Dawn Wells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawn Wells
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Wells as Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island in 1964
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| Born |
Dawn Elberta Wells
October 18, 1938 Reno, Nevada, U.S.
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| Died | December 30, 2020 (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–2019 |
| Spouse(s) |
Larry Rosen
(m. 1962; div. 1967) |
Dawn Elberta Wells (born October 18, 1938 – died December 30, 2020) was an American actress. She was best known for playing Mary Ann Summers on the popular TV show Gilligan's Island. This show was a sitcom that aired on CBS.
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Early Life
Dawn Wells was born in Reno, Nevada. She went to Reno High School there. Her father owned a shipping company called "Wells Cargo."
After high school, Dawn studied chemistry at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Later, she moved to the University of Washington in Seattle. She graduated in 1960 with a degree in theater arts and design. She was also part of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Acting Career
In 1959, Dawn Wells won the title of Miss Nevada. She then represented her state in the Miss America 1960 pageant. This competition took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Famous Role: Gilligan's Island
Dawn Wells started her acting career in Hollywood. She appeared in TV shows like The Roaring 20s and Bonanza. But her most famous role was Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island.
The show was about seven people stranded on a desert island. Mary Ann was a sweet, innocent farm girl from Kansas. Dawn played this character for 98 episodes.
She also played Mary Ann in later Gilligan's Island movies. These included Rescue from Gilligan's Island and The Castaways on Gilligan's Island. She even voiced Mary Ann in the cartoon Gilligan's Planet.
Life After Gilligan's Island
After Gilligan's Island, Dawn Wells acted in many plays. She performed in almost 100 theater productions. She spent many years touring in musical theater shows.
In 1993, she wrote a cookbook called Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook. She also wrote a book in 2014 called What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life. This book came out for the 50th anniversary of Gilligan's Island.
In 2005, Dawn sold her original Mary Ann costume. It was a gingham blouse and shorts. It sold for $20,700 at an auction.
Later in her career, she became a Marketing Ambassador for the MeTV Network. She helped promote Gilligan's Island on the channel. Her last acting role was in 2019. She voiced a character in "The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants".
Helping Others
Dawn Wells also worked to help others. She had a business called Wishing Wells Collections. It made clothes for people who had trouble moving around.
She also started the Idaho Film and Television Institute. This group helped teach people about film and TV in Eastern Idaho. She also helped organize SpudFest, a family movie festival.
Dawn supported the Denver Foundation. This charity helped people with disabilities and those in need in West Virginia. Her Gilligan's Island co-star, Bob Denver, had started it.
Personal Life
Dawn Wells married Larry Rosen, a talent agent, in 1962. They did not have any children. They divorced in 1967.
In 2018, Dawn faced some financial challenges. Fans helped her through a special online fundraiser.
Dawn Wells passed away on December 30, 2020. She was 82 years old. She died in Los Angeles due to problems from COVID-19. After her death, Tina Louise became the only surviving regular cast member from the original Gilligan's Island show.
Film and TV Appearances
Dawn Wells appeared in many TV shows and movies. Here are a few examples:
- Wagon Train (1961)
- Bonanza (1962, 1968)
- The New Interns (1964)
- Gilligan's Island (1964–1967)
- The Wild Wild West (1968)
- Rescue from Gilligan's Island (TV movie, 1978)
- The Love Boat (1980)
- ALF (1987)
- Baywatch (1992)
- Roseanne (1995)
- The Bold and the Beautiful (2016)
- The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2019)
Images for kids
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Wells as Mary Ann Summers in Gilligan's Island (1964)
See also
In Spanish: Dawn Wells para niños
