Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 18

TV Involvements: 7


Most Famous Work

Biography

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).

Most Famous Work

Lux Video Theatre
Average
6

Lux Video Theatre

(1950) Blanche
Climax!
Average
3

Climax!

(1954) Lucrece Durhurst
Anastasia
Average
7

Anastasia

(1956) Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Thriller
Average
6

Thriller

(1960) Beatrice Graves
The Snake Pit
Average
7

The Snake Pit

(1948) Mrs. Stuart
The Day of the Locust
Average
6

The Day of the Locust

(1975) Audrey Jennings
Secret Beyond the Door
Average
7

Secret Beyond the Door

(1947) Edith Potter
ABC Stage 67
Average
6

ABC Stage 67

(1966) Mrs. Otis

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1990 Grandmother
1989 Lillian
1984 Leonna Felspar
1982 N/A
N/A
1981 N/A
Lovey Wentworth Howell
1980 N/A
1979 N/A
Lovey Howell
1978 Lovey Wentworth Howell
N/A
N/A
1977 Mrs. Hartnett
N/A
N/A
1975 Audrey Jennings
1974 N/A
1973 Mrs. Adams
1969 N/A
1967 N/A
1966 Mrs. Otis
1964 Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell
1962 N/A
1961 Marian Corbett
Mrs. Evans
1960 N/A
N/A
Beatrice Graves
1958 N/A
1957 Madge Beaumont
Mrs. Day
1956 Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Millie Opdyke
1955 Queenie Sorenson
Mrs. Chisholm
1954 N/A
Lucrece Durhurst
Signora Foressi
1953 Mary
Mrs. Hayes
Evelyn the maid
1952 N/A
Gertrude Medford
1951 Martha Lorrison
Phoebe Emerson
N/A
Pamela Pemberson
Mother Cookie Clark
Mrs. Edna Blanton
1950 Blanche
1949 Dorothy Dale
1948 Mrs. Stuart
N/A
Society Lady
1947 Edith Potter
Eloise Shaw
Ethel Royce
Dora Shelton
1945 Irene Denny
Kitty Goode-Burroughs
Harriet Corwin
Mrs. Hume
1944 Irene Selworth
1942 Frau Amy Schröder (uncredited)
1941 Mrs. Lunceford
1930 Daisy
Year Character Movie/Tv

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1977 Writer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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