In a Forbes interview, 91-year-old Louise revealed she earned $1,500 per episode during her three seasons on “Gilligan’s Island,” equivalent to about $15,194 today. While this provided a decent living in Los Angeles, she disclosed that she never received any residuals from the show, despite its popularity. In contrast, co-star Dawn Wells earned less at $750 per episode, totaling around $270,000 in today’s money for the first season. Louise advises aspiring actors to get stage experience, emphasizing the importance of being seen, even if it means struggling financially initially.
In a recent interview with Forbes, 91-year-old Louise disclosed that she earned $1,500 per episode during her three-season run on “Gilligan’s Island.” To put it simply, this isn’t exactly poverty. Adjusted for 2025, that would translate to $15,194 per episode, meaning that for the first season’s 36 episodes, she would have made $546,984 in less than a year. While it’s not extravagant wealth, it certainly provides a comfortable living in Los Angeles.
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Unfortunately, CBS seemingly shortchanged Louise on residuals. She mentioned to Forbes that she never received any residual payments, which likely stung given the show’s enduring popularity in syndication with casual viewers across various networks.
In comparison, she had better luck than Dawn Wells, who didn’t have Louise’s pre-“Gilligan’s Island” fame (which included a Golden Globe for her role in Anthony Mann’s “God’s Little Acre”). For her role as Mary Ann, Wells made only $750 per episode. While this isn’t outrageous income, adjusted for 2025, it would have amounted to $270,000 for the first season, which is a decent wage in Los Angeles.
Does Louise have any guidance for aspiring actors trying to break into the industry today? She certainly does, and it’s sound advice—provided you’re prepared for some financial struggles. Louise suggests participating in a play. “Don’t stress about making money from it,” she advised Forbes. “You’ll likely need another job to supplement your income, but I recommend being visible, regardless of the pay. Just commit to performing every night. I believe you grow more as an actor starting on stage. That’s how I began.”
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Of course, if that play happens to be on Broadway or in a well-known off-Broadway venue, the earnings could be quite good. However, if it’s a short two-week run in a community theater, you might end up earning about what Louise made in “Gilligan’s Island” residuals.