Webremembering congenial dawn wells. I was saddened to learn recently of the death of dawn wells, who portrayed sweet kansas. Webgilligan's island actor dawn wells, who played mary ann summers on the cbs sitcom, has died at age 82 from causes related to the coronavirus. Webdawn wells played the down to earth farm girl mary ann on the 1960's sitcom 'gilligan's island. ' we invite you to share condolences for dawn wells in our guest book. She will best be remembered for her character as stranded castaway mary ann summers in the popular 1960s cbs sitcom 'gilligan's island,' which aired from 1964 to.