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Photo of Natalie Schafer

Natalie Schafer

Actor, Writer
Born November 5, 1900Died April 10, 1991 (90 years)
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).

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • The Beverly Hillbillies
  • Wonder Man
  • Rescue from Gilligan's Island
  • Route 66
  • Dishonored Lady
  • The Time of Your Life
  • Sherlock Holmes (1954)

Known For

  • Gilligan's Island
  • Secret Beyond the Door...
  • Caught
  • Rescue from Gilligan's Island
  • Repeat Performance
  • Dishonored Lady
  • Female on the Beach
  • The Love Boat
  • I'm Dangerous Tonight
  • Forever, Darling
  • Back Street
  • Callaway Went Thataway
  • Susan Slade
  • The Other Love
  • Molly and Me
  • 40 Carats

Filmography

2018
The Gilligan Manifesto · as Mrs. Howell
1990
I'm Dangerous Tonight · as Grandmother
1989
Beverly Hills Brats · as Lillian
1984
Crazy Like A Fox (TV Series) · as Leonna Felspar
1982
Matt Houston (TV Series)
1982
Gilligan's Planet (TV Series) · as Eunice "lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
1981
Simon & Simon (TV Series)
1981
1980
Here's Boomer (TV Series)
1979
Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series)
1979
1978
Rescue from Gilligan's Island · as Lovey Wentworth Howell
1978
Flying High (TV Series)
1978
Vega$ (TV Series)
1977
CHiPs (TV Series)
1977
The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Mrs. Hartnett
1977
ABC Weekend Special (TV Series) · as Mrs. Chambers
1976
Three's Company (TV Series)
1976
Holmes and Yoyo (TV Series) · as Mrs. Stevenson
1975
Phyllis (TV Series) · as Donna Plunkett
1975
The Day of the Locust · as Audrey Jennings
1975
McCoy (TV Series) · as Laura Mayfield
1974
The New Adventures of Gilligan (TV Series) · as Eunice Wentworth 'lovey' Howell (voice)
1973
40 Carats · as Mrs. Adams
1973
Diana (1973) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Tyler
1971
McMillan and Wife (TV Series) · as Mrs. Roberts
1970
Barefoot In The Park (TV Series) · as Miss Lorraine
1969
Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Harriet (segment "love And The Man Of The Year")
1969
The Survivors (TV Series) · as Eleanor Carlyle
1969
The Brady Bunch (TV Series)
1968
Mayberry R.F.D. (TV Series) · as Cornelia Willoughby
1967
Mannix (TV Series) · as Bunny Mason
1966
ABC Stage 67 (TV Series) · as Mrs. Otis
1964
Gilligan's Island (TV Series) · as Eunice "lovey" Wentworth Howell
1962
The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) · as Madame Renee
1961
Susan Slade · as Marian Corbett
1961
Back Street · as Mrs. Evans
1960
Route 66 (TV Series)
1960
Guestward Ho! (TV Series)
1960
Thriller (TV Series) · as Beatrice Graves
1959
Sunday Showcase (TV Series) · as Ruth Chambers
1959
Markham (TV Series) · as Mrs. Miles
1958
77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Ellie Fraser
1957
Bernardine · as Madge Beaumont
1957
Oh, Men! Oh, Women! · as Mrs. Day
1956
Anastasia · as Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
1956
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Geneva
1956
Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) · as Jessie Caldwell
1956
Forever, Darling · as Millie Opdyke
1955
The Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) · as Deborah Darling
1955
Female on the Beach · as Queenie Sorenson
1954
Producers' Showcase (TV Series) · as Mrs. Chisholm
1954
1954
Climax! (TV Series) · as Lucrece Durhurst
1954
Casanova's Big Night · as Signora Foressi
1953
Topper (TV Series) · as Mrs. Vance
1953
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) · as Helen Armstrong
1953
The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Mrs. Hayes
1953
The Girl Next Door · as Evelyn The Maid
1952
Mr. & Mrs. North (TV Series)
1952
Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Beatrice Trent
1952
Has Anybody Seen My Gal · as Clarissa Pennock (replaced By Gloria Holden)
1951
Callaway Went Thataway · as Martha Lorrison
1951
I Love Lucy (TV Series) · as Phoebe Emerson
1951
Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Cast
1951
Take Care of My Little Girl · as Mother Cookie Clark
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Cast
1951
Search for Tomorrow (TV Series) · as Helen Collins (1971-1972)
1951
The Law and the Lady · as Pamela Pemberson
1951
Payment on Demand · as Mrs. Edna Blanton
1950
The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Blanche
1950
The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1950
1949
Caught · as Dorothy Dale
1949
The Goldbergs (TV Series) · as Mrs. Lang
1948
The Snake Pit · as Mrs. Stuart
1948
Studio One (TV Series) · as Cast
1948
1948
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
1948
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
1947
Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast
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
The Doughgirls · as Third Woman With Baby
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

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