Thelma Lou and Barney parted ways when he left Mayberry to join the Raleigh police force and Knotts left the series after five years. Study Guides . Before the hit television family series "Father Knows Best" came along, Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone. 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. That could have been part of it. But THAT is the more intense "dark side" of Andy Taylor, the flip-side. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. Do you wish we could have seen more of the character?Contents of this video00:00 - Intro0:39 - Elinor Donahue1:24 - The Andy Griffith Show2:41 - Why She Left the Andy Griffith Show4:00 - Try Surfshark VPN5:02 - The Reaction6:12 - Elinors Career7:29 - OutroLike this content? That could have been part of it. Andy Griffith was already in his mid-thirties when he began playing everyones favorite country sheriff on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960. This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. 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? Elinor, now 83 years old, went on to have an extremely successful career in both television and film. According to her IMDb page, she played Mariam in The Odd Couple, Kate Honeycutt in Days of Our Lives, had a small role in Pretty Woman, and much more. It was just very sweet.. Fans Miss the Character. Should be required viewing for any Andy Griffith fan. And Ellie won the seat. 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. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. So he would take things that were actually written for Miss Ellie and the sheriff and give them to your dad, Donahue told Karen. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. What makes literary nonfiction different from other nonfiction? 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 actress Elinor Donahue said she was not a happy camper while working on the show. Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as her . Why did Miss Ellie leave The Andy Griffith Show? 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. As of 2020, Elinor Donahue age is 83 years. 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. Plus, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. 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. She needed to take a break for her emotional health. 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. Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith's 1st love interest on the show. Very good. I just didnt feel right about it. DNA. Donahues character, Ellie, arrives in Mayberry having taken over the drugstore from her uncle, and eventually begins dating the towns sheriff, Andy Taylor. 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. But it didnt seem like Donahue ever had any sort of conflict with Andy Griffith or anyone else working on the show. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In 1968, she wed Tom Gallagher, a businessman, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2000. After playing a few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a star with Father Knows Best. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. It seemed like the conflict she experienced on the show that caused her to stay on for only a year came from herself. Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive? Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. Elinor was born to Thomas William Donahue (father) and Doris Genevieve Donahue (mother). 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. 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. 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]. 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. 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. This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they used. Watching it back, she seemed to blend in just fine with the show. I just didnt feel right about it. 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. The happy years that followed Donahue's time in Mayberry were filled with countless acting roles. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. The actress was born on 19 April 1937. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. In real life, Griffith and Helen Crump actor Aneta Corsaut were romantically involved, to the point that he asked her to marry him several times. So he was only a few months away from turning 60 when Matlock premiered on NBC. She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. She started performing on the radio at the age of two and was signed as a dancer and singer by Universal Studios after three years. According to celebritynetworth.com, Betty Lynns net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Then came her three-year contract with The Andy Griffith Show. While The Andy Griffith Show was full of eclectic characters in the fictional town of Mayberry, it was always fun to follow along with the love stories. For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. Betty was the oldest daughter of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings. That could have been part of it. Why did Barney leave the show? He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. 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. 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. 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. with Father Knows Best's Elinor Donahue as the druggist . She wasnt in the right space during the time and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life. She later ran for City Council in Episode 10, and . Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1 Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSKgHx6EQVOwNKVz1cR2hKVElinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on the first season of The Andy Griffith Show. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). 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. 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. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? Elinor Donahue, who portrayed Ellie, wanted off the show almost immediately. Chapin married an auto mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. 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. Most notably, Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his "peculiar nature" and relationships with women. View results. While Ellie isn't the first character to mysteriously disappear from a TV show (after it happened with Chuck Cunningham in Happy Days, they called doing this the Chuck Cunningham Syndrome), it can still feel unnerving to abruptly see them go without any explanation. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Ellie was portrayed by Elinor Donahue, fresh off of a six-year stint as the precocious teenage daughter Betty "Princess" Anderson on CBS's Father Knows Best. Father Knows Best Star, Billy Gray, Reminisces on Childhood Fame, An Unhappy Elinor Donahue Quit The Andy Griffith Show, Feeling There Was No Point In Continuing, Why Clint Eastwood Turned Down This Iconic Role, 74-Year-Old Susan Sarandon Says Why She Prefers Younger Men. 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. 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. 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. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. Why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith Show? There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. She became Andy Griffith's first longstanding girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) for one season, but then suffered a major slump. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. As she grew older, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was television where she found her best work. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. 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. She was last seen in the episode "The Guitar Player Returns." After that, we saw that her character sudd. Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. [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. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. 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. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. And I didnt read or anything. 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. Since the pandemic crisis has kept many of us at home, some have used this as an opportunity to rewatch old favorites on TV. Suddenly the fan mail became all about Ellie and Andy as a couple. 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 iconic The Andy Griffith Show and remember Ellie Walker from the first season? You might even remember her playing the friendly store manager Bridget in Pretty Woman, Lady Palimore inThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagementor eventhe "Orphanage woman" inFreddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. Elinor Donahue. was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show I was very, very touched by that. 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. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. Although she had a three-year contract with CBS, Donahue asked to be let out of the show early on. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. Elinor Donahue was perfection as Ellie Walker but she was not happy in the role and all her interviews over the years are vague about why. Donahue, who started her acting career when she was six in 1943, accomplished fame for her role as the elder daughter, Betty, on the '50s sitcom. People are so good to me," she said. She played lady druggist Ellie Walker on the CBS comedy for about a dozen episodes until her unexpected departure. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. I felt like a bird out of a nest. In fact, in a YouTube video, we learn that the writers had a lot of trouble writing lines for Andy because he "had so much trouble in a romantic setting." Is Ellie off of Andy Griffith Show still alive? Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). Andy was leaving the show following the end of its eighth . Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? 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