Dawn Wells

Dawn Elberta Wells (born October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada) is an American actress, best known for her television work in the 1960s, particularly her role as Mary Ann Summers on the sitcom Gilligan's Island, which first ran on CBS from 1964-1967, and has been continuously rerun in American television markets over the subsequent decades. The "Mary Ann" character was based on the "Dorothy" character of The Wizard of Oz, a typical American girl stranded in an exotic locale. Dawn's fresh, wholesome looks made for a good contrast to those of the island's glamorous "movie star," Tina Louise.

Wells attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she majored in chemistry. She later transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated in 1960 with a degree in theatre arts. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

In 1959, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada and represented her state in the 1960 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After moving to Hollywood, she began appearing in guest roles in such television series as 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, both on ABC, and Bonanza on NBC, before she won the role of Mary Ann.