Dawn Wells
Dawn Wells
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dawn Elberta Wells (October 18, 1938 - December 30, 2020) was an American actress who is best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island. She and Tina Louise are the last surviving regular cast members from that series. In Hollywood, Wells made her debut on ABC's The Roaring 20s and the movie The New Interns and was cast in episodes of such television series as 77 Sunset Strip, The Cheyenne Show, Maverick, and Bonanza, before she took the role of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island. She reprised her character in the various Gilligan's Island reunion specials, including the reunion cartoon spin-off Gilligan's Planet and three reunion movies: Rescue from Gilligan's Island, The Castaways on Gilligan's Island, and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island. She also appeared as a guest star on Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, 87th Precinct, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, Ripcord, The Everglades, The Detectives, It's a Man's World, Channing, Laramie, Burke's Law, The Invaders, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I., Vega$, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston, ALF, Herman's Head, Three Sisters, Pastor Greg, and Roseanne. Following Gilligan's Island, Wells embarked on a theater career, appearing in nearly one hundred theatrical productions as of July 2009. She spent the majority of the 1970s, and 1980s, touring in musical theater productions. She also had a one-woman show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1985. In 1993, Wells published Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook with co-writers Ken Beck and Jim Clark, including a foreword by Bob Denver. She was close to Alan Hale Jr., who played The Skipper in Gilligan's Island, even after the series completed its run, and he contributed a family recipe ("Kansas Chicken and Dumplings") to her cookbook. Hale's character was the inspiration behind such concoctions as Skipper's Coconut Pie, Skipper's Navy Bean Soup, and Skipper's Goodbye Ribeye, and he is depicted as Skipper Jonas Grumby in numerous photographs throughout the book. She said in a 2014 interview with GoErie.com, "Alan could not have been kinder to a young actress. He was a real peach." In 2005, Wells consigned her original gingham blouse and shorts ensemble for sale from her signature role. Beverly Hills auction house Profiles in History sold it for $20,700. In 2008, she joined Gilligan's Island creator Sherwood Schwartz in Los Angeles for the celebration of Schwartz's entry into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She appeared on the "Celebrity Holiday Bash" episode of Food Network's Chopped, which first aired December 1, 2013. In 2014, Wells released What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life, which she co-wrote with Steve Stinson. The book was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gilligan's Island. Gilligan's Island co-star Russell Johnson died on January 16, 2014, and Wells and Tina Louise are the only surviving cast members of the sitcom. In May 2016, Wells was named Marketing Ambassador to MeTV Network. In January 2019, Wells was seen promoting the Gilligan's Island television series on the MeTV television network. CLR
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
58
Gender
Female
Birthday
1938-10-18 (86 years old)
Place of Birth
Reno, Nevada, USA
Acting

2018

The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants as Gumbalina Toothington (voice)

2018

The Gilligan Manifesto as Herself

2013

This Is Our Time as Margo

2012

Silent but Deadly as Rose

2002

Super Sucker as Super Sucker Celebrity Spokesperson

2000

Girlfriends as Not available

1998

Hollywood Squares as Self - Panelist

1996

E! True Hollywood Story as Not available

1996

Lover's Knot as Mary Ann

1993

Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest

1992

Vicki! as Self

1992

Soulmates as Lucille Perkins

1991

Herman's Head as Mary Ann

1988

Roseanne as Not available

1986

ALF as Mary Ann Summers

1985

Growing Pains as Myrtle Deforest

1985

Growing Pains as Casting Receptionist

1983

High School U.S.A. as MIss Lorilee Lee

1982

Matt Houston as Not available

1982

Gilligan's Planet as Ginger Grant / Mary Ann Summers (voices)

1980

Hagen as Not available

1978

Vega$ as Not available

1978

Rescue from Gilligan's Island as Mary Ann Summers

1977

The Love Boat as Valerie Madden

1977

Return to Boggy Creek as Jolene

1975

Winterhawk as Clayanna / Narrator

1967

The Invaders as Eileen Brown

1965

The F.B.I. as Carol Morton

1965

The Wild Wild West as Betsy

1964

Gilligan's Island as Mary Ann Summers

1964

The New Interns as Bobbie

1963

Burke's Law as Wendy

1961

87th Precinct as Kathy Blakely

1961

Everglades as Not available

1960

Surfside 6 as Not available

1960

Surfside 6 as Consuelo Hernandez

1960

The Roaring 20's as Not available

1959

Bonanza as Marty Johnson

1959

Bonanza as Moon Holt

1959

Hawaiian Eye as Lois Corey

1959

Laramie as Millie

1959

The Detectives as Not available

1958

77 Sunset Strip as Not available

1958

77 Sunset Strip as Judy Rogers

1958

77 Sunset Strip as Nixie Martin

1957

Wagon Train as Mrs. Murray

1957

Maverick as Caprice Rambeau

1955

Cheyenne as Sarah Claypool

NaN

Dawn Wells Reel Adventures as Not available
Crew

2019

American Christmas Executive Producer