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).
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| Organization | Category | Movie |
|---|
Gilligan's Island
as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell
Episodes: 98
First Aired: Sep 26, 1964
The New Adventures of Gilligan
as Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice)
Episodes: 32
First Aired: Sep 07, 1974
Gilligan's Planet
as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
Episodes: 13
First Aired: Sep 18, 1982
The Love Boat
as Mrs. Hartnett
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 24, 1977
The Beverly Hillbillies
as Madame Renee
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 26, 1962
I Love Lucy
as Phoebe Emerson
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 15, 1951
Crazy like a Fox
as Leonna Felspar
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 30, 1984
Thriller
as Beatrice Graves
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 13, 1960
Lux Video Theatre
as Blanche
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1950
Climax!
as Lucrece Durhurst
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 07, 1954
ABC Stage 67
as Mrs. Otis
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 14, 1966
Letter to Loretta
as Mary
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 20, 1953
Topper
as Mrs. Vance
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 09, 1953
Letter to Loretta
as Mrs. Hayes
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 20, 1953
Mayberry R.F.D.
as Cornelia Willoughby
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 23, 1968
Mannix
as Bunny Mason
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 16, 1967
77 Sunset Strip
as Ellie Fraser
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 10, 1958
Lux Video Theatre
as Gertrude Medford
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1950
The Ford Television Theatre
as Beatrice Trent
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1952
Lux Video Theatre
as Julie
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 02, 1950
Trapper John, M.D.
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 23, 1979
Vega$
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 20, 1978
CHiPs
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 15, 1977
Simon & Simon
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Nov 24, 1981
The Brady Bunch
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 26, 1969
Route 66
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 07, 1960
Three's Company
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 15, 1977
Sherlock Holmes
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 18, 1954
Here's Boomer
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 14, 1980
Matt Houston
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 26, 1982
The Philco Television Playhouse
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 03, 1948
Guestward, Ho!
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 29, 1960
Flying High
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 29, 1978
Mr. & Mrs. North
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 03, 1952
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Dec 11, 1961
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 | 17 | 28 | 9 |
| 2024 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 5 |
| 2024 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 4 |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| 2024 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 9 | 26 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 | 11 | 25 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 0 |