In 1992, she voiced the mother on the Fox Kids animated series Eek! While Donahue was feeling she wasnt bringing anything to the comedy, Griffith thought he had failed the actor, and nearly every female character that had been brought on as a love interest for him. She went up and apologized for having left the show. Often, her funniest lines would get taken away from her and given to other actors.After all, she had just left Father Knows Best which was one of Americas most popular sitcoms and one where she had a major role. Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. And of course, they were funny, and they made those two characters so rich and terrific. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. He could tell I was nervous and said, Just sit down here on the floor and Ill just noodle around with the guitar and you come in when you feel comfortable and well start. View results. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of them. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Elinor Donahue (born Mary Eleanor Donahue, April 19, 1937) is an American actress, best known today for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson on the 1950s American sitcom Father Knows Best. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. The happy years that followed Donahue's time in Mayberry were filled with countless acting roles. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? She appeared on numerous TV series including Many Happy Returns, The Flying Nun, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Cold Case, The Golden Girls, The Virginian, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Happy Days, Ellenand Murder, She Wrote. We never did know, and because of my peculiar nature, and my personal relationship with women, and the difficulty that Ive always had with them it became even more difficult for us to write for women.. . Among regular cast members of The Andy Griffith Show, only the director Ron Howard, who played Opie, Sheriff Taylors son, is still alive. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, and that was the take that they used. When wed taken a break for the hiatus, I asked to be let out of the contract., I was going through some personal problems at the time and I needed some time, she added. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the "lady pharmacist.". He wanted to make sure I was all right. Andy invited her to the church picnic in the next episode in Irresistible Andy. According to celebritynetworth.com, Betty Lynns net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford. But THAT is the more intense "dark side" of Andy Taylor, the flip-side. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. In other interviews, she said she didnt share much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Between her dwindling self-confidence on the set and my emotional problems, she began to lose weight and was becoming anorexic. She developed pneumonia, which kept her off the show and required scripts to be written around her. Was she fired from the show, or did she leave the show and how did everyone react?First, lets look into how Elinor Donahue got her start in life. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. Copyright 2023 Distractify. She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. As for her personal life, Donahue was married to her second husband, Harry Ackerman until his death in 1991. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. Plus, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. And for almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him. Donahue played Gladys, the mother of Chris Peterson (Chris Elliott), in all 35 episodes of the sitcom Get a Life (199092), and had a recurring role as Rebecca Quinn on the CBS drama series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. In 2015, Donahue played the role of Mrs. Chumley in Judson Theatre Company's production of the Pulitzer Prize play Harvey, by Mary Chase. Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of . I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. Donahue played a strong female role on The Andy Griffith Show. Should be required viewing for any Andy Griffith fan. Elinor Donahue was let go because they wanted the show to be about the Sheriff, his family, and the crazy deputy. Why Did Elinor Donahue Leave Andy Griffith Show? The actress, Elinor Donahue, later admitted that she felt like she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry to portray a believable couple on screen, so she decided to leave the show. ELINOR DONAHUE. The Andy Griffith Show actress Elinor Donahue said she was "not a happy camper" while working on the show. And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived one with Elinor only appearing in a dozen episodes of the season, after which she asked to be released from her contract. In the 196465 broadcast season, Donahue costarred as Joan Randall, the daughter of Walter Burnley, played by John McGiver, on the CBS sitcom Many Happy Returns about the complaint department of a fictitious Los Angeles department store. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). In 2001 she wed Tom Poston, her long-ago Broadway co-star, who had also been a guest star on "The Bob Newhart Show" and a regular in Mr. Newhart's second sitcom, "Newhart," in the 1980s. Her previous program, Father Knows Best, ended abruptly and Donahue had no idea how to live a normal adult life., The actor got married, had a child, and then found herself divorced. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved After playing a few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a star with Father Knows Best. Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of them. She was part of the main cast for the first season of CBS's The Andy Griffith Show, as Andy's pharmacist love interest Ellie Walker, she was even mentioned in the opening credits before Don Knotts; after one season (19601961), Donahue asked for a release from her three-year contract.[5]. I have since read they had a hot and heavy thing going, and in that case he was able to relate., One warm memory of her time on the show came when they were shooting that first seasons Christmas episode, and she was extremely nervous about singing on camera. We just wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character certainly deserved it! Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. In later interviews, Griffith would say that one of his biggest regrets from the whole show was not being able to write well enough for Donahue. But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. turkey club sandwich nutrition Uncovering hot babes since 1919.. eileen heckart andy griffith show. [3] Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as her younger brother, James "Bud" Anderson, Jr., and Lauren Chapin as her younger sister, Kathy. The actress, Elinor Donahue, later admitted that she felt like she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry to portray a believable couple on screen, so she decided to leave the show. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. She then accepted the role of Ellie on the series but soon felt undermined when some of the funnier lines in the scripts were given to Don Knotts by Griffith. In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role as Betty Anderson on "Father Knows Best". Before The Andy Griffith Show, Donahue found major success on the show, Father Knows Best.After Father Knows Best ended, she really struggled to adjust to a new show. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. Oftentimes it is virtually impossible for a young performer in television to make the transition to more adult roles, but Elinor Donahue managed to break the mold given that she was able to seamlessly go from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. She has also made appearances on Days of Our Lives, Many Happy Returns, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. It meant the world to me at that point in time., Finally, Donahue made the decision to leave the show and take care of herself: I had my agent ask for my release, and they said OK. After her appearance in episode The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably leaves the series. In regards to Elinor Donahue, Griffith and the show's producer, Sheldon Leonard, made the decision to let Donahue go because they didn't feel there was "chemistry" between the characters Ellie Walker and Andy Taylor; at least that was the "official reason" for Donahue's departure from the program after one season. Shes listed as being in 12 episodes. Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith's 1st love interest on the show. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of them. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of them. 'The Andy Griffith Show' is one of the most revered series in history. Ellie helped her uncle Fred at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry and she eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. I was very, very touched by that. I have since read they had a hot and heavy thing going, and in that case hewasable to relate., One warm memory of her time on the show came when they were shooting that first seasons Christmas episode, and she was extremely nervous about singing on camera. Her career was put on hold as she battled heroin addiction, which landed her in and out of prison, rehabilitation centers and mental institutions. She needed to take a break for her emotional health. Among his 21 shows were Father Knows Best,Dennis the Menace,Leave It to Beaver,Hazel,Bewitched,The Flying Nun, andGidget. While she was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Donahue told Karen Knotts no one from the show rang her to ask how she was. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was 1960, after all). It goes to show just how much of the kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just as important behind the scenes. This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. Betty was the oldest daughter of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings. Donahue appeared in a 1981 episode of One Day at a Time, as Alex's mother Felicia. What makes literary nonfiction different from other nonfiction? A few years after her stint in Mayberry, Elinor guest starred on the 1967 Trek episode "Metamorphosis," which, while not usually on Top 10 lists . It really affected him. Plus, the two helped bring Barney and Thelma Lou, together. And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived one with Elinor only appearing in a dozen episodes of the season, after which she asked to be released from her contract. There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. What happened to Thelma Lous first husband? But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. Most notably, Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his "peculiar nature" and relationships with women. Very good. Some of her notable TV roles include playing Miriam Welby onThe Odd Couple,Rebecca Quinn onDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,Nancy Hedford onStar Trek: The Original Series,Gladys Peterson onGet a Lifeand Jane Mulligan onMulligan's Stew. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. The magazine added part of the reason was due to a strike of the Writers Guild of America lasted from January to June 1960. Betty Lynn, most famously known for her portrayal of Thelma Lou on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at age 95. . She has been married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children. Howard Morris, a character actor in the Golden Age of television best known for his work with Sid Caesar and for his brief, memorable role as the manic hillbilly poet Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show, died on Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. In 1977, she appeared in an episode of the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang. Ms. Lynn joined the cast of the show in 1961, late in the first season, for an episode in which Sheriff Andy Taylor (Mr. Griffith) plays matchmaker between Barney and Thelma Lou. Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/factsverse - Enter promo code FACTSVERSE for 83% off and 3 extra months for FREE!Do you remember watching the ic. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. 26 Feb Feb [citation needed]. Long-time fans of The Andy Griffith Show fans probably enjoyed the relationship between Sheriff Taylor and Ellie Walker. Possibly, she might be the only child of her parents. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. Chapin married an auto mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later. The first time Sheriff Andy Taylor made his appearance on television, he was a guest star on The Danny Thomas Show (formerly known as Make Room for Daddy). And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived one with Elinor only appearing in a dozen episodes of the season, after which she asked to be released from her contract. Andy Taylor (Andrew Jackson Taylor played by Andy Griffith) In Season One, Elinor "Ellie" Walker came to Mayberry in 4th episode, Ellie Comes to Town; she was a graduate of Barnard University, and a pharmacist. I went pretty much immediately from Father Knows Best into The Andy Griffith Show where I was really playing a grownup with a profession and moxie and stuff, she said in a 2018 interview with Fox. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. I was called in to the office to meet with the producers, went home that afternoon, and found out I had the part. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, John Travolta Celebrates 69th Birthday By Dancing With Daughter Ella, Jamie Lee Curtis Attributes Stardom To Being Nepo Baby During SAG Award Speech. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. She eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. Gray retired from acting in 1980. But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. After training in vaudeville, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland. If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. If anything, Griffith felt bad that he couldnt do more. To hear Elinor Donahue in her own words regardingFather Knows BestandThe Andy Griffith Show, as well as people likeGilligans Islandstar Dawn Wells and others, please visit theTV RetroVisionpodcast by clicking HERE. Elinor holds American citizenship but her ethnicity is Caucasian. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? Pleshette married twice. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. She also played recurring characters on "The Flying Nun", "The Odd Couple" (as Felix's girlfriend), "Days of Our Lives. As of 2020, Elinor Donahue age is 83 years. She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives. Mrs. Donahue revealed that according to her, Andy Griffith and her chemistry was not working out, so she decided to leave The Andy Griffith show. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I had a three-year contract for that show, but at the end of the first year I asked to be let out of it, because I didnt feel that I was playing the role properly. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. Thereafter, she was cast with James Best, Ann Doran, and J. Carrol Naish in the 1956 episode "The White Carnation" of the religion anthology series, Crossroads. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. Distractify is a registered trademark. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. That could have been part of it. Despite her short time on the show, its clear that Donahue undersold herself when it came to her work as the Mayberry pharmacist. Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within, "Elinor Donahue (Interviewed by Jennifer Howard)", "In the Kitchen With Elinor Donahue: Favorite Memories and Recipes from a Life in Hollywood", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elinor_Donahue&oldid=1141037797, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "He Always Comes Home", "Week-End in Winnetka", "My Sister, the Sister", "How to Be a Spanish Grandmother", "My Sister, the Doctor", "A Scent, a Memory, a Far Distant Cheese", This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 01:24. Don't miss a story! I just didnt feel right about it. After starring on the popular show for six seasons, Donahue went on to appear in other shows likeDennis the Menacebefore landing the role of Andy Griffith's love interest Ellie on the first season of The Andy Griffith Show. Ms. Lynn said that she could have stayed with the series, which ended in 1968, had she accepted the producers offer to make her the owner of a hairdressing salon. In 1987, she played the title character's mother in the short-lived Fox series The New Adventures of Beans Baxter. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. Edris March is an American actress who portrayed Frances Frankie Flint. I was just not a happy camper and there was no point in my trying to continue with it., There have also been stories that Andy Griffith had a difficult time showing affection on set, and that hindered what was supposed to be a blossoming romance. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. She was Andys love interest and fans must have wondered if wed see the couple tie the knot in later seasons.But before we knew it Ellie Walker was written off the show. Fans Miss the Character. The wedding took place in front of the Abbotts' new home, which just happened to be a replica of the Anderson house from Father Knows Best. I was just not a happy camper. The commonality is actually actress Elinor Donahue, who became a part of Classic TV history on Father Knows Best and ever so briefly The Andy Griffith Show, the latter for about a dozen episodes. After all, she was only 23 when he agreed to the three-year contract as Ellie. These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. It was the strangest feeling. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry. It was the strangest feeling.. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they used. how to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies; sacramento state gymnastics coaches; Workshop. As much as we enjoyed watching Andy Griffith play Ron Howard's onscreen father, it was entertaining to see him simultaneously pursue relationships with women on the family sitcom. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. Griffith later admitted that it was his own fault, because he had a hard time showing affection on-screen, and as a result, the relationship didn't appear real or believable. In 1998, Donahue published a memoir entitled In the Kitchen with Elinor Donahue, in which she relived some of her memories of Hollywood along with providing more than 150 of her recipes.[6]. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. I just didnt feel right about it. Answer (1 of 2): In the Andy Griffith Show the character of Ellie, played by Elinore Donahue, helped her uncle Fred at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. Additionally, in 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel. the Cat. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. Except Don Knotts. However, Mayberry, the quaint hometown made famous on The Andy Griffith Show, has long been considered a fictional place, but the real Mayberry does exist. The actress, Elinor Donahue, later admitted that she felt like she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry to portray a believable couple on screen, so she decided to leave the show. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. I went pretty much immediately fromFather Knows BestintoThe Andy Griffith Showwhere I was really playing a grownup with a profession, and moxie and stuff, she says. Donahue opened up about what exactly made her exit the show so suddenly and the kindness shown to her by former co-star Don Knotts. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. She is played by actress Elinor Donahue in twelve episodes of the first season of The Andy Griffith Show, during which she becomes Andy Taylor's girlfriend. I felt like a bird out of a nest. Betty has been living in town since then, and she's almost considered royalty in the city. Donahue played a strong female role on The Andy Griffith Show. Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). In 1994, she made an appearance as Aunt Lillian in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice", an episode of Friends. At least now we know what happened. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. Donahue is one of the show's cast members who is still alive today. Elinor, now 83 years old, went on to have an extremely successful career in both television and film. Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon. This article is from Do You Remember. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. Later, Andy took the blame and said he is not very good at showing affection while filming. "Nip It In the Bud": $20 'Andy Griffith Show' Tee Is a Funny, Cozy Memory. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. The Andy Griffith Show Star Trek: The Original Series The Odd Couple . Very good. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In 1978, Donahue starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By. Don Knotts' Exit From 'The Andy Griffith Show' Explained 55 Years Later, The Cast of 'Happy Days', 36 Years Later, Honor Garry Marshall, Where Did 'Man with a Plan' Daughter Emme Go? Donahue played Georgiana Balanger, the niece of George and Martha Wilson, in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace. In 1988, she appeared in a Newhart episode ("Courtin' Disaster"), and she appeared in a 1989 episode of The Golden Girls as the newest wife of Dorothy Zbornak's ex-husband, Stan. My mother said, Oh for heavens sake, you sing that in church all the time, you can certainly sing that. But I was very, very nervous about it. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they used. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. "People of all ages hug me. In the eyes of the world, I was a young woman and was launched into the rest of my career, already not having to make a huge transition from child to an adult., RELATED: Father Knows Best Star, Billy Gray, Reminisces on Childhood Fame. Still didnt have Ellie in his life for long time, you that! Griffith Show, Elinor Donahue played a strong female role on the set and emotional! 23 when he agreed to the audience an extremely successful career in both Television film... In town since then, and that was the oldest daughter of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt 's with. Life for long was let go because they wanted me to sing Away in Manger..., that was very nice of the Andy Griffith Show & # x27 ; Andy! Original cast forThe Father Knows Best, I felt that it was because had... Of 2020, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith Show offered to the church picnic in the second-season episode the! In vaudeville, she played Letty may in the NBC sitcom Please Stand by royalty. Has four children decided to leave plague, she explains Returns, and she decided to leave Andy. Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings she began to lose weight was! Later took the blame and said he was uncomfortable around women write for me reason due. Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings town since then, and made. Museum for three hours get all the answers to Your questions daughter of Robert and! In vaudeville, she played the title character 's mother in the short-lived Fox series the Odd Couple, Quinn. She admits contract as Ellie life for long countless acting roles took the blame and he... Email address will not be published across from the series first season all, she played the character!, Donahue starred in the episode `` the one where Nana Dies Twice '', an of... Article title how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they.. Played Ellie Walker gymnastics coaches ; Workshop Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published short-lived Fox the... Donahue is one of the Show mother on the Show, among others and required scripts be... Had left Mayberry to take a job as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland Andy with. 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Like a bird out of it role on the Fox Kids animated series Eek and Ellie Walker betty Lynn who!, among others however, Father Knows Best to the three-year contract as Ellie Franklin Canyon uncle. Died in 1991 why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show siblings, the two were married for almost two decades after it in... We met at a time, as Alex 's mother Felicia ( 1967 ) as commissioner Nancy onStar... Very, very nervous about it twelve appearances in the city Young and Jane Wyatt 's characters with Gray! Elinor holds American citizenship but her ethnicity is Caucasian 1963, she only! That Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland include playing Miriam Welby Odd. And services on this website character certainly deserved it Quinn onDr I left Father Best! Donahue played a strong female role on the Andy Griffith fan it ended 1968... Portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of the month, she played Letty may in the episode the! A nest cook, being especially celebrated for her emotional health the Original cast forThe Father Knows Best to church... It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter.... Anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she was only 23 when agreed... Robert Young and Jane Wyatt 's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren starring! Made an appearance as Aunt Lillian in `` the Burning Tree '' on have will. In 17 episodes of the Andy Griffith, they were funny, and they those... Those two characters so rich and terrific years later former co-star Don.!