Dawn Wells, who played the wholesome Mary Ann among a misfit band of shipwrecked castaways on the 1960s sitcom B次元官网网址淕illiganB次元官网网址檚 Island,B次元官网网址� died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19, her publicist said. She was 82.

Wells died peacefully at a residential facility in Los Angeles, publicist Harlan Boll said. B次元官网网址淭here is so much more to Dawn WellsB次元官网网址� than the B次元官网网址淕illiganB次元官网网址檚 IslandB次元官网网址� character that brought her fame, Boll said in a statement.

Besides TV, film and stage acting credits, her other real-life roles included teacher, motivational speaker and conservationist, Boll said.

Tina Louise, 86, who played Ginger the movie star, is the last surviving member of a cast that included Bob Denver as the title character; Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper; Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer as wealthy passengers Thurston and Lovey Howell, and Russell Johnson, known as the Professor.

B次元官网网址淥h, this so sad. Bon voyage, Mary Ann,B次元官网网址� Jane Lynch posted on Twitter.

B次元官网网址淭wo and a Half MenB次元官网网址� star Jon Cryer tweeted that it was a B次元官网网址渢hrillB次元官网网址� to meet Wells when she visited the show, adding, B次元官网网址淪he could not have been more lovely and gracious.B次元官网网址�

Wells, a native of Reno, Nevada, represented her state in the 1959 Miss America pageant and quickly pivoted to an acting career. Her early TV roles were on shows including B次元官网网址�77 Sunset Strip,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢averickB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏onanza.B次元官网网址�

Then came B次元官网网址淕illiganB次元官网网址檚 Island,B次元官网网址� a goofy, good-natured comedy that aired from 1964-67 that became an unlikely but indelible part of popular culture. WellsB次元官网网址� comely but innocent Mary Ann complemented LouiseB次元官网网址檚 worldly Ginger, and both became innocuous B次元官网网址�60s TV versions of sex symbols.

WellsB次元官网网址� wardrobe included a gingham dress and shorts that modestly covered her belly button, with both costumes on display in Los Angeles at The Hollywood Museum.

TV movies spinoffs from the series followed, including 1978B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淩escue from GilliganB次元官网网址檚 Island,B次元官网网址� but Wells also moved on to other TV guest roles and films including the 2002 vacuum cleaner salesman comedy B次元官网网址淪uper SuckerB次元官网网址� with Jeff Daniels. She starred on stage in dozens of plays, including B次元官网网址淐hapter TwoB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭he Odd Couple.B次元官网网址�

In 2013, she was honoured by for her work with a Tennessee-based refuge, The Elephant Sanctuary.

To mark the 50th anniversary of B次元官网网址淕illiganB次元官网网址檚 Island.B次元官网网址� Dawn wrote B次元官网网址淎 Guide To Life: What Would Mary Ann Do?B次元官网网址� with observations about her character and the cultural changes that took place while she was stranded.

Two years ago, a friend launched a GoFundMe drive to help cover medical and other costs for Wells, although she protested she didnB次元官网网址檛 need the assistance. She did end up acknowledging her need and accepted more than $180,000 in donations.

B次元官网网址淲ow! I am amazed at the kindness and affection I have receivedB次元官网网址� in response to the fundraising drive, Wells said in a social media post at the time. She said a B次元官网网址渄ear friendB次元官网网址� undertook it after a frank conversation.

She recounted musing to him, B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址橶here did the time go? I donB次元官网网址檛 know how this happened. I thought I was taking all the proper steps to ensure my golden years. Now, here I am, no family, no husband, no kids and no money.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Wells added in the post that she was grateful to her supportive fans and that her outlook remained positive.

Dawn is survived by her stepsister, Weslee Wells, Boll said.

Lynn Elber, The Associated Press

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