Natalie Schafer was an American actress born on November 5, 1900, in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Jennie and Charles Schafer, both of German-Jewish descent. She began her career on Broadway, appearing in 17 plays between 1927 and 1959, often in supporting roles.

Some of her notable Broadway performances include "Lady in the Dark" (1941-42), "The Doughgirls" (1942-44), and "Romanoff and Juliet" (1957-58). She moved to Los Angeles in 1941 to work in films, where she portrayed sophisticated characters in various movies.

Natalie Schafer is best known for her role as Eunice "Lovey" Howell on the sitcom "Gilligan's Island" (1964-67). She reprised her role in three made-for-television spin-off films: "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" (1978), "The Castaways on Gilligan's Island" (1979), and "The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island" (1981).

She also voiced Lovey Howell in the animated spinoffs "The New Adventures of Gilligan" (1974-77) and "Gilligan's Planet" (1982-83).

Natalie Schafer appeared in numerous films, including "The Body Disappears" (1941), "Reunion in France" (1942), and "Forever, Darling" (1956). She also guest-starred on many television series, such as "I Love Lucy" (1954), "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1964), "The Brady Bunch" (1974), and "The Love Boat" (1979).

Her personal life included a marriage to actor Louis Calhern from 1933 until their divorce in 1942. She later partnered with Maurice Hill.

She passed away on April 10, 1991, in Beverly Hills, California.