Dawn Elberta Wells

Dawn Wells was born in Reno, Nevada on October 18, 1938. She attended Reno High School, Stephen's College in Columbia, MO, Univ of Washington, Seattle. She was crowned Miss Nevada and entered the Miss America pageant in 1960. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She appeared on many T. V series including 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Cheyenne, the Invaders, Bonanza. It wasn't until she landed the part of Mary Ann Somers on Gilligan's Island that she became a household name and an indelible part of 1960's pop culture. After retiring, she became involved in charity work: Wishing Wells Collections, Founder of Idaho Film and Television Institute, and the Denver Foundation, chaired by the widow of her Gilligan's Island co-star, Bob Denver. She passed away in Los Angeles at age 82 from Covid-19.