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 Gilligan's Island (1964–1967). 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 short-run plays, with the exceptions of Lady in the Dark (1941–42), The Doughgirls (1942–44), and Romanoff and Juliet (1957–58). She was seen in a revival of Six Characters in Search of an Author, directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1955–56). She also appeared in stock and regional productions, including the off-Broadway production The Killing of Sister George with Claire Trevor in the title role. She also guest-starred 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 Gilligan's Island from 1964–67. She reprised her role in three made-for-television spin-off films after the show ended: Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978), The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979), and The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981). She also voiced Lovey Howell on the animated spinoffs, The New Adventures of Gilligan from 1974–77 and Gilligan's Planet from 1982–83. In 1969, Schafer appeared in The Survivors—a high-profile 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 1971–1972 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 made-for-television horror film I'm Dangerous Tonight. She guest-starred as well on many other television series, including Goodyear Playhouse/Philco 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), Three's Company (1978), and The Love Boat (1979).
Known For
Credits
- 1990 · I'm Dangerous Tonight as Grandmother
- 1989 · Beverly Hills Brats as Lillian
- 1984 · Crazy like a Fox as Leonna Felspar
- 1982 · Matt Houston as
- 1982 · Gilligan's Planet as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
- 1981 · Simon & Simon as
- 1981 · The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island as Lovey Wentworth Howell
- 1980 · Here's Boomer as
- 1979 · Trapper John, M.D. as
- 1979 · The Castaways on Gilligan's Island as Lovey Howell
- 1978 · Rescue from Gilligan's Island as Lovey Wentworth Howell
- 1978 · Flying High as
- 1978 · Vega$ as
- 1977 · The Love Boat as Mrs. Hartnett
- 1977 · CHiPs as
- 1977 · Three's Company as
- 1975 · The Day of the Locust as Audrey Jennings
- 1974 · The New Adventures of Gilligan as Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice)
- 1973 · 40 Carats as Mrs. Adams
- 1969 · The Brady Bunch as
- 1968 · Mayberry R.F.D. as Cornelia Willoughby
- 1967 · Mannix as Bunny Mason
- 1966 · ABC Stage 67 as Mrs. Otis
- 1964 · Gilligan's Island as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell
- 1962 · The Beverly Hillbillies as Madame Renee
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · Susan Slade as Marian Corbett
- 1961 · Back Street as Mrs. Evans
- 1960 · Route 66 as
- 1960 · Guestward, Ho! as
- 1960 · Thriller as Beatrice Graves
- 1958 · 77 Sunset Strip as Ellie Fraser
- 1957 · Bernardine as Madge Beaumont
- 1957 · Oh, Men! Oh, Women! as Mrs. Day
- 1956 · Anastasia as Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
- 1956 · Forever, Darling as Millie Opdyke
- 1955 · Female on the Beach as Queenie Sorenson
- 1955 · The Petrified Forest as Mrs. Chisholm
- 1954 · Sherlock Holmes as
- 1954 · Climax! as Lucrece Durhurst
- 1954 · Casanova's Big Night as Signora Foressi
- 1953 · Topper as Mrs. Vance
- 1953 · Letter to Loretta as Mary
- 1953 · Letter to Loretta as Mrs. Hayes
- 1953 · The Girl Next Door as Evelyn the maid
- 1952 · Mr. & Mrs. North as
- 1952 · The Ford Television Theatre as Beatrice Trent
- 1952 · Just Across the Street as Gertrude Medford
- 1951 · Callaway Went Thataway as Martha Lorrison
- 1951 · I Love Lucy as Phoebe Emerson
- 1951 · The Law and the Lady as Pamela Pemberson
- 1951 · Take Care of My Little Girl as Mother Cookie Clark
- 1951 · Payment on Demand as Mrs. Edna Blanton
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Blanche
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Gertrude Medford
- 1950 · Lux Video Theatre as Julie
- 1949 · Caught as Dorothy Dale
- 1948 · The Snake Pit as Mrs. Stuart
- 1948 · The Philco Television Playhouse as
- 1948 · The Time of Your Life as Society Lady
- 1947 · Secret Beyond the Door... as Edith Potter
- 1947 · Repeat Performance as Eloise Shaw
- 1947 · Dishonored Lady as Ethel Royce
- 1947 · The Other Love as Dora Shelton
- 1945 · Masquerade in Mexico as Irene Denny
- 1945 · Wonder Man as Mrs. Hume
- 1945 · Molly and Me as Kitty Goode-Burroughs
- 1945 · Keep Your Powder Dry as Harriet Corwin
- 1944 · Marriage Is a Private Affair as Irene Selworth
- 1942 · Reunion in France as Frau Amy Schröder (uncredited)
- 1941 · The Body Disappears as Mrs. Lunceford
- 1930 · The Poor Fish as Daisy