Dawn Wells, best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the sitcom Gilligan's Island, has died at age 82 in Los Angeles from causes related to the coronavirus. Her character's last name was rarely mentioned on the show.
Dawn Elberta Wells was born in Reno, Nevada to Joe Wesley Wells, the owner of a local shipping company, and his wife Evelyn Wells. After graduating from Reno High School, she attended Stephen's College in Columbia, Missouri, majoring in chemistry, and later transferred to the University of Washington, graduating with a degree in theater arts and design. In 1959, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada and represented the state in the 1960 Miss America pageant.
After appearing in several TV shows as a guest star, Wells landed the role of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island, which ran from 1964 to 1967. Afterwards, she participated in three reunion movies based on the show, and provided voices for the cartoon spin-off Gilligan's Planet. She also appeared in almost 100 theatrical productions and had her own one-woman show in 1985 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Wells published Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook in 1993, which included a forward by Bob Denver, who played the titular character Gilligan, and a recipe from another former castmate Alan Hale Jr., who played The Skipper. (Like Mary Ann's last name, his character's real name Jonas Grumby was rarely mentioned.) In 2014, she published What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide To Life. Wells was also involved in humanitarian and charitable work.
Wells married talent agent Larry Rosen in 1962. They were divorced in 1967 and had no children. The only surviving cast member from Gilligan's Island is 86-year-old Tina Louise, who portrayed an actress named Ginger Grant.
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