Actress Dawn Wells, castaway Mary Ann on TV's 'Gilligan's Island,' dies from COVID-19

FILE PHOTO: Dawn Wells, Bob Denver and Russell Johnson (L-R), cast members in "Gilligan's Island," pose during a launch party for "Gilligan's Island: The Complete First Season," which will debut on DVD February 3, 2004 in Marina Del Rey, California. The popular television series marks its 40th anniversary with the DVD release, which includes a rarely seen pilot episode. REUTERS/Jim Ruymen JR/JES

(Reuters) - Dawn Wells, who parlayed her girl-next-door charm and wholesome beauty into enduring TV fame as the sweet-natured desert island castaway Mary Ann on the classic 1960s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," died on Wednesday at age 82, her publicist said.

Wells, who won the title of Miss Nevada in 1959 and competed in the Miss America contest, died from complications of COVID-19, publicist Harlan Boll said in a statement.