19
Born · November 5, 1900
Died · April 10, 1991 (90 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
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).
Grandmother
4.5
1990
Lillian
5.5
1989
Leonna Felspar · (1 episode)
7.1
1984
(1 episode)
6.2
1982
Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice) · (13 episodes)
5.7
1982
(1 episode)
6.7
1981
Lovey Wentworth Howell
5.4
1981
(1 episode)
5.3
1980
(2 episodes)
6.3
1979
Lovey Howell
6.6
1979
Lovey Wentworth Howell
4.7
1978
(1 episode)
4.5
1978
(2 episodes)
7.0
1978
Mrs. Hartnett · (2 episodes)
6.3
1977
(1 episode)
6.8
1977
(1 episode)
7.8
1977
Audrey Jennings
6.3
1975
Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice) · (32 episodes)
4.8
1974
Mrs. Adams
6.0
1973
(1 episode)
6.7
1969
Cornelia Willoughby · (1 episode)
5.7
1968
Bunny Mason · (1 episode)
6.7
1967
Mrs. Otis · (1 episode)
6.0
1966
Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell · (98 episodes)
7.4
1964
Madame Renee · (1 episode)
6.9
1962
Self · (1 episode)
5.1
1961
Marian Corbett
5.8
1961
Mrs. Evans
5.7
1961
(1 episode)
6.4
1960
(1 episode)
4.0
1960
Beatrice Graves · (1 episode)
6.4
1960
Ellie Fraser · (1 episode)
6.7
1958
Madge Beaumont
7.0
1957
Mrs. Day
5.5
1957
Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
6.8
1956
Millie Opdyke
7.0
1956
Queenie Sorenson
5.7
1955
Mrs. Chisholm
6.0
1955
(1 episode)
7.1
1954
Lucrece Durhurst · (1 episode)
3.0
1954
Signora Foressi
6.1
1954
Mrs. Vance · (1 episode)
6.3
1953
Mary · (1 episode)
6.2
1953
Mrs. Hayes · (1 episode)
6.2
1953
Evelyn the maid
4.0
1953
(1 episode)
4.8
1952
Beatrice Trent · (1 episode)
7.0
1952
Gertrude Medford
2.0
1952
Martha Lorrison
5.1
1951
Phoebe Emerson · (1 episode)
8.0
1951
Pamela Pemberson
6.1
1951
Mother Cookie Clark
5.0
1951
Mrs. Edna Blanton
6.2
1951
Blanche · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Gertrude Medford · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Julie · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Dorothy Dale
6.5
1949
Mrs. Stuart
7.0
1948
(1 episode)
6.0
1948
Society Lady
5.8
1948
Edith Potter
6.5
1947
Eloise Shaw
6.1
1947
Ethel Royce
5.7
1947
Dora Shelton
6.0
1947
Irene Denny
5.4
1945
Mrs. Hume
6.6
1945
Kitty Goode-Burroughs
6.2
1945
Harriet Corwin
5.9
1945
Irene Selworth
5.2
1944
Frau Amy Schröder (uncredited)
6.6
1942
Mrs. Lunceford
5.2
1941
Daisy
0.0
1930