Dawn Wells

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Birthday:

18 October 1938, Reno, Nevada, USA

Birth Name:

Dawn Elberta Wells

Height:

163 cm

A wholesome beauty from Reno, Nevada, Dawn 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 television series. 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. Show less «

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...Show more »

[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! Show less «

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...Show more »

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! Show less «

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? Every...Show more »

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. Show less «

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 int...Show more »

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. Show less «

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 g...Show more »

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. Show less «

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...Show more »

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. Show less «

[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 yea...Show more »

[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-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 (1975) making fun of it! Show less «

[on "The Vagina Monologues"] I wrote the producers and said I'd like to do it. And they said "Are you out of your mind? Mary Ann?".

[on the death of Jim Backus in 1989] We got letters like it was my family. Flowers were sent to our house.

I don't think you as an actor would accept a job on a series hoping it will be a failure. If you accept that role, you accept the responsibi...Show more »

I don't think you as an actor would accept a job on a series hoping it will be a failure. If you accept that role, you accept the responsibility. Show less «

I have been a working actress for nearly 50 years. In those 50 years, my only source of income has been from my acting career. Not many acto...Show more »

I have been a working actress for nearly 50 years. In those 50 years, my only source of income has been from my acting career. Not many actors can say that! I feel very lucky that I have been able to earn a very comfortable living my entire adult life from this work that I love so much. But what I tell younger actors all the time is that you have to think of yourself as a brand. Much of the money that I make has been from being a spokeswoman. I have made millions of dollars by doing commercials, endorsing products and producing. If you want to be wealthy in this business, you have to do more than Shakespeare! Show less «

[asked if Gilligan's Island (1964) was Alan Hale Jr.'s show] No, no . . . as a matter of fact, it was interesting when you go back and find ...Show more »

[asked if Gilligan's Island (1964) was Alan Hale Jr.'s show] No, no . . . as a matter of fact, it was interesting when you go back and find the people that they thought should play the other characters, and I understand Alan was doing a movie in Utah and they wanted to bring him to audition and he couldn't get a flight out, so . . . he hitchhiked, hitchhiked on the highway and then he came into audition. Show less «

[about her relationship with Alan Hale Jr.] [He] embodied the teddy-bearish Skipper, was a wonderful man. I never saw him angry.

[asked if she visited Alan Hale Jr.'s restaurant] It was a lobster house on La Cienega Boulevard, and he would greet you with his sea hat on...Show more »

[asked if she visited Alan Hale Jr.'s restaurant] It was a lobster house on La Cienega Boulevard, and he would greet you with his sea hat on, as you can imagine . . . but that was after the show; and he had his friend, Anthony, there, with some good food, too. Show less «

[on Alan Hale Jr.] What a dear man . . . what a dear, dear man; and I don't think he was nearly as appreciative as the actor that he was; be...Show more »

[on Alan Hale Jr.] What a dear man . . . what a dear, dear man; and I don't think he was nearly as appreciative as the actor that he was; because you know, he was so good-natured and just came through, when you just thought it was Alan. But I never saw [him] in the entire length of time [of Gilligan's Island (1964)] disgruntled, temper tantrum, depressed. He was so jovial and so sweet and so strong, he was the size of my dad. He could pick Ginger up in one arm and Mary Ann, up on the other. And never a cross word, never cranky, I remember we had a show where he went out on a limb to get a bird's nest or something and there was a big mattress . . . he fell on the floor; whatever and he misses the mattress. He finished the day's work and he came in the next day with a cast on--he'd broken his wrist. But he didn't say anything to anybody and he finished the whole day working. And he would stop by my house sometimes and play golf and shared recipes. He was a wonderful man, looked exactly like his father, was kind of scary. And he said he grew up in a house with 'Errol Flynn' (av), and all these heroes, as a young boy. How fun would that be? He was a nice man. Show less «