Dobie Gillis Cast Then and Now (2023)

Dobie Gillis launched the career of Bob Denver and many other cast members. Are you wondering if the Dobie Gillis cast is still alive or where are they now? We're taking a look at the Dobie Gillis cast then and now to see how they changed through the years.
00:00 - Intro
0:18 - Doris Packer as Mrs. Clarice Armitage
1:25 - Tuesday Weld as Thalia Menninger
2:30 - William Schallert as Prof. Leander Pomfritt
3:35 - Steve Franken as Chatsworth Osborne
4:41 - Warren Beatty as Milton Armitage
5:49 - Florida Friebus as Winifred "Winnie" Gillis
6:58 - Frank Faylen as Herbert T. Gillis
8:06 - Sheila Kuehl as Zelda Gilroy
9:12 - Bob Denver as Maynard G. Krebs
10:16 - Dwayne Hickman as Dobie Gillis
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• All Videos Facts Verse
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (also known as simply Dobie Gillis or Max Shulman's Dobie Gillis in later seasons and in syndication) is an American sitcom starring Dwayne Hickman that aired on CBS from September 29, 1959, to June 5, 1963. The series and several episode scripts were adapted from the "Dobie Gillis" short stories written by Max Shulman since 1945, and first collected in 1951 under the same title as the subsequent TV series. Shulman also wrote a feature film adaptation of his "Dobie Gillis" stories for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1953, titled The Affairs of Dobie Gillis which featured Bobby Van in the title role.
Dobie Gillis is significant as the first American television program produced for a major network to feature teenagers as leading characters. In other series, such as Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver, teenagers were portrayed as supporting characters in a family story. An even earlier 1954 series, Meet Corliss Archer, featured teenagers in leading roles and aired in syndication. Dobie Gillis broke ground by depicting elements of the current counterculture, particularly the Beat Generation, primarily embodied in a stereotypical version of the "beatnik". Series star Dwayne Hickman would later say that Dobie represented “the end of innocence of the 1950s before the oncoming 1960s revolution”.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced the first media adaptation of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis in 1953 as The Affairs of Dobie Gillis, a black-and-white musical film starring Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse, and Bobby Van as Dobie Gillis. Following its release, Shulman set about attempting to bring Dobie Gillis to television. An initial pilot was produced by veteran comedian and producer George Burns in 1957, with his son Ronnie Burns starring as Dobie.
After this pilot did not sell, Shulman took Dobie Gillis to 20th Century Fox Television, run at the time by Martin Manulis. Manulis asked Shulman to reduce the Dobie character's age from 19 to 17, making him a high-school student instead of a college student and an age peer of Ricky Nelson from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow) from Leave It to Beaver. Shulman agreed to the change after negotiating employment for himself on the series as show runner. The Fox pilot, "Caper at the Bijou", featured Dwayne Hickman as Dobie, Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus as his parents, newcomer Bob Denver as a new character, Dobie's beatnik best friend Maynard G. Krebs, and Tuesday Weld as Dobie's unattainable love interest Thalia Menninger.
The show was not filmed before a live studio audience; during the first season, a live audience viewed each episode and provided its laugh track. Subsequent seasons used a standard laugh track provided by technician Charles Douglass.
During its fourth season, the show, by then known as Max Shulman's Dobie Gillis, suffered both from competition with NBC's color Western The Virginian and from the growing inattention from Max Shulman. Shulman began spending increasing amounts of time at his home in Westport, Connecticut while the show was in active production, ceding his role as show runner to associate producers Joel Kane and Guy Scarpitta. CBS decided not to renew Dobie Gillis after production had concluded on its fourth season.
The theme song "Dobie" was written by 20th Century-Fox musical director Lionel Newman, with lyrics by Shulman. The theme was sung by Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, with music conducted by Newman. Session singer Gloria Wood of the Rhythmaires provided the scat singing used as incidental score during the first two seasons.

[@wendybusby9415]

This was both beautiful and heart breaking at the same time.

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

Tasty flashbacks. Bittersweet memories. Happy to see Sheila and Dwayne still going strong.

[@undergroundwarrior70]

I was 3 years old in 1959, and I do remember watching Dobie Gillis on TV along with my mom. It was one of the best TV comedies during that time. My favorite character was Maynard G. Krebs played by Bob Denver. At that time I wanted to be a beatnik like Maynard G. Krebs and have a goatee. I finally grew one when I was attending Jr. High in the 8th grade. I was the only kid in the entire Jr. high who had one. (And I did enjoy listening to "Cool Jazz" each time I heard it when it was played on TV back then as well when I was 3. Like the TV drama "Peter Gunn").

[@hunnybee971]

I was ten in 1959. I also liked Maynard G. Krebs, as did most of my school chums. And Peter Gunn was a regular on our TV.

[@tombryant2690]

Yes awesome show still love it I was 2 be safe

[@rongendron8705]

I loved "Dobie Gillis" & actually met Dwayne Hickman in 2004, but couldn't understand why he changed his hair color so often in the show! (Groundbreaking show,for the time!)

[@cdgates1]

His hair would fall out when it was bleached blond. So the producers decided to let his hair return to its natural color

[@Pridegriffin]

Dwayne Hickman looks just as handsome at 87 yrs old as he did at 25!

[@vincecarnevale4406]

Like man you rang!The beatniks movement before the hippies.

[@leonardgilbreath9004]

WORK Manerd G Cribbs best line will always be what some of remember most.

[@garycarpenter2980]

That was a funny show especially the parents and Dobie as the straight man(like George Burns)

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

RIP Bob Denver

[@1952creswell]

I just can't believe the 2021 photo of Dwayne Hickman. No 87 year old man can look that good. If it's true he makes Dick Clark look bad.

[@Joseph_Greco]

Judging from the multitude of mistakes in this video you can be sure that was just another one. Why people go to the trouble of making an otherwise nice video and yet don't get the photos, clips or dates correct is beyond me.

[@austindreher2791]

My Mom LOVES DOBIE GILLIS. She talked about until we find it in Tubie. I have to say. I Like it too

[@DOUGLAS55ish]

Years ago, I read the book, The adventures of Doby Gillis. I think I shall try to find a copy and read it again.

[@robbiecrossing9447]

Omg! Dwyane looks better now than when was doing the show

[@yooperlooper]

Great show!! Funny, goofy, thought provoking and yet somewhat intelligent!

[@jonnaosborne1832]

You should check out the original Dobie Gillis books by Max Shulman. SO funny and intelligent!

[@johnmckenzie8522]

Bob Denver is the man who make me laugh as coffee people where they read poetry that kind of man I like

[@alpha-omega2362]

Bob Denver was the only one to go on to make another Iconic character and one of few actors who has made two iconic figures....Bob Denver :Gilligan and Maynard....but , for me, he will always be Maynard G. Krebs, the original beat nik....you rang? .....

[@ndog2005]

Great Memories, Thank You.. Very sad to learn of those who have moved on..

[@jamesfox2579]

One of my all-time favorite shows!!❤😁

[@FactsVerse]

We're happy to know that you loved Dobie Gillis! Which episode appealed to you the most?

[@sandrawolfe4564]

Rest in Heavenly Peace Dobie

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

Although William Shallert was a multi-talented actor, I'll always remember him as the father of the garrulous Patty Lane of The Patty Duke Show (1963-1966).

[@alpha-omega2362]

I know. When ever I see him in some other old show , I always say "there's Patty Duke's father"...

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

@@alpha-omega2362 👍 😊

[@georgemaster689]

Time has been kind to Dwayne.

[@FactsVerse]

Thanks for watching!

[@AbsurdBoyOfficial]

This didnt age well

[@Buffalosabskis]

Some of these people passed away young. Smoking was so common back then

[@clementjohnson2666]

Watchman117 l agree with you . Mr. D. Hickman is the YOUNGEST looking 87 year old I've ever seen in my life .

[@JeffreyFalkenstein]

RIP Dwayne Hickman, thnx for the memories. . . 🙏

[@bernardbrady3317]

Well done production

[@watchman1178]

Are you sure that's really a photo of Dwayne Hickman at 87? If so, he might be the youngest-looking 87 year-old I've ever seen.

[@MG-mj6zi]

He aged well. Bob Denver aged not so well at the age of 70.

[@rongendron8705]

I met Dwayne Hickmman in 2004 when he was 70 years old & I was 58! I spent 1 hr. with him & his wife (no crowd) at an art gallery where he was showing his paintings in Northport, NY. He lookede incredibly young then & I'm sure, still does at 87!

[@jrtruth1]

Such a fun show. So many talented people! Many fond memories. And a wistful reminder that time moves on...

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I had a crush on young Bob Denver

[@hautboisixx8540]

.. me too ! ..

[@elmerwilliamson1970]

Somebody can’t do basic math. Dwane Hickman 25 in 1959, makes him 87 in 2021. At the end of video you say he was 34 in 1959, which makes him 96! I think he was born in 1934, making him 87 yr. old today.

[@salanzaldi4551]

I loved that show!

[@frederikvansteen3971]

I dont know it is the clothes or the hair, but people looked so much older then.

[@lavernewhiting9826]

My thoughts exactly.

[@shsechas]

Great memories. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@jennbienvenue804]

The clip they showed is not Tuesday Weld.

[@WG7D]

noticed that too.

[@eddietucker3334]

No way was that clip Tuesday Weld!

[@kirbywaite1586]

Packer was a wonderful character actress.

[@deniseroe5891]

I remember watching this after school.

[@hunnybee971]

I don't remember how old I was when I watched Dobie Gillis, but I think I may have been too young to understand some things. But I do remember finding the book Dobie Gillis in the library years after it was cancelled. smh I think I may have been too young to understand much that happened in the book. Fifty years later, I still remember some things, and I 'know' I was too young, because I understand it all now. I am currently trying to find full episodes to watch again.

[@xxxxx262]

Hickman looked young in 2008 sounded same wow!

[@kevinh.6556]

This is a wonderful video. It's strange. Time passes, and a person doesn't fully realize the impact the characters in many of these old shows played on their childhoods. When you view a video like this, you grasp how much you miss many of the actors. They were amazing. Unfortunately, it's a time that's now lost to history in so many ways. It was a time when teaching character was a major factor in raising children. Parents really could let television babysit their children and teach them values. I do have one minor criticism of the video. I wish it had shown the year the actors were born in. I realize it's a simple task of calculating the year they were born in, but it would've been simpler just to show the year. Of course, this bit of knowledge might not be as important to some people as it is to me. Perhaps, I'm the odd duck (lol).

[@PaulTesta]

R.I.P. Dobie Gillis

[@donnariley2831]

The lady that said, "The rich are always right" was Nina Foch, not Florida Freibus. I loved "Dobie Gillis." He still looks good!

[@francesrude3007]

Something about his bright eyes. They STILL have a kindness about them. I loved the show.I am 78.

[@spiff8862]

Yep. Nina. Not Florida. Also that head shot of Dwayne at 87 is SOOOO remarkable. That dude has some AWESOME Genes. OR.... You don't have a current pic of him and just threw that photo (I'm going to say taken in the late 80's early 90's) in for filler.

[@hydrolito]

Wider hangers are better for the coats less likely to damage them although takes up more room in closet.

[@donaldhawkes5226]

Funny in those days the actors look older than their age

[@lavernewhiting9826]

My thoughts exactly.

[@swimlaps1]

My young mom, early 20s, watched this show when I was a tot! I was too young to know the words but remember The Thinker statue, Dobie, and Maynard!

[@FactsVerse]

Thank you so much for sharing the life story of your mom! If we may ask, what is your all-time favorite show?

[@swimlaps1]

@@FactsVerse Watched more as a kid into '70s. Bewitched(fav), That Girl, Lost in Space, Batman, Monkees, Mission Impossible, Streets of SF. Ozzie&Harriot (when v little).Talk shows- Dick Cavet had many musicians, MervGriffin..

[@michaelharris4651]

Rip Bob !

[@dilwarhussain2319]

Wow....fantastic 🍁🍁🍁 Love from...... Dilwar--Sylhet--Banglades🇧🇩

[@JosephSaltal]

Dwayne Hickman 1934--2022 RIP.

[@The1066BMJ]

I was 2 years old when the show ended in 1963. Another & more popular TV show ended the same year... Leave It To Beaver.

[@jfarinacci0329]

good history. thank you.

[@irwinharris7217]

Shampoo was not Warren Beatty's final film . Steve Franken passed away a couple of years ago

[@harperstacey9604]

Warren beatty denies being on the show.

[@carlmoore3215]

@@harperstacey9604 Also, Warren Beatty was Jackie Kennedy's choice to play JFK in PT-109, but then-President JFK, who made the choice that counted, chose Cliff Robertson.

[@supitsgavin7921]

NICEEE

[@waltglow6396]

I remember watching this show all the time I was going to a Catholic grade school at that time and going down the halls I would say YOU RANG the nuns would look at my funny and not a clue ah all those years ago!

[@debraahumphrey5155]

The woman that was talking in the scene with Nina Foch.

[@carlmoore3215]

7:59 Frank Faylen 71 in 1985? No, he was 79 (born 1905, died before birthday in 1985).

[@graciesaccardo9363]

Good one 🕜

[@Daisnap]

I love that there is this tribute to a fabulous show. However, I hope needed corrections are made. I spent a long time looking for Doris Packer on a DVD of Shampoo. I finally caught a glimpse of her in a crowd scene. I am positive the gray-haired woman in the Shampoo clip here is not Doris Packer; it looks nothing like her. As other commenters have pointed out, the woman shown as Florida Friebus in her last movie was in fact Nina Foch. And the clip of “Tuesday Weld” on the Dobie show was not Tuesday Weld. A lot of work went into this video and it would take more work to edit in accurate clips. But a great cast like this deserves that respect, I think. BTW, Ms. Weld was great in “Reflections of Murder” a superior TV movie remake of the French thriller “Diabolique”. So glad you acknowledged that film. I believe she also played Diane Keaton’s sister in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar”. Doris Packer had recurring roles on Leave it to Beaver, Burns and Allen, did a great guest show on a hilarious Duck Van Dyke Show. She did two rare dramatic roles on The Twilight Zone and on The Barbara Stanwyck Show she was superb as a formidable Texas matriarch who is ultimately humbled. Great actress.

[@FactsVerse]

Thanks for the feedback, Harry!

[@Daisnap]

@@FactsVerse Oh, you’re very welcome. Having just watched it again, I should point out - Hope you don’t mind! - that at the beginning of the section on Dwayne Hickman, it says he was 25 in 1959, and a bit later, it says he was 34 in 1959. Hope you replace the clips of Nina Foch with ones of Florida Friebus at some point. Wasn’t F. F. a regular on the Bob Newhart Show years after Dobie? I see I wrote about Doris Packer in an earlier comment, but didn’t see her just now in your presentation. Did I miss her or did you remove her? Thanks for your work on this. It seems to be done with great care. Hope you’ll take the time to correct the inaccuracies.

[@markrubin2470]

Looking at Sheila Kuehl I can't help but think of how she resembled Kurt Russell

[@mssmiles0503]

I only watched this show as reruns but I loved it. Thalia was so beautiful (but evil!)

[@kathleenbergeron1292]

If Tuesday Weld had married Frederic March and they had a daughter, they could have named her Tuesday March the second.

[@ediekoller1144]

"Zelda" Sheila Kuehl is my county supervisor for Los Angeles. Very nice lady. Met her several times when I was involved with politics in the 1990's.

[@carlmoore3215]

Her acting career was damaged by disclosure that she was lesbian. At 8:14, you hear her using deeper voice, assuming it wasn't dubbed. (Dubbing used in brief appearance of Fred McMurray in 2nd role in last My Three Sons season.)

[@ediekoller1144]

@@carlmoore3215 So what if she is a lesbian she seemed like a nice person as a politician and she is retiring as country supervisor for my district next year as she is 81 now. By the way I am not gay but my motto is "live and let live".

[@melissagerber7231]

@@ediekoller1144 I agree. Zelda was supposed to get a spinoff show, until Sheila's longterm relationship with a woman was discovered. Zelda appeared twice,in the next season,and was written out of the series, after that.

[@ediekoller1144]

@@melissagerber7231 It's sad 'when it was discovered Sheila was gay but in those days it was not acceptable. . For me as a straight person it never bothered me. Times are different now and it's very open. She ended up getting a law degree and later ended in state and local politics.

[@casedoumasr656]

Loved this show i was 9 and allso watched our Miss Brooks and some program with a groovy beatnik guy whats is name who played Gulligan yea thats the one .Love them all 🏆🙏🤔🇺🇸

[@FactsVerse]

We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?

[@casedoumasr656]

@@FactsVerse well that was over 50 plus years ago I was 9 you asked which episode was the best well I'd have to say just all of them. P.s. Just can not pick one 😟

[@fleetcomm1]

How was Stephen Franken 33 in 1987?

[@Mark.G475]

Scooby Doo Where are you!!! Based on these characters!!!

[@jamespfitz]

RIP, Dobe.

[@hydrolito]

Louis 16 and Marie Antoinette found out hard way rich were not always right although replaced by another rich guy called Napoleon Bonaparte and he found out he was not always right either at a place called Waterloo.

[@carlmoore3215]

The first two died on the guillotine. Napoleon's head stayed on and he ended up in exile.

[@cliffbrownstein2768]

Get your math correct. Several of the actors' ages are wrong if you add their age in 1959 to the years since then.

[@maryturpel8413]

Steve Franken was 80 when he passed.

[@Juneisthebestmonth]

Sad to hear he passed away today

[@dalekmoon]

Zelda scared the crap out of me, not gonna lie.

[@debraahumphrey5155]

That movie you show me that lady is the wrong lady is Nina flash with her glasses on and the white skirt

[@fleetcomm1]

Then & now? Don’t you think that’s poorly worded with deceased cast members?

[@user-kp2zm7xg7z]

Dwayne Bernard Hickman[1] (May 18, 1934 - January 9, 2022)

[@user-kp2zm7xg7z]

Robert Osbourne Denver (January 9, 1935 - September 2, 2005)

[@trotterhorsewatsonjr.6668]

Wished you'd explored where they derived the name Gilligan from...

[@ronnydee2]

Some of the movie clips are not the same people.

[@hydrolito]

Maryann made Coconut cream pies they could have called it Coconut island and huts were made of bamboo they could have called it Bamboo island.

[@bobapbob5812]

should have had Ron Howard. He was on Dobie Gillis

[@cdgates1]

I believe that photo of Tuesday Weld is from 2003. I wonder what she has been up to these days?

[@MG-mj6zi]

I always thought see was pretty.

[@steelerspittsburgh875]

She was 16 on this show and the guys around her were in their 20s

[@TonyWhite22351]

She played alongside Robert DeNiro in the 1983 film Once Upon A Time in America

[@msz1923]

That is not Tuesday Weld in the clip where the girl returns his ring.

[@junekinsell4084]

Great show... So many mistakes here though. Needs proofreading.

[@larrymiller4]

Dwayne Hickman passed on in January 2022.

[@branthart5014]

Why didn't you include Darryl Hickman and Jean Bryon? Darryl is Dwayne's older brother and played Dobie's brother Davey in early episodes of the show. Jean Byron was another regular on the show. She was Mrs. Ruth Adams the math teacher at Central High. When Dobie went to college, Jean Byron was one of his professors Dr. Imogene Burkhart. William Schallert reprised his role as Mr. Pomfritt in the college shows. After the show ended Jean Bryon and William Schallert became the parents on "The Patty Duke Show". Bobby Van played Dobie in a 1953 movie "The Affairs of Dobie Gillis". Debbie Reynolds played his girlfriend Pansy and Hans Conried was Prof. Pomfrit.

[@chuckymurlo5654]

Did Dwayne Hickman have a twin brother? There was a Daryll Hickman who played a cowboy in an early episode of Gunsmoke..identical!

[@lavernewhiting9826]

Yes the late Darryl Hickman.

[@chuckymurlo5654]

@@lavernewhiting9826 Thank you! At first I thought it was Dwayne on Gunsmoke until I checked the credits

[@cdgates1]

@@lavernewhiting9826 Darryl is still living

[@hydrolito]

In answer to 10:02 Ichabod and Mortimer are first names not family names listings only listed family name and first initial so should not have found Ichabod or Mortimer listed. They must have used a different source for first names.

[@starwish2467]

"Oh, Dobie-do".

[@robertvance1873]

Dobie 25 in 1959- 34 also in 1959 lmao 😂😂😂😆😆😆

[@afhickman]

That's not Tuesday Weld in the first clip you show.

[@Maz-zb9uf]

Sorry is it just me but Warren Beattie 😍😍

[@ArizonaPoet]

".... mister Krebbs do you understand the life you have undone you sent me to that slovenly place to settle upon a rock and ponder all that could be all that's possible in this world of thinking thoughts of malcontent and super critical verbs of course, your fault you know this kid that grew up to follow paths which went nowhere and characters within a stew you gave me something to aspire that beatnik persona taken for many hundred months upon martinis stirred, not shaken mister Krebbs trust you to be satisfied with your lot that which you cast me into those words held out for thought ....."

[@tonyf.8858]

How could Steve Franken be 67 in 2021 when he died in 2012? Did I miss something here ?

[@georgemaster689]

Sheila now works in L.A.politics.

[@FactsVerse]

Thanks for watching!

[@georgemaster689]

@@FactsVerse 👍

[@cliffart7398]

check you rfranken clip. you say is died in 2012 but the last picture you have as 2021

[@stanleykeith6969]

You have Steven Franken passed away at age 80 in 2012, died of Cancer, then you have him at age 67 in 2021 ? I think your Math is wrong. Look at 4 31 / 11 58 and see for yourself.

[@curtpiazza1688]

👍

[@jonnaosborne1832]

You have so many wrong photos for the people you apparently mean to portray. The errors are in the movie scenes where you show the totally wrong people.

[@JAMES-my8bf]

Sometimes, I like to Fill UP my Bathtub with Milk, lay in the Fetal Position and pretend that I'm a Cheerio..

[@dandavis8300]

Maynard, is that you?!!!

[@francesrude3007]

LOL.

[@francesrude3007]

@@dandavis8300 LOL.

[@wiiztec]

This video has serious pacing issues

[@hydrolito]

They planned on doing Archie but could not get rights for price they wanted from Archie comic company so Bob Denver might have played Jughead Jones instead of Maynard G Krebs. Years later The Archies and Archies TV funnies were done as cartoons. There was even a record called Honey Honey released by a group called The Archies on the label.

[@rockyrockafella8527]

That was Sugar Sugar. Sugar Sugar, ah honey honey, you are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you. Remember it well.

[@Lorenzo1950]

Sorry but you made some mistakes with photos and important dates. Nice try anyway.

[@501rivet]

...so far two BIG errors in their "facts"....

[@spiff8862]

I'm surprised that with the errors made, you didn't say that Doris Packer (she was Mrs. Rayburn, the principle) played Miss Landers on "Leave it to Beaver".