Dawn Wells Net Worth

Dawn Wells's 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.

Interesting Facts about Dawn Wells

1. Her alma mater, Stephens College in Columbia, MO, is a college for women. Joan Crawford was expelled there in the early 1920s.
2. She received an Associate degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and later a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in 1960.
3. Miss Nevada 1959; she participated in Miss America 1960.
4. She co-produced and starred on a television show called Dawn Wells: Reel Adventures (1997).
5. Her great-great-grandfather was a stagecoach driver during the 1849 California gold rush.
6. Her father once owned the Las Vegas Thunderbird Hotel.
7. Owns her own company, Wishing Wells, which makes clothing for people with disabilities.
8. Colleen Haskell, from Survivor (2000) was often compared to Wells' character Mary Ann Summers from Gilligan's Island (1964).
9. She and Russell Johnson are best known for their roles on the series Gilligan's Island (1964), but they are also well known for being infamously referred to as "and the rest" in the series' original theme song. The phrase was later replaced by "the Professor and Mary Ann" after protests from the actors.
10. Runs a "boot camp" for wannabe actors at her ranch in Idaho.
11. Is a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
12. The band Squirtgun 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.
13. Ex-husband Larry Rosen was an agent.
14. 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 Summers and Ginger Grant, still stuck on the island.
15. Despite playing a supporting role to Tina Louise on Gilligan's Island (1964) (and to Bob Denver and Jim Backus), her character Mary Ann Summers was consistently the most popular among viewers, which also contributed to the tension between she and Louise.
16. Was set to play the role 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 (1964), Jim Backus, makes a cameo in the film as the Mayor.
17. Has appeared in nearly 100 theatrical productions since 1967, averaging two plays a year.
18. Auditioned for the role of Lois Lane in Superman (1978), but lost to Margot Kidder.
19. Has been a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes since 2004. A publicity video released by the Idaho Potato Commission, which features Wells demonstrating the perfect way to peel an Idaho potato, was posted on YouTube. It went viral and has over 10 million views.
20. As of January 2009 she was dividing her time between her home in Los Angeles and her ranch in Idaho. She also serves, along with fitness celebrity Denise Austin, as a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes.