Jerry Mathers Mourns the Passing of Friend Dawn Wells – See His Touching Message

Jerry Mathers shares a touching tribute for his friend Dawn Wells who died on December 30, 2020. Wells achieved fame on the '60's comedy "Gilligan's Island" and has received several other celebrity tributes.

Jerry Mathers has shared a photo of himself and the late Dawn Wells on Instagram, accompanied by a moving message as he mourns his friend. Wells passed away on December 30 from Covid-19 complications at the age of 82.

Mathers wears a long cardigan over a green shirt in the pic, alongside Wells dressed in a white blouse and a leopard print waistcoat. Both are smiling and giving the 'thumbs up.'

The "Leave It To Beaver" star begins his caption by expressing his sorrow at Wells' departure due to the global pandemic that has claimed many lives. He adds:

"She was always so engaging, with a fun spirit that made being around her a true joy. She will be greatly missed."

Commenters have reacted to Mathers' tribute by expressing their own grief at the news, extending love and support to him, and leaving messages of how much Wells will be missed.

Fans of "Gilligan's Island," which aired between 1964 and 1967, will remember Wells as the beautiful, pigtailed, Mary Ann Summers. Wells was just 25 when she was cast on the show.

She would go on to be crowned Miss Nevada in 1959 and competed in the 1960 Miss America pageant.

The 98 episode series followed 4 men and 3 women stuck on the Island after their boat tour of Honolulu went horribly wrong. Wells would later admit that she was given a blank canvas by the creator, Sherwood Shwartz, to build Mary in her image.

Wells' passing leaves Tina Louise, who starred as Ginger, as the last remaining cast member of "Gilligan's Island." Louis reminisced about the impact that working on the series had in her Twitter post:

"We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time."

The television series led to the movie sequels between 1978 and 1982, starring Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale Jr (the skipper), Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III), Natalie Schafer (Lovey) and Russell Johnson (the Professor), and Wells.

Dawn Elberta Wells was born on October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada, to a real estate developer father and a homemaker mother. She would go on to be crowned Miss Nevada in 1959 and competed in the 1960 Miss America pageant.

Her career spanned acting roles on television shows such as Maverick, movie roles in "The Town That Dreaded Sundown," and about six dozen stage plays. She also worked as a journalist and hosted the Australian show, "Midday."

Tributes have poured in from the Hollywood fraternity, including the likes of Jane Lynch, William Shatner, and the Pee-Wee Herman Twitter account, which thanked Wells for all the beautiful memories.

Wells wed Larry Rosen in 1962, a talent agent she divorced 5 years later. Having never had any children, she is survived by her stepsister, Weslee.