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Gilligan is a fictional character played by Bob Denver on the 1960s TV show Gilligan's Island and its many sequels.

Gilligan is always seen in his trademark red shirt and white sailor's cap. He was the first mate on the S.S. Minnow when during a storm he threw an anchor overboard without the line attached, accidentally becoming marooned on a desert island with all aboard. He served with The Skipper in the U.S. Navy. Gilligan is The Skipper's 'little buddy', and the two fall in the mold of the fat guy/thin guy comedy team pioneered by Laurel and Hardy. Not much was ever learned about Gilligan's past or family. He had an older brother, from whom he swiped his ubiquitous red shirt. He also sometimes related anecdotes about childhood friends, Skinny Mulligan and Fatso Flannigan.

The character of Gilligan is noted for frequent physical comedy, often using his friend the Skipper in the role of a straight man. Continuing gags on the program include Gilligan in danger of being seduced by Hollywood star Ginger Grant, always eating Mary Ann's coconut cream pie, making fun of the Skipper's weight and constantly (albeit inadvertently) derailing the efforts of the castaways to get off the island.

Despite his bumbling nature, Gilligan has an innate innocence of character that frequently unexpectedly saves the day for his companions. Other ensemble stories have had similar characters somewhat lacking in wit but with big hearts, such as Mater in the movie Cars.

Today Gilligan is widely recognized as an American popular culture icon, he ranked at 122nd place in the July 2003 list of 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons compiled by VH-1 and People Magazine.

Gilligan's full name has been a subject of debate among fans of the series for decades, which was finally resolved by the release of Gilligan's Island — The Complete First Season on DVD in 2004. In a documentary called Before the Three Hour Tour, excerpts from Sherwood Schwartz's original treatment for the series reveal that Gilligan's full name was "Willy Gilligan", a name that Bob Denver had sometimes given during talk show interviews. The documentary also reveals that Schwartz found the name "Gilligan" by opening the phone book to a random page. Bob Denver stated on a KDKA radio interview in May 1989, that "Gil Eggan" was his choice for the character's name. Denver reasoned that the nickname Gilligan developed as everyone screamed at Gil Eggan, and it ran together. No first name is used in any of the three seasons, films or animated series. In Rescue From Gilligan's Island, the returning castaways' names are announced. The writers, heightening the folklore surrounding Gilligan, omitted the the first mate's name despite providing the names of the others.

• Gilligan Jack-o-lantern pumpkin carving
• Bob Denver's Gilligan Fan club