Dawn Wells Struggled To Pay Debts Without A Husband Or Children To Help – But Fans Came To Her Rescue

Aug 15, 2022 by apost team

"Gilligan's Island" is one of the most remembered and iconic American sitcoms of the 1960s, with a cast of colorful characters including the titular Gilligan, Captain Jonas Grumby, Thurston Howell III, Ginger Grant and Mary Ann Summers. Actress Dawn Wells, who played Summers, gave her girl-next-door role just the right amount of sweetness to keep viewers tuning back in week after week to catch up on the exploits of the survivors shipwrecked on an island.

Wells was born on Oct. 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada. She grew up in the area and later attended Reno High School. Her parents were Evelyn and Joe, and her father owned a local shipping company called Wells Cargo. After graduating from high school, Wells attended Stephens College in Missouri before transferring to the University of Washington in Seattle. There she received a degree in theater arts and design in 1960.

The actress made her on-screen debut on ABC's "The Roaring 20s" and went on to appear in episodes of "The Joey Bishop Show," "77 Sunset Strip," "Maverick," and "Bonanza," among others. Her signature role from "Gilligan's Island" came around in 1964, and Wells later revived the character for the subsequent reunion specials and the movies "Rescue from Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island," and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island."

Wells was married once to talent agent Larry Rosen from 1962 to 1967. They never had any children. In June 2020, it was revealed that Wells had dementia, and she passed away due to complications from COVID-19 later that same year. Read on to find out just how much of an impact Wells had on the American imagination through her “Gilligan’s Island” character and how her friends and fans came to her aid financially when she needed it most.

Calling her stint on “Gilligan’s Island” “one of the most enjoyable experiences” of her life, Dawn Wells had more than an inkling of why her character was such a hit with the fans. She explained in 2020: “Mary Ann stood up for herself, defining who she was and sticking by it; she was your best girlfriend and all those things were important in that day and age. … The show was very clean, very moralistic, fair, and all those things aren’t the same today. I think we broadcast that.”

She told USA Today in December 2020 that the camaraderie between the cast contributed to the show’s success.

“First, we all truly did get along off-screen. Alan Hale, who played the skipper, really was like the leader. And Bob Denver, who played Gilligan, was such a sweet and wonderful man – and was everybody’s ‘little buddy.’ Our producer, Sherwood Schwartz, cast the show brilliantly. He had a vision for these different characters to come together to form a misfit family.”

As for the perennial question: Ginger or Mary Ann? 

“Don’t get me wrong — Tina was so beautiful and sexy and I learned so much from her. But Mary Ann was wholesome, approachable and attainable. She’s the girl you’d have a crush on and want to bring home to Mom.”

For the show’s producer, Lloyd J. Schwartz, the overwhelming support for Mary Ann was a no-brainer.

“That’s the easiest question,” he said, adding, “She was the only normal person in the show. … The girls loved her because she was like their best friend. And the guys loved her because she was cute and accessible to them.” 

Despite the success of the show, Wells would run into financial problems in her later years that saw a resolution.

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On Aug. 27, 2018, Wells’ friend Dugg Kirkpatrick secretly started a GoFundMe page for her as she was suffering from financial woes. 

He told PEOPLE Wells had broken her knee and required hospitalization for two months and needed money to cover hospital costs as well as “alleviate penalties by the IRS.” He added the 2008 financial crisis had hit her hard.

“She did not know that I was setting it up. … She was very upset with me, probably still is a little upset with me because she’s a little bit embarrassed. But being her dearest friend, I know that this is the best thing,” he had said in September 2018.

While Kirkpatrick had set the fundraising target at $194,000, it eventually collected more than $200,000. Fans were happy to contribute, saying it was worth doing so in return for all the joy she had given them.

“Your portrayal of Mary Anne is a part of so many people’s personal lives. Now we can contribute and be a part of yours. Thanks and get well,” one contributor said.

“So happy to help in your time of need. You folks gave me plenty of great memories growing up,” another donor commented.

According to Kirkpatrick, Wells was surprised and flattered by the outpouring of support from her friends and fans.

“Dawn is so flattered that her fans have come to her rescue – shocked and amazed, actually. … She loves them and always has. … She’s been very generous to many people for many years.” 

Wells’ love for fans was nothing new. According to Fox News, Schwartz recalled:

“She loved what Mary Ann represented and the influence it had on people. She loved how she made people feel years later. And she certainly continued to get fan mail. She adored her fans.”

How great is it that Dawn Wells’ friends and family came to her rescue? Were you a fan of her “Gilligan’s Island” character as much as they were? Let us know and pass this on to family and friends.