Dawn Wells, born Dawn Elberta Wells on October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada, was an American actress best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers on the iconic sitcom "Gilligan's Island."

Her journey to stardom began when she was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959 and represented her state in the Miss America 1960 pageant.

She later graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in theater arts and design. Her career spanned over five decades, during which she appeared in numerous TV shows, movies, and stage productions.

Her most memorable role came in 1964 when she was cast as Mary Ann Summers in "Gilligan's Island," a role that brought her immense fame and popularity. The show aired for a total of 98 episodes from 1964 to 1967 and became a beloved classic.

Dawn Wells reprised her character in various reunion specials and TV movies, including "Rescue from Gilligan's Island," "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island," and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island."

Beyond "Gilligan's Island," she had a prolific career, appearing in films such as "Winterhawk," "Return to Boggy Creek," and "The Town That Dreaded Sundown."

She also worked as a producer, author, teacher, motivational speaker, journalist, and spokesperson. Dawn Wells co-wrote two books, "Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook" and "What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life."

She also founded the Dawn Wells Film Actors Boot Camp in Driggs, Idaho, to help aspiring actors make the transition from amateur to professional.

Dawn Wells passed away on December 30, 2020, at the age of 82 due to complications from COVID-19.