RIP Dawn Wells

 

Dawn Wells, ‘Gilligan’s Island’s’ Mary Ann, Dies of COVID at 82

Variety

By Pat Saperstein

December 30, 2020

Dawn Wells, who starred as “good girl” Mary Ann in popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles. She was 82.

Attired in her ubiquitous gingham dress, which is on display at the Hollywood museum, the Mary Ann character played the demure foil to Tina Louise’s suggestive evening dress-clad Ginger. Both women were subjected

A native of Reno, Wells also appeared in “77 Sunset Strip,” “Maverick,” “Bonanza,” “The Joey Bishop Show” and “Hawaiian Eye.”

Publicist Harlan Boll announced her death.

Wells represented Nevada in the 1959 Miss America pageant and appeared on several TV series before being cast in “Gilligan’s Island” in 1964.

After the series ended in 1967, she returned for several TV movies and spinoff series. She served as producer on TV movies “Surviving Gilligan’s Island” and “Return to the Bat Cave” with Adam West.

She went on to appear in series including “Growing Pains,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Baywatch.”

She voiced Gumbalina Toothington in “The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants” series.

In movies, Wells appeared in “Winterhawk,” “The Town That Dreaded Sundown,” “Super Sucker,” “The New Interns,” “It’s Our Time” and “Silent But Deadly.”

Wells had a long career onstage, appearing in the national tours of “Chapter Two” and “They’re Playing Our Song” as well as in “Fatal Attraction” with Ken Howard,” “The Odd Couple” with Marcia Wallace, “Steel Magnolias” and “The Vagina Monologues.”

 

Though she appeared in numerous TV shows, movies and plays, her role as Mary Ann was her most enduring, leading to gigs such as “castaway correspondent” for Australia’s Channel 9 and spokeswomand for the MeTV network. She wrote the book “A Guide to Life: What Would Mary Ann Do?” in honor of the 50th anniversary of “Gilligan’s Island.”

Wells is survived by her stepsister, Weslee Wells. Donations may be made to the Elephant Sanctuary, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum or the Shambala Preserve.

Her charitable efforts included working as chair of the Terry Lee Wells Foundation, focusing on women and children in Northern Nevada, and she received the Elephant Sanctuary Trumpeting Award for her work with the Elephant Sanctuary. She also ran the Film Actors Boot Camp for seven years in Idaho.

WELLS, Dawn (Dawn Elberta Wells)

Born: 10/18/1938, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.

Died: 12/30/2020, Los Angeles, California

Dawn Wells’ westerns – actress:

Cheyenne (TV) – 1961 (Sarah Claypool)

Maverick (TV) – 1961 (Caprice Rambeau)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1961 (Molly)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1961 (Mrs. Murray)

Bonanza (TV) – 1962, 1968 (Marty Johnson, Moon Holt)

Lawman (TV) – 1962 (Elly Stratton)

Laramie (TV) – 1963 (TV) (Millie)

The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1968 (Betsy Jeffers)

Winterhawk – 1975 (Clayanna) [narrator]