Original Mary Ann
In retrospect, we can all celebrate Dawn Wells’ role on the show. However, she was not the original pick for Mary Ann on the show. Instead, they wanted Raquel Welch, the 1960’s sensation to be cast as Mary Ann. Welch may have saved her future career by turning down the role. As you know, none of the cast members were able to land any huge roles once they became associated with their iconic Gilligan’s Island characters.
Original Mary Ann
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So, in case you never realized, Thurston Howell III, played by Jim Backus, was a nod to another character. Producer Sherwood Schwartz had another show, The Alan Young Show. On that other show, Backus played Hubert Updyke III. Back when Schwartz pitched Gilligan’s Island he explained that, “the island would be a social microcosm and a metaphorical shaming of world politics in the sense that when necessary for survival, yes we can all get along”.
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