Natalie Schafer
Acting • Born 1900-11-05 – Died 1991-04-10
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).
Filmography
77 credits
Secret Beyond the Door
Movie • 1947
Edith Potter
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Movie • 1978
Lovey Wentworth Howell
Forever, Darling
Movie • 1956
Millie Opdyke
Repeat Performance
Movie • 1947
Eloise Shaw
Caught
Movie • 1949
Dorothy Dale
The Snake Pit
Movie • 1948
Mrs. Stuart
Anastasia
Movie • 1956
Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Female on the Beach
Movie • 1955
Queenie Sorenson
Callaway Went Thataway
Movie • 1951
Martha Lorrison
Payment on Demand
Movie • 1951
Mrs. Edna Blanton
Susan Slade
Movie • 1961
Marian Corbett
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Movie • 1979
Lovey Howell
Oh, Men! Oh, Women!
Movie • 1957
Mrs. Day
Take Care of My Little Girl
Movie • 1951
Mother Cookie Clark
Keep Your Powder Dry
Movie • 1945
Harriet Corwin
The Law and the Lady
Movie • 1951
Pamela Pemberson
The Time of Your Life
Movie • 1948
Society Lady
Back Street
Movie • 1961
Mrs. Evans
Casanova's Big Night
Movie • 1954
Signora Foressi
I'm Dangerous Tonight
Movie • 1990
Grandmother
Wonder Man
Movie • 1945
Mrs. Hume
Masquerade in Mexico
Movie • 1945
Irene Denny
The Other Love
Movie • 1947
Dora Shelton
The Girl Next Door
Movie • 1953
Evelyn the maid
Molly and Me
Movie • 1945
Kitty Goode-Burroughs
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Movie • 1981
Lovey Wentworth Howell
The Body Disappears
Movie • 1941
Mrs. Lunceford
Beverly Hills Brats
Movie • 1989
Lillian
The Poor Fish
Movie • 1930
Daisy
Dishonored Lady
Movie • 1947
Ethel Royce
40 Carats
Movie • 1973
Mrs. Adams
Marriage Is a Private Affair
Movie • 1944
Irene Selworth
The Day of the Locust
Movie • 1975
Audrey Jennings
Bernardine
Movie • 1957
Madge Beaumont
Reunion in France
Movie • 1942
Frau Amy Schroeder (uncredited)
Just Across the Street
Movie • 1952
Gertrude Medford
The Petrified Forest
Movie • 1955
Mrs. Chisholm
The Canterville Ghost
Movie • 1966
Mrs. Otis
If You Knew Elizabeth
Movie • 1957
Geneva
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Gilligan's Planet
TV • 1982
Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
Trapper John, M.D.
TV • 1979
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
The Brady Bunch
TV • 1969
Gilligan's Island
TV • 1964
Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV • 1962
Madame Renee
Route 66
TV • 1960
I Love Lucy
TV • 1951
Phoebe Emerson
The New Adventures of Gilligan
TV • 1974
Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice)
Three's Company
TV • 1977
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1954
Crazy like a Fox
TV • 1984
Leonna Felspar
Thriller
TV • 1960
Beatrice Graves
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Blanche
Here's Boomer
TV • 1981
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
Climax!
TV • 1954
Lucrece Durhurst
The Philco Television Playhouse
TV • 1948
Guestward, Ho!
TV • 1960
ABC Stage 67
TV • 1966
Mrs. Otis
Flying High
TV • 1978
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Mary
Mr. & Mrs. North
TV • 1952
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Topper
TV • 1953
Mrs. Vance
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Mrs. Hayes
Mayberry R.F.D.
TV • 1968
Cornelia Willoughby
Mannix
TV • 1967
Bunny Mason
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Ellie Fraser
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Gertrude Medford
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Mrs. Hartnett
The Ford Television Theatre
TV • 1952
Beatrice Trent
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Julie
McMillan & Wife
TV • 1971
Mrs. Roberts
Kraft Television Theatre
TV • 1947
The Unknown Story
TV • 2022
Self - archive footage
Vega$
TV • 1978
Charlotte Hunt