According to "Gilligan's Island" (1964) creator Sherwood Schwartz, he was having trouble casting the right actor for the part of the Skipper. Several had auditioned (including Carroll O'Connor) but Schwartz couldn't find the right guy. While he was having dinner in a Hollywood restaurant, he noticed Alan Hale Jr. dressed in a Civil War uniform, having dinner. Schwartz liked what he saw in Hale and began planning on casting him for the Skipper.
Ashes scattered at sea.
Best known as the skipper on "Gilligan's Island" (1964).
Brother of Karen Hale Wookey
Grandfather of Samantha Hale.
He addressed "Barney Fife" as "Little Buddy" in January 1962 guest appearance as "Jeff Pruitt" on "The Farmer Takes a Wife" episode of the "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960). He used the same nickname for Gilligan 2 years later.
It was while filming Bullet for a Badman (1964) that he got his casting call for "Gilligan's Island" (1964). He had to ride out of Zions National Park in St. George, Utah, on horseback to the highway and hitchhike to Las Vegas to fly out to the interview.
Played a character called "Gilligan" in an episode of the TV series "Batman" (1966).
Served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
Sometime after his father's death, 'Alan Hale Jr.' dropped the "Jr" and became professionally known as 'Alan Hale'.
Son of Alan Hale.
Unlike other cast members of "Gilligan's Island" (1964), he enjoyed the image that his role on the show gave him. This included usually wearing a skipper's cap at most times, donating his used ones for charity purposes.
Used to own a travel agency after he closed his restaurant.
Used to own and operate a popular restaurant "Alan Hale's Lobster Barrel" on La Cienega Blvd's "Restaurant Row" in Los Angeles. He would often greet guests dressed as "The Skipper".
While battling cancer, he lost a lot of weight. When a child inquired about his weight loss, Hale simply told him that he was going to be playing Gilligan in a new Gilligan's Island show.
While playing Ned Brown in "The Wild Wild West" (1965) episode, "The Night of the Sabatini Death", he told a cast member he was going to "relax on my own private desert island.", which was followed by a snippet of the "Gilligan's Island" (1964) theme song.