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Alan Hale Jr. was instructed NOT to lose weight for his role as The Skipper in Gilligan's Island
"The producer of the new series doesn't want me to lose a pound," said Hale.
Lesser tabloids will fill their pages with various actors' attempts to lose weight before they play a new character. But in 1964, the Hartford Courant wasn't worried about such superficial issues, a trait the paper shared with Alan Hale Jr.
Hale was best known for playing The Skipper in the hit series, Gilligan's Island. Short-tempered and demanding, Hale couldn't have been less like his character. In real life, the actor was remembered as a warm and genial man.
Hale gave the interview during the beginning of Gilligan's Island's run, before anyone, including Hale, understood what a hit they had on their hands.
In the interview, Hale, known for his portly stature, revealed that he was actually fifteen pounds heavier than he normally was. While this might be a source of stress for some actors, for Hale and the crew of Gilligan's Island, it was quite the opposite.
Hale was actually encouraged to keep his weight steady, as it added to his role.
"The added weight doesn't bother me," the actor said. "I carry it pretty well and, besides, I can eat as much of anything I want to."
"The producer of the new series doesn't want me to lose a pound," he continued. "He says my weight adds weight to my role."
Fortunately, Hale was already an incredibly talented actor with the role of a lifetime. "I love acting," he said. "With me, it's a way of life, but I couldn't care less whether or not I become an actor's actor if you know what I mean. My father was a working actor, not in the least star-conscious. I'll settle for that. As long as there's a job to look forward to, I'm content."
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