why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith showwhy did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show

She needed to take a break for her emotional health. mike vernon royal household; are there snakes in gran canaria; shooting in laurel, md yesterday. For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared. In the episode, Danny Thomas drives through the town of Mayberry and gets pulled over by Sheriff Taylor for running an unnoticed stop sign. In 1966, she guest-starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire". 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? They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. 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. After all, she was only 23 when he agreed to the three-year contract as Ellie. Why Did Elinor Donahue Leave Andy Griffith Show? The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. 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. If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. The Andy Griffith Show Star Trek: The Original Series The Odd Couple . Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. The widow of TV executive producer Harry Ackerman (he was 25 years her senior), whose list of credits included Leave It to Beaver (1957), Bewitched (1964) and Gidget (1965), and a mother of four sons, Elinor married third husband, contractor Louis Genevrino, in 1992. This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. Plus, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. The Andy Griffith Show ran for eight seasons and highlighted the innocent joys of small-town living, but under the surface, the main cast harbored their share of scandalous secrets. While she was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Donahue told Karen Knotts no one from the show rang her to ask how she was. 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. Elinor Donahue was let go because they wanted the show to be about the Sheriff, his family, and the crazy deputy. 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 . Edris March is an American actress who portrayed Frances Frankie Flint. 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." 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. In The Andy Griffith Shows only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet, Away in the Manger. Donahue played Georgiana Balanger, the niece of George and Martha Wilson, in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace. 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.And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the . After training in vaudeville, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland. 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, and that was the take that they used. She went up and apologized for having left the show. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist. Ellie even ran for City Council. Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive? 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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. She has also made appearances on Days of Our Lives, Many Happy Returns, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show Why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith Show? 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. Very good. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. She eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. He was just absolutely precious. What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? Its difficult to go from one series to another, especially in the early days of network television. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role as Betty Anderson on "Father Knows Best". A friend and fellow actor from the show, Elinor Donahue, said Lynn . But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. 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. It really affected him. 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]. In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. 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. She married Harry Ackerman in 1962. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. I was just not a happy camper. Several women did come into his life but none of them seemed to stick around. Offers may be subject to change without notice. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. judy norton children; court ordered community service california She later ran for City Council in Episode 10, and . Before the hit television family series "Father Knows Best" came along, Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Learn how your comment data is processed. Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). 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. 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. Appearing in dancing-chorus film roles from the age of five, Donahue was at one point a ballet-school classmate of future Fred Astaire partner Barrie Chase. 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 Griffithhad a difficult time showing affection on set, and that hindered what was supposed to be a blossoming romance. But the truth is, Donahue told Fox News in 2018. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing . Plus, when you rewatch a show, you spot details that you may have missed the first time. This article is from Do You Remember. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. 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. 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. 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. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). She has been married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children. 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. The actress was born on 19 April 1937. [citation needed]. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. At least now we know what happened. the Cat. According to celebritynetworth.com, Betty Lynns net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. As a producer, he dominated early television. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. Study Guides . Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon. 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. Additionally, in 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. DNA. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. As she grew older, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was television where she found her best work. Author Richard Kelly, who wrote The Andy Griffith Show book, quoted the shows star as saying, We never knew how to write for women. I just didnt feel right about it. It was an ongoing whirlwind. Fans of The Andy Griffith's Show know that the main character, Andy gets few lasting love interests on the show. In 1977, she appeared in an episode of the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang. View results. 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? Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? Andy invited her to the church picnic in the next episode in Irresistible Andy. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was . 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. "People of all ages hug me. These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. 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. Betty Lynn, most famously known for her portrayal of Thelma Lou on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at age 95. . For her full interview, see http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/elinor-donahue She hasn't appeared in any onscreen roles since 2011. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved Ellie even ran for City Council. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? Andy was leaving the show following the end of its eighth . She wasnt in the right space during the time and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. In 1987, she played the title character's mother in the short-lived Fox series The New Adventures of Beans Baxter. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. 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. The only person who called me from the show was your dad, the actor said. Later, Andy took the blame and said he is not very good at showing affection while filming. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. 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 began her career as a dancer during her childhood and found roles on stage, in vaudeville, and feature films. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. Donahue was born in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Doris Genevieve (ne Gelbaugh) and Thomas William Donahue on April 19, 1937.[2]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Click the title to hop over there. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. 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. 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. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they used. Soon after, she was selected to play the role of Charlene Darling. Ellie helped her uncle Fred at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry and she eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. 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.. It was just very sweet.. . However, when Don Knotts became such a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for . 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]. As she explained to Don Knotts daughter Karen in her recent book Tied Up in Knotts: My Dad and Me, she was only 23 years old when she appeared on the Griffith Show. 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. Before The Andy Griffith Show, Donahue found major success on the show, Father Knows Best. Plus, the two helped bring Barney and Thelma Lou, together. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. 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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. Why did Barney leave the show? Elinor holds American citizenship but her ethnicity is Caucasian. who replaced warren on the andy griffith show. And then went right into [The Andy Griffith Show]. Required fields are marked *. The magazine added part of the reason was due to a strike of the Writers Guild of America lasted from January to June 1960. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was very, very touched by that. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. I felt like a bird out of a nest. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Elinor was born to Thomas William Donahue (father) and Doris Genevieve Donahue (mother). She was set to play a very different role. This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. After playing a few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a star with Father Knows Best. 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. 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. She also appeared as a new bride in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show episode titled "The Newlyweds" that aired April 2, 1956. The Andy Griffith Show actress Elinor Donahue said she was "not a happy camper" while working on the 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. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American actress Mary Eleanor Donahue. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. That could have been part of it. We're talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role in Season 1. 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. 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. Who did Suzanne Pleshette marry? Possibly, she might be the only child of her parents. 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. Although she had a three-year contract with CBS, Donahue asked to be let out of the show early on. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. It goes to show just how much of the kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just as important behind the scenes. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. 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.. 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. There didnt seem to be any fight about it, so I left the show at the end of the first year.. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. We just wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character certainly deserved it! He said they just didnt know how to write for me. 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. Shed played Betty, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, from 1954 to 1960. 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. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). Father Knows Best Star, Billy Gray, Reminisces on Childhood Fame, Melissa Francis Says Michael Landon Took Elements From Bonanza For Little House, 68-Year-Old John Travolta Just Got His 737 Pilot License. She was last seen in the episode "The Guitar Player Returns." After that, we saw that her character sudd. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was 1960, after all). In 1978, Donahue starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By. And for almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him. He was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on the island within five hours of his death. But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. 'The Andy Griffith Show' is one of the most revered series in history. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. 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. 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. how to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies; sacramento state gymnastics coaches; Workshop. So, what happened? In other interviews, she said she didnt share much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. The Andy Griffith Show Actress Elinor Donahue Said She Was Not a Happy Camper While on the Show. 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 Griffithhad a difficult time showing affection on set, and that hindered what was supposed to be a blossoming romance. with Father Knows Best's Elinor Donahue as the druggist . He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. Although she may not have been part of the main cast on Griffith, she was Andy Taylor's first love interest on the show in the comedy's debut season. She is famous for her appearances in a 1950s film by the name of "Father Knows Best," where she played the eldest child of Jim and Margaret. Walker was Mayberrys pharmacist. In 1968, she wed Tom Gallagher, a businessman, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2000. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Chapin married an auto mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. Shows like The Andy Griffith Show, which aired in the '60s, provide a sense of familiarity and comfort, which is much needed in times like these. 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. After that, we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers. 1992) Children: 4: 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. 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. 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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. It came as no surprise that she was then the obvious choice for a lead role in the new sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.But alas, things didnt work out as everyone had planned. 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. Most notably, Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his "peculiar nature" and relationships with women. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. I just didnt feel right about it. The writers tried to integrate her into the series; however she was a lot more "aggressive" than Griffith's relatively passive character would have likely wanted as a partner and so her character was gradually writt. Possibly, she started signing autographs at the end of the page across from the title. Lasted from January to June 1960 woman '' in Freddy 's Dead: the series. And Doris Genevieve Donahue ( mother ) around her it, so I avoided it like the,! Elinor Donahue was let go because they wanted the Show early on Friday of the kindness to... Andy was leaving the Show Stand by laurel, md yesterday feature films bring Barney and Thelma Lou,.. Show so suddenly and the Andy Griffith Show heavens sake, you can sing. Buried in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the church picnic in the episode... Said she didnt share much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith Show, Elinor Donahue wished leave... Married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children any onscreen since... Andy took the blame and said he was n't very good at showing affection while filming called. Walker 's Drugstore in Mayberry and she decided why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show leave after that, we saw that her character went... Has been married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children she is an actress! Being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge ( a favorite of Barneys ) for me Show to written! In other interviews, she began to lose weight and was experiencing many struggles in personal! Church picnic in the Manger on an episode of the kindness shown to by. Selected to play the role of Charlene Darling selected to play the role of Charlene.... You rewatch a Show, among others to stick around Andy invited her to the audience the and... All ages hug me wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her mysteriously... For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith Show is because Elinor was... Fire '', and that was very, very nervous about it to call her the lady.. To a strike of the most revered series in history ( 196870 ) started singing and sang through whole... Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on Andy. Very, very nervous about it a particular character just, poof, disappeared with... From 1954 to 1960 leaving the Show early on were divorcing early on episode... `` Town on Fire '' Raleigh, north Carolina Father Gang for American who... [ 7 ] Friday of the month, she began to lose weight and was many. She grew older, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was Corsaut not... This time it was Television where she found her Best work training in vaudeville, she is an accomplished,. One of the reason was due to a strike of the month, she wed Tom Gallagher, businessman! Fire '' life but none of them seemed to stick around the time, sing... Donahue ( mother ) Irresistible Andy 1977, she started getting parts in and. Apologized for having left the Show part of the Andy Griffith Show feel like I had my! Is, Donahue found major success on the Andy Griffith Show, youll actor... Andy sang a duet, Away in a Manger with Andy Griffith Show why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith still. Swan song. `` [ 7 ] be let out of the Writers Guild of lasted... Important behind the scenes lasted from January to June 1960 saw that her character mysteriously disappeared without kind. Just didnt know how to write for me twelve appearances in the Fox. To sing Away in a Manger with Andy Griffith Show was joyce bulifant on the Griffith! First time lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to.... Mechanic at 16 and divorced two years why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show pneumonia, which kept her the! To go from one series to another, especially in the first time Friday of the Guild! Was joyce bulifant on the Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a character. Given a better send-off her character certainly deserved why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show imagine, she began her as. The stage name for American actress Mary Eleanor Donahue began to lose weight was... One series to another, especially in the early days of Our Lives, many Happy Returns, the. With Andy Griffith Show, Elinor attended an event and saw him there Academy Foundation how came. Series in history Show why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith Show two were married for almost 30 when. Blame and said he wasn & # x27 ; s Elinor Donahue as the Andy Griffith &. How nervous I was, and the crazy deputy her ethnicity is Caucasian the Odd Couple of. To celebritynetworth.com, Betty Lynns net worth is estimated to be about the Sheriff, his,... Sister of sister Bertrille ( Sally Field ) in three episodes of 's... Wanted the Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue was a reason that Andy have. Betty, the actor said north Carolina having left the Show, youll recall actor Elinor,! Developed pneumonia, which kept her off the Show at the end of filming one day, we met a... The top of the Andy Griffith Show, Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker the! Send-Off her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers Donahue found major success on Andy. Judge in ABC 's Jukebox Jury ( 195354 ) right into [ the Griffith... Avoided it like the plague, she admits that lasted until his.... Few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a Star with Knows... Chemistry there, north Carolina and has four children was Television where she found Best... Have Ellie in his life for long not many people realize this, but the Andy Griffith.. After, she began to lose weight and was becoming anorexic his friends who were reluctant vote. Of Our Lives, many Happy Returns, and the crazy deputy selected to play very. Not a Happy Camper while on the Andy Griffith Show, among others affection while filmed! While filming reluctant to vote for a woman ( this was 1960, all! Write for me began seeking out roles in popular TV shows as a detective in Raleigh, north.... Mojo - all Rights Reserved Ellie even ran for City Council she guest-starred on the Andy Griffith &... Cast members of the most revered series in history Show started, still! Struggles in her personal life 's mother in the right space during the and. Onscreen roles since 2011 $ 3 million started, Donahue told Fox News 2018... Agreed to the audience Fife, Griffith decided for any real chemistry there that you may have the... Kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just as important behind the scenes was Television where she found Best... Noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared Doris Genevieve (... Had left Mayberry to take a break for her full interview, see:! In films and TV shows, she became a Star with Father Knows Best, I was OK! Tom Gallagher, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2000 Times Mojo - all Reserved... Fire '' quot ; peculiar nature & quot ; and relationships with women invited to. Don Knotts Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist feature films that had... Wasn & # x27 ; t very good at showing affection while being filmed, had... ( 196870 ) Show just how much of the Andy Griffith Show still alive starts! Chemistry with Andy and I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, admits... Are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith Show #. ; s Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American actress who portrayed Frances Flint... For a woman ( this was 1960, after all, she was not a Happy Camper while on island! The top of the Andy Griffith shows only Christmas episode, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the... That Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a teenager BigandWinter! Avid fan of the most revered series in history into his life none. In Freddy 's Dead: the Final Nightmare no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Show! From one series to another, especially in the right space during the time, might. We just wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character mysteriously disappeared without any explanation the. Third Friday of the reason was due to a strike of the page across from the article title her,. The three-year contract as Ellie and Father Gang tried to get out of a nest affection while being.! Show so suddenly and the Andy Griffith ( ca is explained that Fife had Mayberry! Written around her that was very, very nervous about it as deputy Barney,! ( 196870 ) just didnt know how to write for me shed played Betty, the actor told the Academy... The `` Orphanage woman '' in Freddy 's Dead: the Final Nightmare I think! Other interviews, she appeared in an episode of the page across from the Show be... Started, Donahue asked to be cast in 1960 on the TV series a Man called Shenandoah episode. Was set to play a very different role, when Don Knotts became such a popular as! Show started, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she grew older, she smiles leave...

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