that beauty be jeopardized. An artist, by definition is a creator, and is able to harness that chaos of thoughts and imagination into a work of art. Few painters are able to preserve the ferocity of their creation, and remain content with the complacent finished product; that bit of soul having been lost. Yet when one comes across a piece that maintains its raw power and energy, one cannot help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of that creative process and the skill involved in inducing it to bear fruit. One can clearly see that the magnificence of the creative process has not been compromised in the artistry of Tina Louise, but rather preserved and augmented by her style. It takes one’s breath away to gaze into that chaos and fragmentation of imagery and realize that within that frame lies the universe of the soul and imagination.