Natalie Schafer Net Worth

What was Natalie Schafer's net worth?

Natalie Schafer was an American actress who had a net worth of $10 million at the time of her death.

Natalie Schafer carved out a distinctive career as an actress known for portraying sophisticated, wealthy women on stage, film, and television. While she appeared in dozens of films over several decades, Schafer achieved her most enduring fame as the pampered millionaire's wife Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell on the 1960s television sitcom "Gilligan's Island." Before this career-defining role, she established herself as a Broadway performer and supporting actress in Hollywood, specializing in playing elegant, sometimes snobbish society women. Her film credits included work with major directors like George Cukor and alongside stars such as Joan Crawford and Loretta Young. Schafer maintained a carefully cultivated public image that often paralleled her on-screen persona, becoming known for her glamour and beauty regimens. Her portrayal of Mrs. Howell, with its distinctive mixture of haughtiness, comic timing, and occasional warmth, created a character that remains embedded in American popular culture long after the show's relatively brief original run.

Early Life and Education

Born on November 5, 1900, in Red Bank, New Jersey, Schafer was the daughter of Charles and Jennie Schafer. Her father worked as an engineer, providing a middle-class upbringing that contrasted with the wealthy characters she would later portray. Details about her early education remain relatively sparse, as Schafer was famously private about her personal background and consistently maintained ambiguity about her age throughout her professional life.

Schafer developed an interest in performance at a young age, though the exact trajectory of her early training is not extensively documented. Her path to acting appears to have been straightforward, without the detours or alternate careers that characterized some of her contemporaries, suggesting an early and sustained focus on theatrical pursuits.

Theater Career

Schafer built her initial reputation on Broadway, beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the 1950s. Her stage work included appearances in productions such as "The Doughgirls," "Romantic Mr. Dickens," and "In the Summer House." On stage, she began developing her specialty in portraying sophisticated, upper-class women, roles that would later define her screen career as well.

Her theatrical work gave her valuable experience in comedy timing and character development that would serve her well throughout her later film and television career. While never becoming a Broadway star of the first magnitude, she established herself as a reliable performer who could effectively portray a specific type of character that was frequently in demand in American theater.

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Film Career

Schafer transitioned to Hollywood in the late 1930s, making her film debut in "The Body Disappears" (1941). Over the next two decades, she appeared in supporting roles in numerous films, including "Reunion in France," "Keep Your Powder Dry," "The Snake Pit," "Payment on Demand," and "Female on the Beach."

While rarely given leading roles, Schafer became a familiar presence in Hollywood productions, typically playing society matrons, wealthy divorcées, or women of privilege. Her distinctive voice and mannerisms made her an effective choice for these specialized character parts. She worked with significant directors including George Cukor, Jean Negulesco, and Douglas Sirk, demonstrating her professional reputation within the industry.

Television Stardom

Schafer's career took its most significant turn when she was cast as Mrs. Lovey Howell in "Gilligan's Island," which aired from 1964 to 1967. The role of the millionaire's wife stranded on a deserted island with her husband (played by Jim Backus) and five other castaways gave Schafer unprecedented visibility after decades as a supporting player.

As Mrs. Howell, Schafer created a memorable character whose attempts to maintain high-society standards on a primitive island created much of the show's comedy. Her performance was characterized by exaggerated refinement, distinctive vocal patterns, and impeccable comic timing. The chemistry between Schafer and Backus as the Howells provided one of the show's most reliable sources of humor.

Though "Gilligan's Island" ran for only three seasons, it entered into perpetual syndication, ensuring that Schafer's portrayal of Mrs. Howell would be seen by generations of viewers long after the show's original run. She reprised the role in the various reunion films and animated spin-offs that followed the original series.

Gilligan's Island Salary & Royalties

Natalie and her cast-mates were paid a salary of $750 per week while working on the show. That's the same as making around $7,300 per week in today's dollars. Assuming each season required 40 weeks (there were 36 episodes in season one, 32 in season two, and 30 in season three), that worked out to an annual income of $30,000. That's the same as making around $300,000 in today's dollars.

Contrary to popular belief, the cast members did not receive any significant income in the form of residuals. As Dawn Wells explained to a reporter in 2014:

"A misconception is that we must be wealthy, rolling in the dough, because we got residuals. We didn't really get a dime… Sherwood Schwartz, our producer, reportedly made $90 million on the reruns alone."

Real Estate Investments

Natalie Schafer passed away on April 10, 1991 at age 90 from cancer at her primary home in Beverly Hills.

Natalie famously invested her television income into real estate. The investments made her a multi-millionaire. It was reported that she left part of her fortune to her Gilligan's Island co-star Dawn Wells and her dogs.

She bequeathed several million dollars to the Lillian Booth Actors Home in New York. A wing in the home was named in her honor.

Later Life and Legacy

Following "Gilligan's Island," Schafer continued to work in television, making guest appearances on shows including "The Brady Bunch," "Mayberry R.F.D.," and "Search for Tomorrow." She maintained her association with the Lovey Howell character while continuing to pursue other acting opportunities.

Known for her beauty regimen and personal style, Schafer cultivated a youthful appearance well into her senior years. Her personal life included a marriage to actor Louis Calhern from 1933 to 1942, and a long friendship with fellow actress Brenda Marshall. Schafer was also known as a savvy real estate investor who built considerable wealth through property investments in Beverly Hills.

Schafer died on April 10, 1991, from liver cancer. She requested that her age not be revealed upon her death, maintaining until the end the deliberate mystery about her background that had been part of her professional persona.

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