Dawn Wells, best known as Mary Anne from “Gilligan’s Island” passed away Wednesday at the age of 82. Her publicist announced her cause of death as COVID-19 related.
Born in Reno, Nevada, Wells represented her state in the 1959 Miss America pageant and quickly pivoted to an acting career. Her early TV roles came on shows including “77 Sunset Strip,” “Maverick” and “Bonanza” before landing the role of Mary Anne Summers in “Gilligan’s Island”.
In addition to her film, TV, and stage credits, Wells was also known as a teacher and inspirational speaker.