The Unknown Story
2022 · TV Show
as Self - archive footage
Natalie Schafer
1900-11-05
•
Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Writers: The Love Boat
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
I'm Dangerous Tonight
1990 · Movie
as Grandmother
Beverly Hills Brats
1989 · Movie
as Lillian
Crazy like a Fox
1984 · TV Show
as Leonna Felspar
Gilligan's Planet
1982 · TV Show
as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell (voice)
Matt Houston
1982 · TV Show
as Vonda Moran
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
1981 · Movie
as Lovey Wentworth Howell
Simon & Simon
1981 · TV Show
Here's Boomer
1981 · TV Show
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
1979 · Movie
as Lovey Howell
Trapper John, M.D.
1979 · TV Show
Rescue from Gilligan's Island
1978 · Movie
as Lovey Wentworth Howell
Flying High
1978 · TV Show
Vega$
1978 · TV Show
as Charlotte Hunt
CHiPs
1977 · TV Show
Three's Company
1977 · TV Show
The Love Boat
1977 · TV Show
as Mrs. Hartnett
The Day of the Locust
1975 · Movie
as Audrey Jennings
The New Adventures of Gilligan
1974 · TV Show
as Eunice Wentworth 'Lovey' Howell (voice)
40 Carats
1973 · Movie
as Mrs. Adams
McMillan & Wife
1971 · TV Show
as Mrs. Roberts
The Brady Bunch
1969 · TV Show
Mayberry R.F.D.
1968 · TV Show
as Cornelia Willoughby
Mannix
1967 · TV Show
as Bunny Mason
No image
The Canterville Ghost
1966 · Movie
as Mrs. Otis
ABC Stage 67
1966 · TV Show
as Mrs. Otis
Gilligan's Island
1964 · TV Show
as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962 · TV Show
as Madame Renee
Susan Slade
1961 · Movie
as Marian Corbett
Back Street
1961 · Movie
as Mrs. Evans
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · TV Show
as Self
Route 66
1960 · TV Show
Thriller
1960 · TV Show
as Beatrice Graves
Guestward, Ho!
1960 · TV Show
77 Sunset Strip
1958 · TV Show
as Ellie Fraser
Oh, Men! Oh, Women!
1957 · Movie
as Mrs. Day
Bernardine
1957 · Movie
as Madge Beaumont
If You Knew Elizabeth
1957 · Movie
as Geneva
Forever, Darling
1956 · Movie
as Millie Opdyke
Anastasia
1956 · Movie
as Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Female on the Beach
1955 · Movie
as Queenie Sorenson
The Petrified Forest
1955 · Movie
as Mrs. Chisholm
Casanova's Big Night
1954 · Movie
as Signora Foressi
Sherlock Holmes
1954 · TV Show
Climax!
1954 · TV Show
as Lucrece Durhurst
The Girl Next Door
1953 · Movie
as Evelyn the maid
Letter to Loretta
1953 · TV Show
as Mary, Mrs. Hayes
Topper
1953 · TV Show
as Mrs. Vance
Just Across the Street
1952 · Movie
as Gertrude Medford
Mr. & Mrs. North
1952 · TV Show
The Ford Television Theatre
1952 · TV Show
as Beatrice Trent
Callaway Went Thataway
1951 · Movie
as Martha Lorrison
Payment on Demand
1951 · Movie
as Mrs. Edna Blanton
Take Care of My Little Girl
1951 · Movie
as Cookie Clark
The Law and the Lady
1951 · Movie
as Pamela Pemberson
I Love Lucy
1951 · TV Show
as Phoebe Emerson
No image
Lux Video Theatre
1950 · TV Show
as Blanche, Gertrude Medford, Julie
Caught
1949 · Movie
as Dorothy Dale
The Snake Pit
1948 · Movie
as Mrs. Stuart
The Time of Your Life
1948 · Movie
as Society Lady
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948 · TV Show
Secret Beyond the Door
1947 · Movie
as Edith Potter
Repeat Performance
1947 · Movie
as Eloise Shaw
The Other Love
1947 · Movie
as Dora Shelton
Dishonored Lady
1947 · Movie
as Ethel Royce
Kraft Television Theatre
1947 · TV Show
Keep Your Powder Dry
1945 · Movie
as Harriet Corwin
Wonder Man
1945 · Movie
as Mrs. Hume
Masquerade in Mexico
1945 · Movie
as Irene Denny
Molly and Me
1945 · Movie
as Kitty Goode-Burroughs
Marriage Is a Private Affair
1944 · Movie
as Irene Selworth
Reunion in France
1942 · Movie
as Frau Amy Schroeder (uncredited)
The Body Disappears
1941 · Movie
as Mrs. Lunceford
The Poor Fish
1930 · Movie
as Daisy
