EXCLUSIVE: Dreama Denver, the wife of the late Bob Denver, who introduced Gilligan on ‘Gilligan’s Island’, remembers her dear friend Dawn Wells, who passed away on Wednesday from COVID-19 causes.
The friendship between Denver and Wells stretched over four decades. The two have been close over the years as Wells plays Mary Ann Summers on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ opposite Bob, who died in 2005.
Wells, a Reno native who represented Nevada in the 1959 Miss America pageant before taking on the iconic television role in the runaway series, died of COVID-19 causes on Wednesday morning in Los Angeles. She was 82.
Denver noted that her bond with Wells has only strengthened over time, with the pair becoming particularly close over the past few years. Part of Wells’ travels over the years included a stop at Dreama’s home in West Virginia, where she helped support the Denver Foundation. Wells’ last visit there took place in February 2019, where ‘America’s Sweetheart’ and Denver served as co-master of ceremonies. The event helped raise funds for the Denver Always Foundation’s “Always Free Honor Flight” on behalf of veterans.
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In an interview Thursday with Fox News, Denver recalled her favorite memories of Wells, the last time they spoke, and how America’s Sweetheart reacted to the fame the iconic runaway series brought to her.
Dawn Wells and Bob Denver at the TV Land Awards.
(Thanks to Dreama Denver)
Fox News: What’s one of your favorite memories of Dawn Wells over the years you spent together?
Dreama Denver: Every memory is pretty special, but I think our time together on the road stands out to me. Often we shared a room and sat ‘girl talk’ most of the night. In 2015, we undertook a book tour in Missouri and visited her alma mater, Stephens College. Seeing the welcome she received, the love that was directed at her for her support of Stephens, was really special.
Fox News: You’ve noticed that your bond with Dawn has grown stronger over time. how so? And how did the two of you keep in touch?
Denver: When we lost members, the remaining crew approached. First Jim, Natalie and Alan, then many years later, Bob and more recently Russell. After Bob’s death, I stepped in to represent him at public performances, and then Dawn and I joined Mary Ann and Mrs. Gilligan is on his way. We were quite the duo and it seems like fans are enjoying the two of us together. For the past 15 years our appearance has been together how we have kept in touch, and during the months in between there has always been the phone. LONG conversations!
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Dawn Wells died on December 30 of COVID-19-related causes. She was 82.
(CBS via Getty Images)
Fox News: Dawn is best known for her iconic role on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ opposite your husband, Bob Denver. Did she ever reflect on her fame from the role?
Denver: Dawn loved and was forever grateful for ‘Gilligan’s Island’ and the fame it earned her. She never complained once because she was known for the program. In fact, she was very protective of Mary Ann because she understood that her character was a role model for young girls everywhere, which made her treat Mary Ann with a lot of TLC. There was so much of Dawn in that character. It is clear that the sweet nature, the physical beauty (the woman who never got older) and the nourishing quality of Mary Ann.
Dawn was a feeder for family, friends and fans. She was always friendly and generous with her time. Nor did she ever succeed in being the first to support a cause in which she believed. She did it for me and my work with the Denver Foundation and Always Free Honor Flight. I will need her. She would come. That’s who she was.
Bob Denver and his wife Dreama in 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Dreama remembers her deceased girlfriend Dawn Wells after her death.
(Bret Lundberg / IMAGES / Getty Images)
Fox News: When was the last time you saw / spoke Dawn? How does she feel?
Denver: The last time I saw Dawn was February 2019 when she came to West Virginia to host a fundraiser for the Denver Foundation. She loved supporting our veterans, and when I needed her for my “Valentines for Veterans” concert, she was there. She stayed at my house and we had so much fun that she extended her trip by two extra days, which gave us five uninterrupted days together. In light of 2020 and our inability to see each other this whole year, I am so thankful that we had this last visit, this last memory. We last spoke on her 82nd birthday in October and she was very excited. The plan was to touch the ground again in January to celebrate the fact that 2020 was finally over. Unfortunately, we never got that chance.
Fox News: Is there something about Dawn that you put out, that fans may not know yet?
Denver: Two things that may not be commonly known – Dawn beats Raquel Welch for the part of Mary Ann, something that never ceased to amaze her. And of course, she and the rest of the cast were the only people on earth who named Bob, Bobby. Every time we talked about him, she talked about how much she loved our Bobby.
According to her publicity, Dawn Wells died Wednesday in Los Angeles from COVID-19 causes.
(Bobby Bank / Getty Images)
Wells played the unskilled ‘good girl’ who was stranded on an island with six other takers. “Gilligan’s Island” lasted from 1964 to 1967 – for three seasons.
“There’s so much more to Dawn Wells” than the “Gilligan’s Island” character who brought her fame, her representative said in a statement.
‘GILLIGAN’S ISLAND’ STAR DAWN WELLS DEVELOPMENTS FOR WHICH SHE IS GRATEFUL IN 2020: ‘THIS IS THE COUNTRY I LOVE’
‘Gilligan’s Island’ cast members, from left, Dawn Wells (as Mary Ann Summers) and Bob Denver (as First Mate Gilligan) appear in the pilot episode.
(CBS via Getty Images)
Prior to ‘Gilligan’s Island, Wells had early TV roles in ’77 Sunset Strip,’ ‘Maverick’ and ‘Bonanza’. During her career, she has starred in more than 150 shows and seven films such as ‘Winterhawk’, ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown’ and ‘Super Sucker’. She has also appeared in more than 60 theater productions.
In 2014, Wells published the humorous memoir “What Would Mary Ann Do?”. Wells recently starred in the web series ‘Life Interrupted’ in 2017, where she played co-TV icon Alison Arngrim’s mother to provide reviews.
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In addition to her life on screen, she was also a teacher and motivational speaker, her publicist said.
Following the news of Wells’ passing, her co-star Tina Louise, ‘Gilligan’s Island’, spoke to him. Louise (86) is the only remaining original member still alive. Louise portrayed the shiny Ginger Grant.
“I will always remember her kindness with me,” Louise said. “We participated in creating a cultural beacon that continues to comfort and make people smile during this difficult time. I hope people will remember her as I do – always with a smile on her face.”
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‘Gilligan’s Island’ is still shown in more than 30 languages around the world. In addition to Louise, Wells and Denver, it was Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper; Jim Backus and Natalie Schafer as rich passengers Thurston and Lovey Howell, and Russell Johnson as the professor.