profile

    Natalie Schafer

    1900-11-05 (124 years old) in 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).

    Movies

    poster
    I'm Dangerous Tonight
    45 %|Aug 8, 1990
    Horror, Thriller, TV Movie
    poster
    Beverly Hills Brats
    55 %|Oct 6, 1989
    Comedy
    poster
    The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
    54 %|May 15, 1981
    Comedy, Family, TV Movie
    poster
    The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
    66 %|May 3, 1979
    TV Movie, Comedy
    poster
    Rescue from Gilligan's Island
    47 %|Oct 14, 1978
    Comedy, Adventure, TV Movie
    poster
    The Day of the Locust
    63 %|May 7, 1975
    Drama
    poster
    40 Carats
    60 %|Jun 28, 1973
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    Susan Slade
    58 %|Nov 8, 1961
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Back Street
    57 %|Oct 11, 1961
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Bernardine
    70 %|Jul 24, 1957
    Comedy
    poster
    Oh, Men! Oh, Women!
    55 %|Feb 22, 1957
    Comedy
    poster
    Anastasia
    67.9 %|Dec 13, 1956
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Forever, Darling
    70 %|Feb 9, 1956
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    Female on the Beach
    57 %|Aug 19, 1955
    Drama, Crime, Thriller, Romance, Mystery
    poster
    The Petrified Forest
    60 %|May 30, 1955
    Drama, TV Movie
    poster
    Casanova's Big Night
    61 %|Apr 7, 1954
    Comedy, Adventure
    poster
    The Girl Next Door
    40 %|May 13, 1953
    Comedy, Music, Romance
    poster
    Just Across the Street
    20 %|Jun 15, 1952
    Comedy
    poster
    Callaway Went Thataway
    51 %|Nov 15, 1951
    Comedy, Western
    poster
    The Law and the Lady
    61 %|Jul 20, 1951
    Comedy
    poster
    Take Care of My Little Girl
    50 %|Jul 6, 1951
    Drama
    poster
    Payment on Demand
    62.5 %|Feb 3, 1951
    Drama
    poster
    Caught
    65 %|Feb 17, 1949
    Drama, Romance, Thriller
    poster
    The Snake Pit
    70 %|Nov 4, 1948
    Drama, Mystery
    poster
    The Time of Your Life
    58 %|Sep 3, 1948
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Secret Beyond the Door...
    65 %|Dec 24, 1947
    Mystery, Thriller, Drama, Romance
    poster
    Repeat Performance
    61 %|May 22, 1947
    Crime, Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Dishonored Lady
    57 %|May 16, 1947
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    The Other Love
    60 %|May 14, 1947
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Masquerade in Mexico
    54 %|Dec 3, 1945
    Comedy, Music
    poster
    Wonder Man
    66 %|Jun 8, 1945
    Comedy, Fantasy
    poster
    Molly and Me
    62 %|May 25, 1945
    Comedy
    poster
    Keep Your Powder Dry
    59 %|Apr 1, 1945
    Drama, War
    poster
    Marriage Is a Private Affair
    52 %|Aug 23, 1944
    Comedy, War
    poster
    Reunion in France
    66 %|Dec 25, 1942
    Drama, Romance, War
    poster
    The Body Disappears
    52 %|Nov 22, 1941
    Comedy
    poster
    The Poor Fish
    0 %|Jun 7, 1930

    Series

    poster
    Crazy like a Fox
    71 %|Dec 30, 1984
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Matt Houston
    62 %|Sep 26, 1982
    Drama
    poster
    Gilligan's Planet
    57 %|Sep 18, 1982
    Animation
    poster
    Simon & Simon
    67 %|Nov 24, 1981
    Drama
    poster
    Here's Boomer
    53 %|Mar 14, 1980
    Family, Action & Adventure, Drama
    poster
    Trapper John, M.D.
    63 %|Sep 23, 1979
    Drama
    poster
    Flying High
    45 %|Sep 29, 1978
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    Vega$
    70 %|Sep 20, 1978
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    The Love Boat
    62.910000000000004 %|Sep 24, 1977
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    CHiPs
    68 %|Sep 15, 1977
    Drama, Action & Adventure
    poster
    Three's Company
    78 %|Mar 15, 1977
    Comedy
    poster
    The New Adventures of Gilligan
    48 %|Sep 7, 1974
    Animation
    poster
    The Brady Bunch
    67 %|Sep 26, 1969
    Comedy
    poster
    Mayberry R.F.D.
    57 %|Sep 23, 1968
    Comedy, Family
    poster
    Mannix
    67 %|Sep 16, 1967
    Action & Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Drama
    poster
    ABC Stage 67
    56.67 %|Sep 14, 1966
    Drama, Documentary
    poster
    Gilligan's Island
    75 %|Sep 26, 1964
    Comedy, Family
    poster
    The Beverly Hillbillies
    69 %|Sep 26, 1962
    Comedy, Family
    poster
    The Mike Douglas Show
    48 %|Dec 11, 1961
    Comedy, Talk
    poster
    Route 66
    64 %|Oct 7, 1960
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Guestward, Ho!
    40 %|Sep 29, 1960
    Comedy
    poster
    Thriller
    62 %|Sep 13, 1960
    Crime
    poster
    77 Sunset Strip
    67 %|Oct 10, 1958
    Crime, Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Sherlock Holmes
    71 %|Oct 18, 1954
    Mystery, Drama
    poster
    Climax!
    27 %|Oct 7, 1954
    Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Topper
    63 %|Oct 9, 1953
    Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy
    poster
    Letter to Loretta
    58 %|Sep 20, 1953
    Drama
    poster
    Letter to Loretta
    58 %|Sep 20, 1953
    Drama
    poster
    Mr. & Mrs. North
    48 %|Oct 3, 1952
    Comedy, Crime
    poster
    I Love Lucy
    79.98 %|Oct 15, 1951
    Comedy, Family
    actor
    Lux Video Theatre
    55 %|Oct 2, 1950
    Drama, Comedy
    actor
    Lux Video Theatre
    55 %|Oct 2, 1950
    Drama, Comedy
    actor
    Lux Video Theatre
    55 %|Oct 2, 1950
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    The Philco Television Playhouse
    56 %|Oct 3, 1948
    Drama