'Gilligan's Island' Star Dawn Wells 'Appreciative' of GoFundMe Campaign That Raised $195,000
The actress said she owes about $200,000 to the IRS.
"Gilligan's Island" star Dawn Wells is thrilled by all the help she's received since it was revealed she is in financial trouble.
Her longtime friend and hairstylist Dugg Kirkpatrick set up a GoFundMe page in August called "Help Dawn Wells," writing that “Dawn needs $194,000 to alleviate penalties by the IRS."
The page raised more than $195,000 for the struggling actress, who told Inside Edition that she's going to spend the money paying back what she owes.
"It is scary," Wells, 79, said of the thousands she racked up in debt.
Wells said she was initially mortified by her friend's efforts to raise money.
"I am not dead broke," Wells said. "... I can handle it. I can get a job and go to work. ... I didn't ask him to do that."
Wells attributes the success of the GoFundMe page to Mary Ann Summers, her "Gilligan's Island" character.
"Thank you for caring," she said. "... I'm appreciative."
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