Gilligan’s Island star Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann, dead at 82 after Covid-19 battle

DAWN Wells, who famously played the role of Mary Ann on CBS’ 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 82. She passed away in Los Angeles, California from complications due to Covid-19, according to Deadline. Dawn starred on the popular CBS series as the wholesome girl next door farm girl […]

DAWN Wells, who famously played the role of Mary Ann on CBS’ 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 82.

She passed away in Los Angeles, California from complications due to Covid-19, according to Deadline.

Dawn starred on the popular CBS series as the wholesome girl next door farm girl Mary Ann Summers from the show’s premiere in 1964 until its end in 1967.

In honor of the show’s 50th anniversary a few years ago, Dawn co-wrote the book What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life with Steve Stinson.

She wrote in the part self-help, part memoir project: “Mary Ann wasn’t just a silly and sweet ingenue, she was bright, fair-minded and reasonable, and I like to think that’s what I brought to her.

“She was a little more of a Goody Two-shoes than I am.”

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She portrayed Mary Ann Summers on the 1960s CBS sitcom[/caption]

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In 2014, Dawn co-wrote What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life, to coincide with the show’s 50th anniversary[/caption]

Prior to starting her onscreen acting career, the Nevada native participated in beauty pageants.

In 1959, she was crowned Miss Nevada and went on to compete in the 1960 Miss America pageant.

Her first acting credit arrived in 1961 when she played the role of Gloria in one episode of The Roaring 20’s TV series.

That same year, Dawn also had roles on quite a few other shows, including Maverick. Cheyenne, 77 Sunset Strip, Tales of Wells Fargo and Wagon Train.

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The late star competed in pageants prior to becoming an actress[/caption]

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She was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959[/caption]

The first movie role for the late actress came in 1963 when she played the uncredited character of a girl at a police station in Palm Springs Weekend, and then the following year she nabbed a named character, Bobbie, in The New Interns.

Aside from her time on Gilligan’s Island, Dawn also went on to work on shows like Bonanza, Vega$, Growing Pains, Roseanne and The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as movies like 1977’s Return to Boggy Creek and 1992’s Soulmates.

Her last project was a voice acting role in last year’s TV series short, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, in which she voiced the role of Gumbalina Toothington.

The University of Washington graduate, who earned a degree in theater arts and design, married talent agent Larry Rrosen in 1962.

The two had no children and divorced five years later.

Dawn is survived by her step-sister, Weslee Wells.