Gladys and Gilligan
Bio[]
Gladys is a chimpanzee native to the Island, although her location on the island is a bit of a mystery. Since chimpanzees are only native to Africa, it is possible she was abandoned on the island with the other apes or lost there much like Leo the Lion. Gilligan befriends her, treating her like a human rather than an animal, and she good-naturedly teases him as he spills his feelings to her. She also comes into camp at times and steals food from him, usually bananas. She has also developed several human-like characteristics, mimicking the other Castaways, and even gesturing around her belly when the Skipper comes close, mocking his big belly. She's also big enough and strong to carry Gilligan around on her shoulder.
Trivia[]
- Actor Janos Prohaska played Gladys in the episode. A male Hungarian-born actor, he is possibly best known for playing animals and monsters in several 60s and 70s films and television series, such as "Bewitched," "Planet of the Apes" and "Star Trek."
- Janos died in a plane crash eight years after the airing of this episode.
- In the episode, Gladys takes Gilligan's hat and wears it on her head. When she doesn't return it, Gilligan raises his voice to get it back. This was extremely out of character for his character as he has never raised his voice at any character in the series.
- Behind the scenes, Prohaska reportedly cracked up laughing when he has to describe the Skipper by mocking his big belly and again when he steals Gilligan’s hat and wears it on his head.