Natalie Schafer
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 5, 1900
- Died
- April 10, 1991 (aged 90)
- Birthplace
- Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
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).
Known For
Photos
Filmography
The Unknown Story
TV · as Self - archive footage · 1 ep
I'm Dangerous Tonight
Movie · as Grandmother
Beverly Hills Brats
Movie · as Lillian
Crazy like a Fox
TV · as Leonna Felspar · 1 ep
Gilligan's Planet
TV · as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice) · 13 eps
Matt Houston
TV · as Vonda Moran · 1 ep
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Movie · as Lovey Wentworth Howell
Simon & Simon
TV · 1 ep
Here's Boomer
TV · 1 ep
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
Movie · as Lovey Howell
Trapper John, M.D.
TV · 2 eps
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
Movie · as Lovey Wentworth Howell
Flying High
TV · 1 ep
Vega$
TV · as Charlotte Hunt · 2 eps
CHiPs
TV · 1 ep
Three's Company
TV · 1 ep
The Love Boat
TV · as Mrs. Hartnett · 2 eps
The Day of the Locust
Movie · as Audrey Jennings
The New Adventures of Gilligan
TV · as Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice) · 32 eps
40 Carats
Movie · as Mrs. Adams
McMillan & Wife
TV · as Mrs. Roberts · 1 ep
The Brady Bunch
TV · 1 ep
Mayberry R.F.D.
TV · as Cornelia Willoughby · 1 ep
Mannix
TV · as Bunny Mason · 1 ep
The Canterville Ghost
Movie · as Mrs. Otis
ABC Stage 67
TV · as Mrs. Otis · 1 ep
Gilligan's Island
TV · as Lovey Howell · 98 eps
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV · as Madame Renee · 1 ep
Susan Slade
Movie · as Marian Corbett
Back Street
Movie · as Mrs. Evans
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Route 66
TV · 1 ep
Thriller
TV · as Beatrice Graves · 1 ep
Guestward, Ho!
TV · 1 ep
77 Sunset Strip
TV · as Ellie Fraser · 1 ep
Oh, Men! Oh, Women!
Movie · as Mrs. Day
Bernardine
Movie · as Madge Beaumont
If You Knew Elizabeth
Movie · as Geneva
Forever, Darling
Movie · as Millie Opdyke
Anastasia
Movie · as Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Female on the Beach
Movie · as Queenie Sorenson
The Petrified Forest
Movie · as Mrs. Chisholm
Casanova's Big Night
Movie · as Signora Foressi
Sherlock Holmes
TV · 1 ep
Climax!
TV · as Lucrece Durhurst · 1 ep
The Girl Next Door
Movie · as Evelyn the maid
Letter to Loretta
TV · as Mary, Mrs. Hayes · 1 ep
Topper
TV · as Mrs. Vance · 1 ep
Just Across the Street
Movie · as Gertrude Medford
Mr. & Mrs. North
TV · 1 ep
The Ford Television Theatre
TV · as Beatrice Trent · 1 ep
Callaway Went Thataway
Movie · as Martha Lorrison
Payment on Demand
Movie · as Mrs. Edna Blanton
Take Care of My Little Girl
Movie · as Cookie Clark
The Law and the Lady
Movie · as Pamela Pemberson
I Love Lucy
TV · as Phoebe Emerson · 1 ep
Lux Video Theatre
TV · as Blanche, Gertrude Medford, Julie · 1 ep
Caught
Movie · as Dorothy Dale
The Snake Pit
Movie · as Mrs. Stuart
The Time of Your Life
Movie · as Society Lady
The Philco Television Playhouse
TV · 1 ep
Secret Beyond the Door
Movie · as Edith Potter
Repeat Performance
Movie · as Eloise Shaw
The Other Love
Movie · as Dora Shelton
Dishonored Lady
Movie · as Ethel Royce
Kraft Television Theatre
TV · 1 ep
Keep Your Powder Dry
Movie · as Harriet Corwin
Wonder Man
Movie · as Mrs. Hume
Masquerade in Mexico
Movie · as Irene Denny
Molly and Me
Movie · as Kitty Goode-Burroughs
Marriage Is a Private Affair
Movie · as Irene Selworth
Reunion in France
Movie · as Frau Amy Schroeder (uncredited)
The Body Disappears
Movie · as Mrs. Lunceford
The Poor Fish
Movie · as Daisy