Vale: Dawn Wells
Much-loved US actress, best known as Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island has died.
- Published by David Knox
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Much-loved US actress Dawn Wells, best known as ‘Mary Ann’ on Gilligan’s Island has died, aged 82.
She died on Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles.
Wells played Kansas girl-next-door ‘Mary Ann Summers’ for just 3 seasons from 1964 – 1966, but the show by Sherwood Schwartz become such a pop culture hit it has lived on in syndication ever since.
She reprised the role for 3 telemovies from 1978 – 1981 and produced a behind the scenes special in 2001.
“Every character on Gilligan’s Island was given a broad ‘stock’ comedy role to fill — captain, mate, wealthy man, wealthy wife, professor, movie star — except me,” Wells once wrote. “She was given a name and location — Kansas farm girl. I had to fill in the blanks. So, from the get-go, the Mary Ann character was different. She wasn’t a Hollywood creation.
“I know this because the core of Mary Ann is really me. I mean, I built her from scratch … if you play a character long enough on stage or screen, I think your true self shows through.”
Wells had represented the state of Nevada in the 1959 Miss America pageant and appeared on several TV series before being cast in Gilligan’s Island.
Her other credits included 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Bonanza, The Joey Bishop Show, Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, ALF, Growing Pains, The Bold and the Beautiful, Baywatch and Roseanne.
There was also an Australian link, having been a “castaway correspondent” for Ray Martin-hosted Midday, interviewing celebrities like Eddie Murphy, Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks.
She also had a long career on stage, and undertook charity work on women, children and animals.
In August 2018, Wells took a fall and revealed that she was having difficulty paying for the two months of hospital rehabilitation that she needed. She said she was flabbergasted when people raised $197,000 for her in a month after a friend created a GoFundMe page.
“I am amazed at the kindness and affection I have received,” she told FOX News. “I don’t know how this happened. I thought I was taking all the proper steps to ensure my golden years. Now, here I am, no family, no husband, no kids and no money.”
Tina Louise (Ginger), now the last remaining cast member of Gilligan’s Island, said in a statement, “I was sad to learn of Dawn’s passing, I will always remember her kindness to me. We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time. I hope that people will remember her the way that I do – always with a smile on her face.”
Source: Variety, Hollywood Reporter
5 Responses
Aaagh..i just googled her yesterday to see if she was still alive! I loved her and i loved this show. So silly but so much fun..i feel a part of my childhood just died.😪
spooky, so did I – just stumbled on Gilligan’s Island again after a few years on Foxtel and looked up the two remaining castmates. Now, just one! 🙁
Always found her more appealing than Ginger and Dawn did’t look a day older in the TV movies 15 years later! No more Coconut cream pies…
Oh, RIP dear Dawn Wells. That was moving to read. Sail on, dear castaway.
lovely tribute David. I was touched by her passing, as she represented for me, as i suspect a generation or two (or three)of viewers, something wholesome and pure and lovely. Dawn’s legacy in creating that kind of spirit for half a century plus is indeed worthy of mention and celebration; even with the sadness of her passing this week.
‘Gilligan’s Island’ was one of my true favourites as a kid. I really believed they were castaways! So vivid and well etched. But far fetched too, when seen through adult eyes. I still get a chuckle out of the reruns.