Natalie Schafer (November 5, 1900 - April 10, 1991) was an American actress, best known as Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell on CBS's sitcom Gilligan's Island (1964–67). Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, Natalie Schafer was the eldest child of Jennie and Charles Schafer. She began her career as an actress on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles in 1941 to work in films. Schafer appeared on Broadway in seventeen plays between 1927 and 1959, often playing supporting roles. Most of these appearances were in short-run plays, with the exceptions of Lady in the Dark (1941-1942), The Doughgirls (1942-1944), and Romanoff and Juliet (1957-1958). She was also seen in a revival of Six Characters in Search of an Author, directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1955-1956). She also appeared in stock and regional productions of plays. Schafer appeared in many films, usually portraying beautiful sophisticates, but she is best known for the situation comedy Gilligan's Island, playing the role of the millionaire's wife, Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell. She reprised her role in the made-for-TV spin-off films that were made after the show's demise, along with the animated spinoff, Gilligan's Planet, in 1982.