Reno native Dawn Wells who played Mary Ann on 'Gilligan's Island' dies of COVID complications

Reno native Dawn Wells, who starred as Mary Ann in the popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles, according to her publicist. She was 82.

Wells was born in Reno, Nev., where she graduated Reno High School. Her father owned a local Reno shipping company called, "Wells Cargo," according to a Wikipedia entry. And, according to This is Reno website, her great-great grandfather drove stagecoach from Reno to Virginia City — and her grandmother played piano at Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City at age 9.

Wells represented Nevada in the 1959 Miss America pageant and appeared on several TV series before being cast in “Gilligan’s Island” in 1964.

In Hollywood, Wells made her debut on ABC's "The Roaring 20s" and the movie "The New Interns" and was cast in episodes of such television series as "The Joey Bishop Show," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Cheyenne Show," "Maverick," and "Bonanza" before she took the role of Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island.

She reprised her character in the various Gilligan's Island reunion specials, including the reunion cartoon spin-off Gilligan's Planet and three reunion movies: "Rescue from Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island," and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island."

Following Gilligan's Island, Wells embarked on a theater career, appearing in nearly one hundred theatrical productions as of July 2009. She spent the majority of the 1970s, and 1980s, touring in musical theater productions. She also had a one-woman show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1985.

In 1993, Wells published "Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook" with co-writers Ken Beck and Jim Clark. In 2014, Wells released "What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life," which she co-wrote with Steve Stinson. The book was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Gilligan's Island, according to Wikipedia.

In May 2016, Wells was named Marketing Ambassador to MeTV Network. In January 2019, she promoted the Gilligan's Island television series on the MeTV television network.

She was also known for her charity and humanitarian work. For several years, Wells operated a business, Wishing Wells Collections, making clothing for people with limited mobility. She was the founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a not-for-profit educational organization with "a vision of education, technical training and economic development in Southeastern Idaho," according to Wikipedia.

According to This is Reno, Wells also served for a time as chair of the Terry Lee Wells Foundation — focusing on women and children in Northern Nevada. Donations in her name to the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum are encouraged for those who are able. Dawn was cousins with Terry Lee Wells.

Wells lent her support to the Denver Foundation, a West Virginia charity chaired by Dreama Denver, widow of Wells' Gilligan’s Island co-star Bob Denver. In November 2009, she appeared at the Denver Foundation's Christmas Wish Celebrity Auction, helping to raise funds for the disabled and disadvantaged in West Virginia.

In a Christmas Eve Facebook post here, Wells wrote the following: "I know I will have a new appreciation in a simple gathering of college friends at a coffee shop a few months from now. Please find joy amidst the pandemic and be cognizant of our overwhelmed first responders. Lets not let our actions make a bigger burden for them. I am thankful and in awe of the dedication of our health care professionals."

In a Facebook post, Brewery Arts Center Executive Director Gina Lopez wrote the following: "So heartbroken by this. Dawn was a beautiful woman, a great friend, and always willing to meet with my students whenever she was in Reno. She actually hosted my first Divas show many years ago and was always willing to give of herself for the arts. She will be missed and fondly remembered."

This is a developing story. We will update as more information becomes available.