Natalie Schafer

Natalie Schafer November 5 1900 April 10 1991 was an American actress best known today for her role as Lovey Howell on the sitcom Gilligans Island 19641967 Schafer began her career as an actress on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles in 1941 to work in films She appeared on Broadway in 17 plays between 1927 and 1959 often playing supporting roles Most of those appearances were in shortrun plays with the exceptions of Lady in the Dark 194142 The Doughgirls 194244 and Romanoff and Juliet 195758 She was seen in a revival of Six Characters in Search of an Author directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie 195556 She also appeared in stock and regional productions including the offBroadway production The Killing of Sister George with Claire Trevor in the title role She also gueststarred in TV productions beginning in the 1950s such as an episode The Shy Ballerina of Sherlock Holmes and in The Charm School episode of I Love Lucy both in 1954 Schafer performed in many films usually portraying sophisticates On TV her roles included Lovey Howell on Gilligans Island from 196467 She reprised her role in three madefortelevision spinoff films after the show ended Rescue from Gilligans Island 1978 The Castaways on Gilligans Island 1979 and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligans Island 1981 She also voiced Lovey Howell on the animated spinoffs The New Adventures of Gilligan from 197477 and Gilligans Planet from 198283 In 1969 Schafer appeared in The Survivorsa highprofile prime time soap opera aired by the ABC television network Despite the presence of movie stars like Lana Turner Kevin McCarthy and George Hamilton the show was a ratings failure and lasted only one season For the 19711972 television season Schafer joined the cast of the CBS daytime serial Search for Tomorrow portraying Helen Collins mother of Wade and Clay Collins Immediately following that role she played Augusta Roulland on another daytime soap Love of Life Her final performance was in the 1990 madefortelevision horror film Im Dangerous Tonight She gueststarred as well on many other television series including Goodyear PlayhousePhilco Playhouse The Sisters with Grace Kelly 1951 I Love Lucy 1954 Producers Showcase The Petrified Forest 1955 Guestward Ho 1960 The Beverly Hillbillies 1964 Mayberry RFD 1970 Mannix 1972 The Brady Bunch 1974 Phyllis 1976 Threes Company 1978 and The Love Boat 1979