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 Most of
you know her because of her role as "Mary Ann" on the longest
running show in the history of television syndication - "Gilligan's
Island". Yes, she is proud of her role as Mary Ann and is always
pleased when at least three generations the world over greet her as
Mary Ann.
But there is so much more to Dawn Wells than Mary Ann.
She not only has done over 60 theatrical productions--from Neil Simon
to Tennessee Williams, she has done over 120 television shows, most
recently a pilot produced, written and directed by Fran Drescher; four
feature films, commercials, voices overs and countless television and
radio talk shows, including "The Today Show", "Regis and Kathy Lee",
Tom Snyder and Rosie O'Donnell.
She has hosted her own female fishing show called "Dawn
Wells Reel Adventures," and has served as a journalist, known as the
Castaway Correspondent, for the Australian show "Midday", interviewing
such talents as Mel Gibson, Nick Nolte, Demi Moore,Tom Hanks, Eddie
Murphy, Rene Russo and Julia Roberts to name a few. Dawn guested as
"Chef Du Jour" for a week on the TV Food Network which is no surprise
as she has written her own cookbook. "Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island
Cookbook", which consists mainly of three generations of family recipes.
She hosted the CBS variety show called "TV's All Time
Favorites". For fourteen years, wearing her producers hat, she also
hosted and co-produced the Children's Miracle Network Broadcast for
mid-Missouri. As a producer Dawn has several projects in the wings,
including a play she has optioned called "A Higher Place In Heaven" by
Pamela Parker, as well as being partners with MPH Entertainment to
produce and develop several projects for film and television. In
addition, Dawn is also working on a "Gilligan's Island" retrospective.
Dawn is a former Miss Nevada in the Miss America Pageant, in addition
to being an actress, author, journalist, motivational speaker,
businesswoman, entrepreneur, chef and volunteer. She's in constant
demand for personal appearances and speaking engagements. She has even
found time to create a line of clothing for the physically challenged,
called the Wishing Wells Collections. Dawn has served on many boards
including as a trustee for Stephens College and Vice President of the
Stephens Alumnae Association Board (one of her alma maters). She is
also a graduate of the University of Washington, receiving her degree
in Theater Arts. She serves on the University of Missouri Children's
Hospital Advisory Board and on the advisory board of Woman In Film and
Video and is also a New Ventura Theater Co. board member. In addition,
Dawn is the spokesperson for the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald,TN.,
and she even helped establish Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica with the
International Wildlife Coalition.
Even with her busy life, Dawn always finds time for
students across the country. She has served as artist in residence and
also taught a master class while doing theater with the students at
numerous colleges across the U.S.; some of which are Stephens College,
Purdue University, Harding University, and University of Nevada Reno,
to name just a few. Dawn is an avid world traveler, having climbed the
Mountains in Rwanda to view the mountain gorillas, canoed the Solomon
Islands where women had never been before, and she has just completed
her fourth Safari and recently returned from a trip around the world on
the Concorde.
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