The Surprising Way Fred Grandy Landed His Role On “The Love Boat”
Fred Grandy, 76, looks back with gratitude on his journey to becoming the unforgettable purser Burl “Gopher” Smith on The Love Boat. At a special event, The Love Boat: Behind the Scenes Stories panel during Princess Cruises’ The Love Boat Celebration at Sea 2024 sailing, Fred admitted he wasn’t the first choice for the role. “I was the last man standing when it came to casting this part,” he said with a smile.
Billy Crystal was also in the running for the role. Fred recalled, “Billy wound up doing a show that we wrote called The Kissing Bandit. A lovely guy, very funny, and not so full of himself. But I remember it was somewhat of a lesson in humility when he told me how much he really hated the script.”
Bernie Kopell, who famously played the ship’s doctor, also shared his own story of how he landed the role. “All of a sudden, we find out that Dick Van Patten was under contract to ABC,” said Bernie, now 91, during the panel on board the Enchanted Princess.
“They pulled him out to do Eight Is Enough, and it opened up for every walk-in actor to audition for the role of the doctor, including me.”
After a round of auditions, Bernie’s agent reportedly called and screamed, “You got the part!”
He fondly added how the role changed his life, saying, “It was just such a treat and I’ve been so grateful for that life-changing experience and here I am, still working at the age of 91.”
The show ran for an impressive 10 seasons, and the cast members have remained close over the years. Earlier this year, Fred, Bernie, Ted Lange (who played bartender Isaac Washington), and Jill Whelan (who portrayed Vicki Stubing) reunited for the play I’m Not Rappaport in Michigan. They are also set to be aboard the Regal Princess when the next Love Boat Celebration at Sea sails from Galveston, Texas, in November.
“There are casts that are very cohesive and get along, correspond and stuff, but I don’t think there is a group that’s as tight knit professionally and personally as our group. And I’m not sure what the reason for that is, but I’m obviously not going to question it because it’s been very successful and lucrative for us,” Fed said.
Fred’s time on The Love Boat also opened unexpected doors. After the show, he pursued a career in politics, serving four terms as a Republican congressman for Iowa. “When I announced to Aaron Spelling that I wanted to leave the show and go back to Iowa to run for Congress, his first response was to sue me for anticipatory breach of contract,” Fred recalled, adding, “I don’t think that’s a term that exists in legal jargon, but he had enough power in Beverly Hills to make it up.”
Luckily, Aaron Spelling, who passed away in 2006, decided not to sue. Fred went on to win his congressional seat. Later, he even asked Aaron for a political contribution, but the real help came from Love Boat producer Douglas Cramer.
The celebration cruise was filled with fun activities for fans, including two panels where they could hear directly from Fred, Bernie, Ted, and Jill. Guests could attend a cocktail demonstration hosted by Ted, test their knowledge with The Love Boat trivia, sip on specialty cocktails, and enjoy episodes of the show at the outdoor theater.
