Biography for
Dawn Wells (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

18 October 1938, Reno, Nevada, USA

Birth Name

Dawn Elberta Wells

Nickname

Pooter

Height

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

A wholesome beauty from Reno, Nevada, Wells was on her way to becoming a ballerina, but bad knees prevented her from realizing the dream. Despite this, she did become Miss Nevada and was in the 1960 Miss America pageant. Wells majored in drama during her collegiate years (she was originally going to study chemistry) and after graduation moved to Hollywood and got parts in several popular TV shows. Wells got the part of Mary Ann Summers in "Gilligan's Island" (1964), after CBS decided not to go with Nancy McCarthy (who played Bunny, the forerunner to Mary Ann).

After "Gilligan" ended its three-year tour, Wells found work in the theatre and a few movies, but mostly talk shows that emphasized reunion themes. Lately she has been in a popular commercial for Western Union, capitalizing on her Mary Ann character.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ken Severson

Mini Biography

Dawn Wells was born in Reno, Nevada on October 18, 1938. Her father was a real estate owner and developer and her mother was a homemaker. Wells' childhood was a happy and healthy one. She and her mother grew their own fruits and vegetables in their gardens and Dawn rode horses. In her high school years, she was the class treasurer, President of the debate team and an honor rolls student. She was Miss Nevada in 1959 and went on to the Miss America Pageant.

Dawn originally wanted to be a doctor, so she enrolled in the elite Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri to study medicine, but then she discovered the Drama Club. She then transferred to the University of Washington, which was known for their Theatre Department, and she graduated with a Degree in Theatre.

Dawn moved to Hollywood and got the role of "Mary Ann Summers" on CBS's "Gilligan's Island" (1964). The rest is history. However, there was much more to Dawn than her simple Mary Ann character. Wells refused to be an unemployed actor after the show ended and has never been out of work since the show aired 40 years ago. She has performed in over 66 theatrical productions, including the National Touring Company of "They're Playing Our Song!" She has done countless voice-overs, commercials and talk shows. She worked for the Australian news show "Midday" and interviewed such talents as Julia Roberts, Eddie Murphy and Tom Hanks, to name a few. Dawn has also had great success as a producer and has a number of TV movies to her credit. She currently has a new project in the works for release in 2005.

After years of touring and performing in dramas, comedies, and musical theatre, Dawn finally slowed down a bit. In 1998, she founded the Dawn Wells' Film Actors Boot Camp in Driggs, Idaho. The camp is for the already trained actor looking to make the transition from the amateur to the professional actor. Wells still runs the camp to this day.

In 2003, Dawn did tours of the plays "Love Letters" with Adam West and Eve Ensler's Award Winning "The Vagina Monologues". In early 2004, Dawn established and founded The Spud Film Institute in Idaho and Wyoming and will hold the first ever Spud Drive in Film and Music Festival in the summer of 2004. She is also the artistic director of the festival.

If that is not enough, Ms. Wells also has her own clothing line for the physically challenged called "Wishing Wells Collections" and she recently launched her own skin care line, Classic Beauty.

Dawn Wells continues to contribute to the business she loves so much and constantly gives back to the acting community. She mentors young actors and travels to colleges all across the U.S. to teach Master Classes. She has served as Artist in Residence at several Universities. Dawn is in constant demand for personal appearances and speaking engagements, yet she never forgets to give back to the Artistic community. She will surely be remembered for all her good work. You can get information about all of Dawn's organizations at her website, www.dawn-wells.com.

IMDb Mini Biography By: One of Dawn's Students.

Spouse

Larry Rosen

(27 October 1962 - 1967) (divorced)

Trivia

Her alma mater, Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, a college for women. Joan Crawford was expelled from Stephens in the early 1920s.

She earned an A.A. at the two year college, Stephens College, Missouri, and later a B.A. at the University of Washington in 1960.

Miss Nevada 1959; she participated in Miss America 1960.

She co-produced and starred on a television show called "Dawn Wells: Reel Adventures" (1997).

Her great-great-grandfather was a stagecoach driver during the 1849 California gold rush.

Her father once owned the Las Vegas Thunderbird Hotel.

Owns her own company, Wishing Wells, which makes clothing for people with disabilities.

Colleen Haskell, from "Survivor" (2000) was often compared to Wells' character Mary Ann from "Gilligan's Island" (1964).

Wells and actor Russell Johnson are best known for their roles on the TV series "Gilligan's Island" (1964), but they're also well known for being infamous referred to as "and the rest" in the show's original theme song. The phrase was later replaced by "the Professor and Mary Ann".

Runs a "boot camp" for wannabe actors at her ranch in Idaho.

Is a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Measurements: 35-23-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

The band Squirt Gun has a song called "Mary Ann", which is about the character she played on "Gilligan's Island" (1964). She appeared in the music video for the song.

Has a second cousin named Bonnie, who is an artist in Baltimore.

Ex-husband, Larry Rosen, was an agent.

She and fellow "Gilligan's Island" (1964) cast member Tina Louise have both been asked to appear together in numerous television ad campaigns over the years. However, the two actresses have never liked each other and have not spoken in years. They have turned down many of these offers. The most notable one was a commercial for Old Navy clothing stores, which would feature them as Mary Ann and Ginger, still stuck on the island.

Despite playing a supporting role to Tina Louise in "Gilligan's Island" (1964), (and to Bob Denver and Jim Backus), her character Mary Ann was consistently the most popular among viewers, which also contributed to the tension with Louise.

It has long been stated that the entire cast of Gilligan's Island never received residuals beyond the first four reruns of each episode. This was true for the entire cast except Dawn Wells. When the show was picked up by CBS and Dawn was cast to replace Nancy McCarthy, she was married to her agent at the time. In her original contract she was to be paid $1200 per week plus the residual contract the 6 other castaways received. Her husband/agent said that should the show become successful Dawn would not benefit from receiving such a limited residual option. Believing the show would flop, the CBS executives humored Dawn and her husband and put a clause in her contract giving her long-term residuals should the show ever syndicate. As a result from that clause Dawn has made literally millions of dollars as the years have gone by from syndication of Gilligan's Island. This was never public knowledge. Dawn and series creator Sherwood Schwartz are the only individuals to profit long-term from the series.

Was set to play the part of Nora in the Disney film Pete's Dragon (1977). She bowed out just before filming began and was replaced by Helen Reddy. Her co-star from Gilligan's Island, Jim Backus, makes a cameo in the film as the Mayor.

Auditioned for the role of Lois Lane in Superman (1978), but lost to Margot Kidder.

Wells has appeared in nearly 100 theatrical productions since 1967, averaging 2 plays a year since that time.

Personal Quotes

Acting is my first love.

[in 2004, on her "Gilligan's Island" (1964) co-star Tina Louise] I saw Tina recently and she is so thin! I mean, I give her credit for staying in shape, but the woman needs to eat some lunch!

Just because a woman is over 50 does not mean she no longer has anything to offer. If anything, we have so much more to offer! We have lived life, we get better with age. I do my best work now in my 60s. Sure, I could retire; but what would I do? Play Bingo? I think not!

Mary Ann has been such a big part of my life these past 40 years, it's really impossible to get away from it. But why would I want to? Everywhere in the world that I go I am greeted with love. Some kids who watched the show back then are still watching, but with their grandchildren now. That is a really wonderful thing! As an actress I have succeeded, I created a character that meant something to some people and it has lasted. So I refuse to ignore it and run away from it.

The industry has changed somewhat over the years. I think the opportunity of being who you are is a little easier. You don't have to fit into the mold of the beautiful sexpot or the beautiful leading lady. Your essence of your personality is more of a key.

I hate to admit that because it brings false hopes to the poor kids thinking of going into the business, but I came here [Los Angeles] and got an agent within six weeks and got my first job within six weeks.

It bothers me at times when people say, "Oh, her career went nowhere after "Gilligan's Island" (1964). In actual fact, doing more film and TV was not my interest. My theater career has flourished and I cherish that. As an actor, I have always believed theater is the true art form. I have played in nearly 100 productions in my career, with roles ranging from Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" to doing "Menopause: The Musical". In film or TV, I would never have been given the opportunity to play such a range of characters.

[on her supposed arrest for marijuana possession in 2007] 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-sing 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" (1975) making fun of it!

Salary

Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978) (TV)

$60,000

Where Are They Now

(February 2003) Performing Vagina Monologues at Columbia, Missouri, home of her alma mater - Stephens College

(July 2004) Serving as founder and Artistic Director of the Spud Drive in Film and Music Festival, in Driggs, Idaho and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

(November 2005) Producing television in Los Angeles. Is also the president of The Idaho Film and Television Institute.

(December 2006) Will appear as "Mrs. Howell" in a South Florida production (and world premiere of) "Gilligan's Island: The Musical" that can be seen in January 19 & 20, 2007, at the Tennessee Williams Theatre, in Key West and February 2-11, 2007 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, Coral Springs, FL. In this production, she will appear with fellow classic television star, Barry Williams, who portrays "Mr. Howell". In an interesting note, she will be sharing the stage with another Stephens College alumni for this production.

(January 2009) She divides her time between her home in Los Angeles and her ranch in Idaho. She also currently serves, along with fitness celebrity Denise Austin, as a spokeswoman for Idaho potatoes.

(July 2009) Has sold her Idaho and Los Angeles homes to take up residence full-time in Palm Springs, California.

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