Natalie Schafer

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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).

Filmography

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2022
The Unknown Story
TV show Self - archive footage
1990
I'm Dangerous Tonight
Movie Grandmother
1989
Beverly Hills Brats
Movie Lillian
1984
Crazy like a Fox
TV show Leonna Felspar
1982
Matt Houston
TV show Vonda Moran
1982
Gilligan's Planet
TV show Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
1981
Simon & Simon
TV show
1981
Here's Boomer
TV show
1981
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Movie Lovey Wentworth Howell
1979
Trapper John, M.D.
TV show
1979
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Movie Lovey Howell
1978
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Movie Lovey Wentworth Howell
1978
Flying High
TV show
1978
Vega$
TV show Charlotte Hunt
1977
The Love Boat
TV show Mrs. Hartnett
1977
CHiPs
TV show

More credits

1977
Three's Company
TV show
1975
The Day of the Locust
Movie Audrey Jennings
1974
The New Adventures of Gilligan
TV show Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice)
1973
40 Carats
Movie Mrs. Adams
1971
McMillan & Wife
TV show Mrs. Roberts
1969
The Brady Bunch
TV show
1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
TV show Cornelia Willoughby
1967
Mannix
TV show Bunny Mason
1966
The Canterville Ghost
Movie Mrs. Otis
1966
ABC Stage 67
TV show Mrs. Otis
1964
Gilligan's Island
TV show Lovey Howell
1962
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV show Madame Renee
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
TV show Self
1961
Susan Slade
Movie Marian Corbett
1961
Back Street
Movie Mrs. Evans
1960
Route 66
TV show
1960
Guestward, Ho!
TV show
1960
Thriller
TV show Beatrice Graves
1958
77 Sunset Strip
TV show Ellie Fraser
1957
Bernardine
Movie Madge Beaumont
1957
If You Knew Elizabeth
Movie Geneva
1957
Oh, Men! Oh, Women!
Movie Mrs. Day
1956
Anastasia
Movie Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
1956
Forever, Darling
Movie Millie Opdyke