Dawn Wells, who starred as girl-next-door Mary Ann in the 1960s hit TV show “Gilligan’s Island,” died of complications from COVID-19. She was 82.Appreciation: In just three seasons of ‘Gilligan’s Island,’ Dawn Wells left a lasting markHollywood glamour is all right, but Ginger, one suspects, would grow bored and boring after a while. Mary Ann might ask you about yourself, where you came from, how you were doing, even if it were just to be polite. And politeness matters.
If you watch much old television — and there is so much of it about in our 500-channels-of-reruns world — you will encounter many actors who got their one big sitcom role and then faded into the great oblivion of unremembered opening credits.
Wells returned to television for an occasional guest role over the years — her last was as the voice of “ghost dentist” Gumbalina Toothington in an episode of “The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants” — and appeared in some low-budget films. And like many actors who fade from the screen, she did a lot of theater , taught and involved herself in various good works. But whoever else she played, she was always going to be Mary Ann.
Wow! Gilligan's Island lasted only 3 seasons? It was such a delight watching it in my childhood I would have sworn it lasted longer. Maybe all the reruns. Who else fantasized about living on a deserted island as a child?