Dawn Wells born as Dawn Elberta Wells on October 18th, 1938 in Reno, Nevada, USA is a famous American actress.

Dawn Wells was born to a realtor and his wife. Wells after graduating from High School decided to become a doctor and so she enrolled herself at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri to study medicine. Somewhere in the midst of her college life, she got interested in acting and thus joined University of Washington eventually graduating with a degree in theater in 1960. Wells was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Dawn Wells participated in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Nevada in 1959 and went on to participate in the 1960 Miss America beauty pageant.

Soon after her graduation in theater, Dawn Wells began her acting career with a guest role in a television drama "The Roaring 20's" in 1961. She has since had guest roles in over 15 television dramas before she got her biggest break on "Gilligan's Island" in 1964.

Dawn Wells played Mary Ann Summers on "Gilligan's Island" appearing in 98 episodes from 1964 to 1967. She has also appeared in "Gilligan's" series of movies and television episodes.

Wells who made her debut in films with "The New Interns" in 1964 went on to appear in several hit movies such as "Winterhawk" {1975}, "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" {1976}, "Return to Boggy Creek" {1977}, "The Princess and the Dwarf" {1989}, "Soulmates" {1992}, "Lover's Knot "{1996}, and "Forever for Now" {2004}.

Besides acting Dawn Wells has co-written a cook book titled Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook with co-writers Ken Beck & Jim Clark in 1993. Wells is a successful businesswoman running a clothing line called Wishing Wells Collections. She also founded the Idaho Film and Television Institute.

Dawn Wells was married to a talent agent Larry Rosen from 1962 to 1967.