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Dawn Wells

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Dawn Wells
Born
Dawn Elberta Wells

(1938-10-18) October 18, 1938 (age 86)
Reno, Nevada, USA
Occupation(s)Film and television actress
Years active1961–present
SpouseLarry Rosen (married 1962-1967, divorced)
Websitewww.dawn-wells.com

Dawn Elberta Wells (born October 18, 1938) is an American actress best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the CBS sitcom, Gilligan's Island, during its run from 1964 until 1967.

Early life

Wells was born in Reno, Nevada, where she attended Reno High School. She later attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she majored in chemistry. She transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated in 1960 with a degree in theater arts and design. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

In 1959, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada and represented her state in the 1960 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1]

Career

In Hollywood, Wells made her debut on ABC's The Roaring 20s 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 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 on Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, 87th Precinct, Surfside 6, Hawaiian Eye, It's a Man's World, Laramie. Burke's Law, The Invaders, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I., Vega$, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, ALF, Herman's Head, Three Sisters, Pastor Greg, and Roseanne.

Wells had small roles in the early 1960s films Palm Springs Weekend and The New Interns and later starred with Michael Dante in the independent film Winterhawk (1975), playing a Western settler kidnapped by a Native-American chief. Other films include The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Return to Boggy Creek, Lover's Knot, Soulmates, Forever For Now and Super Sucker. In the fall of 2011, she began filming Hotel Arthritis, a comedy horror film set for release in 2012.

Following Gilligan's Island, Wells embarked on a successful theater career that is still going strong. She has appeared in nearly one hundred theatrical productions as of July 2009. She spent the majority of the 1970s and 1980s touring in musical theatre productions. She also had a one-woman show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1985.

In the 1990s, she became a spokeswoman for Western Union, Cuisinart, Long John Silver's, Coca-Cola, and 1800collect.

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.

In 2005, Wells consigned for sale her original gingham blouse and shorts ensemble from her signature role. A Beverly Hills auction house, Profiles in History, sold it for $20,700.[1]

In 2008, Wells came to Los Angeles to join Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of Gilligan's Island for the celebration of Schwartz' entry into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

She was married to Larry Rosen, a talent agent, from 1962 to 1967. The couple had no children.[2]

Community involvement

In Idaho, Wells runs a successful business, Wishing Wells Collections, making clothing for people with limited mobility.[3] She is the founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a not-for-profit (501c3) educational organization with "a vision of education, technical training and economic development in Southeastern Idaho."[4] She organized SpudFest, a regional annual family movie festival,[4] and has been a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes.[5]

Wells continues to lend her support to the Denver Foundation, a charity chaired by Dreama Denver, widow of Wells' Gilligan’s Island co-star Bob Denver. In November 2009, she appeared at the Denver Foundation's Christmas Wish Celebrity Auction, helping to raise funds for the disabled and disadvantaged in West Virginia.[6]

Reckless driving incident

While driving home from her birthday party celebration on October 18, 2007, Wells was observed swerving across the roadway, was found in possession of marijuana[7][8] and was arrested by Idaho police. A third party, who had been in possession of Wells' car that day and had left the joints behind, came forward and claimed full responsibility for the marijuana.[9] Wells pled guilty to one count of reckless driving, was fined and served six months' unsupervised probation.[10]

In a statement, Wells admitted swerving, saying she was reaching for her car heater controls.[11] Wells lost a speaking engagement because of the incident.[12] After the fact, she made light of the situation, saying "I think it is so hysterical that people went nuts over it. I am what, now, 102 years old? I get booked for the first time in my life and suddenly I am a drug-using bum? I have told people the facts, but facts don't interest people or the media. They only trust headlines. The only reason I even cared was because it negatively affected my film festival and film school, and my sponsors were concerned. If I did not own a not-for-profit school, I would be on Saturday Night Live making fun of it!"[13]

Reception

In 2005, TV Guide ranked Wells #50 on its "50 Sexiest Stars of All Time" list.[14]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ a b Potempa, Phillip. "FROM the FARM: Leftover turkey perfect for 'Gilligan's Island' casserole". nwi.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Dawn Wells Interview". GilligansIsle.com. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  3. ^ Wells, Dawn (2006). "Wishing Wells Collections". dawn-wells.com. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  4. ^ a b "Idaho Film and Television Institute site". IdahoFilmInstitute.org. Archived from the original on 2006-04-06. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  5. ^ "Peeling Idaho Potatoes". IdahoPotato.com. Idaho Potato Commission. 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  6. ^ "Bob Denver website". BobDenver.com. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  7. ^ "Mary Ann--More Like Mary Jane!!". TMZ. Time Warner. 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  8. ^ "Mary Ann of 'Gilligan's Island' Caught With Marijuana in Car". Fox News. Fox Entertainment Group. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  9. ^ "It Wasn't Mary Ann's Mary Jane!". TMZ. Time Warner. 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  10. ^ ""Gilligan's Island" Good Girl In Hot Water". CBS News. March 11, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  11. ^ "Statement of Facts from Dawn". Dawn Wells. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  12. ^ "'Gilligan's Island' star Dawn Wells won't be Girl Scouts speaker after arrest". Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. March 14, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  13. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920171/bio
  14. ^ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. p. 202. ISBN 0-7624-3007-9.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Nevada
1959 		Succeeded by

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