Raquel Welch Was Almost Mary Ann on ‘Gilligan’s Island’
On Gilligan’s Island, every character played a crucial role in making the show successful and it is hard to believe that any other actors could have played the roles of the seven castaways. It may be surprising to learn that actress Raquel Welch almost got the role of the sweet and good-natured Mary Ann over Dawn Wells.
Gilligan’s Island creator Sherwood Schwartz revealed in a 2003 interview with Retrocrush why Welch wasn’t chosen. Turns out, she was deemed “too sexy” for the role. While Welch would go on to become a major star, Schwartz had a different vision for Mary Ann and wanted her character to represent the everyday, small-town American girl. She was the farm girl among the castaways, a stark contrast to the glitz and sophistication of Ginger, played by Tina Louise.
Ron Thal/TV Guide/Everett Collection
At the time of casting, Welch was still an up-and-coming actress. She had appeared on The Hollywood Palace and made guest appearances on shows like McHale’s Navy, Bewitched and The Virginian. Her breakthrough came in 1966 with Fantastic Voyage, followed by her turn in One Million Years B.C., which solidified her status as a Hollywood bombshell who had a long and successful career until she died in 2023. If Welch had played Mary Ann alongside Louise’s Ginger, the dynamic would have been unbalanced … two glamorous leading ladies would have changed the entire feel of the show.
The characters on the island were carefully crafted to reflect different social archetypes: the Howells as the wealthy elite, the Skipper as the dependable leader, Ginger as Hollywood’s allure, the Professor as intellect and Gilligan as the innocent heart of the group. Mary Ann needed to be the down-to-earth, relatable presence, and Welch exuded too much star power for the part. Schwartz said according to Slash Film, “Well, Dawn Wells was the one who got the job over Raquel. She’s a wonderful lady. Raquel was a fine actress, but she was just too sophisticated for the role.”
Ivan Nagy/TV Guide/Everett Collection
These days, most of the main cast of Gilligan’s Island have passed away. Wells died in 2020, leaving behind a strong legacy while Louise remains the only surviving cast member at the age of 91.
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Classic TV Shows of the ’50s & ’60s
September 2020
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