Dawn Wells

Actress


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her nearly two-hour interview, Dawn Wells (1938-2020) reflects upon her career on the stage and on the big and small screens. Still recognized as the wholesome "Mary Ann Summers" from Gilligan's Island, Wells describes what the show means to her and takes us behind the scenes of several memorable episodes, including "The Matchmaker," in which "Mrs. Howell" attempts to set up "Mary Ann" and "Gilligan." She discusses her experience as a member of the Foreign Press, interviewing celebrities for press junkets, and details her involvement with the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, a cause near and dear to her heart. She speaks about the creation of her clothing line, Wishing Wells, and comments on the question many have now pondered for decades, "Do you prefer Ginger or Mary Ann?" Steven Wishnoff conducted the interview on December 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"There hasn't been a Mary Ann on the air for I don't know how long. There hasn't been a good girl over 14, and Mary Ann was very much that. The Mary Ann-Ginger issue is always there. You had to be a real man to understand Ginger, and Mary Ann would've gone to the prom with you and been your best friend. A lot of guys would come up to me and say I married a Mary Ann. She had the values."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
On the legendary question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"
01:20
On why the Professor and Mary Ann were credited as "the rest" on Gilligan's Island
01:19
On the legacy of Gilligan's Island
01:22
Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model
01:42
On how the Coast Guard received telegrams asking them to rescue the people stranded on Gilligan's Island
00:34
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences
On being Miss Nevada and on her first television appearance -- on the Miss America pageant; on game shows she was on
On Gilligan's Island
On other TV shows and productions she's done

Chapter 2

On working as part of the Foreign Press and interviewing celebrities
On her clothing line, Wishing Wells; and on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon
On teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival
On the next chapter of her life; on her proudest moment; on her regrets and advice to actors
On colleagues, TV shows and on films she's worked on
On her current projects and how she'd like to be remembered
On setting the record straight about a car accident she was in; on celebrity
Shows

77 Sunset Strip

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Dawn Wells on working on 77 Sunset Strip
00:52

ALF

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Dawn Wells on working on ALF
00:31

Baywatch

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Dawn Wells on working on Baywatch
00:32

Bonanza

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Dawn Wells on working on Bonanza
00:41

Family Feud

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Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on
00:17

Gilligan's Island

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Dawn Wells on working on Gilligan's Island
43:40
Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song
00:36
Dawn Wells on how Gilligan's Island changed her life
00:24
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
00:28
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
01:13

Gilligan's Island: "The Matchmaker"

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Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
00:28

Gilligan's Island: "V is for Vitamins"

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Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
01:13

Growing Pains

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Dawn Wells on guest starring on Growing Pains
00:38
Dawn Wells on working on Growing Pains
00:22

Hollywood Squares, The

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Dawn Wells on being on Hollywood Squares
00:46

Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The

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Dawn Wells on Bob Denver's "Maynard" on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis  
00:50

Password

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Dawn Wells on the game shows she's been on
00:17

Pyramid (2002)

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Dawn Wells on playing Pyramid, the Donny Osmond version
00:35

Rescue From Gilligan's Island

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Dawn Wells on the Rescue from Gilligan's Island TV movie
01:31

Roseanne

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Dawn Wells on working on Roseanne
00:32

Survivor

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Dawn Wells on if she believes Gilligan's Island had anything to do with the creation of Survivor
00:45

Wild Wild West, The

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Dawn Wells on working with Robert Conrad on The Wild, Wild West and doing stage work
01:19
Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Dawn Wells on proper attire and behavior for the characters on Gilligan's Island according to Standards & Practices
00:40

Characters & Catchphrases

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Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers
01:14
Dawn Wells on the short shorts worn by her Gilligan's Islan d character, Mary Ann Summers
01:10
Dawn Wells on her Gilligan's Island character, Mary Ann Summers, as a role model
01:42
Dawn Wells on the question of one's preference, "Ginger or Mary Ann?"
01:20
Dawn Wells on the evolution of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island
00:28

Comedy

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Dawn Wells on her favorite episodes of Gilligan's Island
02:37
Dawn Wells on the "V is for Vitamins" episode of Gilligan's Island
01:13
Dawn Wells on the matchmaking episode of Gilligan's Island in which Mrs. Howell tries to set up Mary Ann and Gilligan
00:28

Criticism of TV

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Dawn Wells on her reaction to critics of Gilligan's Island and on the cancellation of the show
01:47

Fame and Celebrity

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Dawn Wells on her fan mail from Gilligan's Island fame
00:43

TV Theme Songs

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Dawn Wells on Sherwood Schwartz's composition of the Gilligan's Island theme song
00:36
Professions

Actress

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Dawn Wells on wanting to be an actress
02:35
Dawn Wells on teaching acting; on the Spud Fest Family Film Festival
02:59
Genres

Comedy Series

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Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island
43:40
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island
03:13
People

Jim Backus

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Dawn Wells on Jim Backus, "Thurston Howell III" on Gilligan's Island
01:06

Joey Bishop

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Dawn Wells on working with Joey Bishop
00:10

Hal Cooper

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Dawn Wells on TV director Hal Cooper
00:31

Joseph Cotten

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Dawn Wells on working with Joseph Cotten
00:16

Bob Denver

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Dawn Wells on "Gilligan," Bob Denver
02:26
Dawn Wells on a typical week working on Gilligan's Island
00:51

Richard Donner

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Dawn Wells on TV director Dick Donner
01:17

Barbara Eden

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Dawn Wells on friend Barbara Eden
01:46

Alan Hale, Jr.

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Dawn Wells on Alan Hale, Jr. ,"the Skipper" on Gilligan's Island
01:01

Tom Hanks

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Dan Wells on interviewing Tom Hanks
00:16

Russell Johnson

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Dawn Wells on Russel Johnson, "Professor Roy Hinkley" on Gilligan's Island
01:34

Tina Louise

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Dawn Wells on Tina Louise, "Ginger" on Gilligan's Island
02:40

Ida Lupino

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Dawn Wells on Ida Lupino, one of the first female TV directors
00:54

Eddie Murphy

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Dan Wells on interviewing Eddie Murphy
00:48

Dana Plato

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Dawn Wells on Dana Plato playing her daughter in the movie Return to Boggy Creek
00:39

John Rich

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Dawn Wells on TV director John Rich
00:12

Roseanne

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Dawn Wells on working with Roseanne
00:45

Natalie Schafer

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Dawn Wells on Natalie Schafer, "Mrs. Lovey Howell" on Gilligan's Island
01:23
Dan Wells on Natalie Schafer modeling for Wells' clothing line
00:14

Sherwood Schwartz

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Dawn Wells on how her credit was changed after the first season of Gilligan's Island
01:19
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
03:20
Dawn Wells on Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
00:40
Dawn Wells on her friendship with the family of Gilligan's Island creator/showrunner, Sherwood Schwartz
02:13

Phil Silvers

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Dawn Wells on Phil Silvers on Gilligan's Island
00:48

Adam West

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Dawn Wells on working with Adam West
00:35

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