Who is Dawn Wells?
Dawn Wells was an American actress who became the face of the 1960s as she regularly appeared on the hugely popular TV show Gilligan’s Island. Dawn Wells was born on October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada. The attractive, wholesome portrayals of the shipwrecked farm girl Mary Ann Summers that she portrayed in the popular 1960s TV series only increased her popularity. But while her character was enjoying a simple island life, Wells’ real life was much more complicated, with ups and downs, and an inordinate number of “What if I didn’t pack that coconut cream pie?” moments.
Dawn Wells Career
Wells began guesting on popular TV shows including 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Bonanza, and Wagon Train. But her big break came in 1964 when she was cast as Mary Ann in Gilligan’s Island, a show about seven castaways who really, really couldn’t catch a break. After the show ended in 1967, Wells reprised her role in numerous reunion specials and even voiced Mary Ann in an animated version, Gilligan’s Planet—because nothing says “shipwrecked” like space travel.
Cast as sweet girl-next-door beauty, Wells remained very active in show business, making countless film and television appearances. She also led a healthy theatre career, starring in nearly 100 productions. And just to top it all off, she wrote a cookbook and published a guide to life, because who better to give advice than someone who survived those countless years stuck with Gilligan?
Dawn Wells Net Worth
When Dawn Wells died in 2020, her net worth was reportedly $50,000. That’s right—you read that right —despite landing an iconic role on Gilligan’s Island, Wells struggled financially later in life. She didn’t bring in millions in residual income as many would have expected. In fact, she and her fellow cast members took home a paltry $750 per week for the shoots, which would be around $7,300 in current dollars. Too bad they weren’t so fortunate to get residuals on reruns; that sweet, sweet syndication money didn’t find its way into Wells’ pocket. And to top that, a GoFundMe was started in 2018 to pay medical bills after suffering a severe knee injury, and so again, late-life financial struggles came out.
Dawn Wells Age
Actresses play many roles in life. Actress Dawn Wells lived until December 30, 2020, when she was 82 years old. She had such a full life, and though she is gone, Mary Ann’s coconut cream pies and her sweet smile live on in reruns.
Dawn Wells Family: Husband and Children
In 1962, Wells married talent agent Larry Rosen, whom she divorced in 1967. The marriage was childless and had no more marriages for her in the future. Instead, Wells devoted her entire life to career, as well as her cause as a philanthropist, running a clothing line for the functionally impaired and founded the Idaho Film and Television Institute to promote Idaho film education and economic development.
Dawn Wells Height and Weight
Dressed in 5’4″ (162 cm) and about 53 kg (117 lbs), Dawn Wells had that very wholesome, girl-next-door quality the viewers of Gilligan’s Island fell in love with. Her petite frame was well masked by a larger-than-life personality that came alive on screen proof of not being so tall to leave an impression!
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