Trivia

She was the only L'île aux naufragés (1964) cast member to attend Alan Hale Jr.'s funeral (1990). She also attended Russell Johnson's memorial service (2014).

Owned her own company, Wishing Wells, which makes clothing for people with disabilities.

She and fellow L'île aux naufragés (1964) cast member Tina Louise have both been asked to appear together in numerous television ad campaigns over the years. However, the two actresses have never liked each other and have not spoken in years. They have turned down many of these offers. The most notable one was a commercial for Old Navy clothing stores, which would feature them as Mary Ann Summers and Ginger Grant, still stuck on the island.

Miss Nevada 1959; she participated in Miss America 1960.

Despite playing a supporting role to Tina Louise on L'île aux naufragés (1964) (and to Bob Denver and Jim Backus), her character Mary Ann Summers was consistently the most popular among viewers, which also contributed to the tension between her and Louise.

She auditioned for the role of Lois Lane in the blockbuster Superman (1978), but lost out to Margot Kidder.

Her great-great-grandfather was a stagecoach driver during the 1849 California gold rush.

She was ready to play the role of Nora in the Disney film Peter et Elliott le dragon (1977). She bowed out just before filming began and was replaced by Helen Reddy. Her co-star from L'île aux naufragés (1964), Jim Backus, made a cameo in the film as the Mayor.

Had been a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes since 2004. A publicity video released by the Idaho Potato Commission, which features Wells demonstrating the perfect way to peel an Idaho potato, was posted on YouTube. It went viral and has over 10 million views.

She and Russell Johnson are best known for their roles on the sitcom L'île aux naufragés (1964), but they are also well known for being infamously referred to as "and the rest" in the sitcom's original theme song. The phrase was later replaced by "the Professor and Mary Ann" after protests from the actors.

The punk rock band Squirtgun has a song called "Mary Ann", which is about the character she played on L'île aux naufragés (1964). She appeared in the music video for the song.

She received an Associate degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and later a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington (1960).

Had appeared in nearly 100 theatrical productions since 1967, averaging two plays a year.

Managed the Film Actors Boot Camp for wannabe actors at her ranch in Driggs, Idaho.

Her alma mater, Stephens College in Columbia, MO, is a college for women. Joan Crawford was expelled there in the early 1920s.

She served as one of Natalie Schafer's caregivers at the end of her life.

She co-produced and starred on a television show called Dawn Wells: Reel Adventures (1997).

Her father, Joseph Wesley Wells, once owned the Las Vegas Thunderbird Hotel.

Played the same character (Mary Ann Summers) on seven different series: L'île aux naufragés (1964), The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974), Gilligan's Planet (1982), ALF (1986), Alerte à Malibu (1989), Herman's Head (1991) and Meego (1997).

Just before Alan Hale Jr.'s death, he contributed a family recipe ("Kansas Chicken and Dumplings") to her cookbook "Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook" (1993). Hale, whose character was the inspiration behind such included concoctions as, "Skipper's Coconut Pie", "Skipper's Navy Bean Soup" and "Skipper's Goodbye Ribeye", can be seen depicted as Skipper Jonas Grumby, in numerous photographs through the book.

Was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

As of January 2009, she was dividing her time between her home in Los Angeles and her ranch in Idaho. She also served, along with fitness celebrity Denise Austin, as a spokeswoman for Idaho Potatoes.

As of November 2005, she was producing television in Los Angeles, CA.

As of July 2009, she had sold her Idaho and Los Angeles homes to take up residence full-time in Palm Springs, CA.

Is buried next to her mother Evelyn Wells (1911-2004) at the Mountain View Cemetery in Reno.

As of July 2004, she was serving as founder and Artistic Director of the Spud Drive in Film and Music Festival, in Driggs, ID and Jackson Hole, WY.

She was the daughter of Evelyn (Steinbrenner) and Joseph Wesley Wells. Her mother was of half German and half Italian descent.

Ex-husband Larry Rosen was an agent.

According to some of her close friends, Wells appeared to have dementia during her last one or two years. She often kept repeating herself.

Former President of the Idaho Film & Television Institute.

She is referenced in the comedy-drama film Danny Collins (2015).

Colleen Haskell, from Survivor : États-Unis (2000) was often compared to Wells' character Mary Ann Summers from L'île aux naufragés (1964).