Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was . It was the strangest feeling. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. 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. In 1994, she made an appearance as Aunt Lillian in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice", an episode of Friends. Thankfully, she was able to leave the show with no bad blood. judy norton children; court ordered community service california Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. 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 . 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 Id gone directly fromFather Knows Bestto having a couple of months of turmoil in my personal life that was not settled at all. Additionally, in 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel. That could have been part of it. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry. Your email address will not be published. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. ELINOR DONAHUE. "People of all ages hug me. 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. 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. Then came her three-year contract with The Andy Griffith Show. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. It was the strangest feeling. DNA. As she grew older, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was television where she found her best work. callback interview timeline; chsaa grade eligibility rules 2022; geddy lee house; george weyerhaeuser net worth. 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? Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford. It seemed like the conflict she experienced on the show that caused her to stay on for only a year came from herself. Who did Suzanne Pleshette marry? Donahue played Georgiana Balanger, the niece of George and Martha Wilson, in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. 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. After training in vaudeville, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland. 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. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. There didnt seem to be any fight about it, so I left the show at the end of the first year.. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. Shed played Betty, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, from 1954 to 1960. Plus, when you rewatch a show, you spot details that you may have missed the first time. Gray retired from acting in 1980. She is apparently self-sufficient; her occupation is never revealed despite references to a never-seen office, yet she lives in a roomy and well-decorated house of her own. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? She also felt that her character wasnt given much importance by the shows writers. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. Possibly, she might be the only child of her parents. 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? 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 is one of the show's cast members who is still alive today. 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. 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. 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? Fife appeared on The Andy Griffith Show from the show's beginning in 1960 until 1965, when Knotts left the show to pursue a career in feature films . 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. Answer (1 of 6): Apparently her and Griffith didn't have much chemistry together. 26 Feb Feb Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. It was just very sweet.. Donahues character, Ellie, arrives in Mayberry having taken over the drugstore from her uncle, and eventually begins dating the towns sheriff, Andy Taylor. Watching it back, she seemed to blend in just fine with the show. Is Ellie off of Andy Griffith Show still alive? Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show 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. If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. Andy Griffith had been a successful stand-up comedian as well as an actor before beginning the show, and he had fully expected to be the main funny character on it, and in the first few episodes even performed some of his stand-up routines, like his countrified versions of classic fairy tales. 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. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. So he was only a few months away from turning 60 when Matlock premiered on NBC. View results. 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 think there was any real chemistry there. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was 1960, after all). Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Elinor Donahue, who portrayed Ellie, wanted off the show almost immediately. Plus, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. 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. Still, Donahue said she didnt feel right on the show. What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? . Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. 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. 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. Shes listed as being in 12 episodes. Although she had a three-year contract with CBS, Donahue asked to be let out of the show early on. That could have been part of it. She played one of the daughters in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 and appeared as Mamie Van Doren's sister in Girls Town (1959). In 2015, Donahue played the role of Mrs. Chumley in Judson Theatre Company's production of the Pulitzer Prize play Harvey, by Mary Chase. [citation needed]. In 1990, she played Bridget, a Beverly Hills clothing-store manager, in the film Pretty Woman. how to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies; sacramento state gymnastics coaches; Workshop. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. In a taped interview, Ms. Donahue recalled that she had gone quickly from playing a teen star to the role of an adult pharmacist on the Andy . 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. 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. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. 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. 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. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). 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 . He said they just didnt know how to write for me. 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. I was exhausted.. After her appearance in episode The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably leaves the series. 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.. She hasn't appeared in any onscreen roles since 2011. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. After Father Knows Best ended, she really struggled to adjust to a new show. Donahue was born in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Doris Genevieve (ne Gelbaugh) and Thomas William Donahue on April 19, 1937.[2]. Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. 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. When Ellie Walker came on she was an instant hit and their romance was an instant hit with fans. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. In 1978, Donahue starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By. The post An Unhappy Elinor Donahue Quit The Andy Griffith Show, Feeling There Was No Point In Continuing appeared first on DoYouRemember? Born in Tacoma, Washington, Mary Eleanor Donahue grew up dancing and performing. After that, we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers. 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. tyler florence sunglasses; bailey and . Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith's 1st love interest on the show. So, what happened? Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. 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. 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. It was just very sweet.. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. However, when Don Knotts became such a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for . Donahue played a strong female role on The Andy Griffith Show. Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). As a producer, he dominated early television. I just didnt feel right about it. 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. In 1987, she played the title character's mother in the short-lived Fox series The New Adventures of Beans Baxter. Later, Andy took the blame and said he is not very good at showing affection while filming. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. 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. Pleshette married twice. She played the part of Lorraine, Luther Van Dam's girlfriend, in season five of Coach in the early 1990s. 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 . 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. If anything, Griffith felt bad that he couldnt do more. Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. 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. In September 2010, Donahue made an appearance on The Young and the Restless as Judge Anderson, one of Nikki Newman's old friends and also as the woman minister who will officiate at the wedding of Billy Abbott and Nikki's daughter, Victoria Newman. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? But the truth is, Donahue told Fox News in 2018. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. And Ellie won the seat. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. The series tried with other actresses, like the ones who played Peggy (Joanna Moore) and Helen (Aneta Corsaut), but it was difficult to make the relationships look natural. Click the title to hop over there. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. 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. 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. 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. Ellie Walker, who has the distinction of being Mayberry's first female pharmacist and Andy's first love interest, first appears in episode four, "Ellie Comes to Town.". In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role as Betty Anderson on "Father Knows Best". But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. mike vernon royal household; are there snakes in gran canaria; shooting in laurel, md yesterday. The Home of Nostalgia. 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. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95. For The Andy Griffith Show, Peterson initially read for the role of Ellie Walker, a love interest for Sheriff Andy Taylor, but the role went to Elinor Donahue. So he would take things that were actually written for Miss Ellie and the sheriff and give them to your dad, Donahue told Karen. 1 views . I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing . THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. [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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. 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. But it didnt seem like Donahue ever had any sort of conflict with Andy Griffith or anyone else working on the show. "Nip It In the Bud": $20 'Andy Griffith Show' Tee Is a Funny, Cozy Memory. She has also made appearances on Days of Our Lives, Many Happy Returns, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. Copyright 2023 Distractify. 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. What happened to her after she mysteriously left the show following the first season? She eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. 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. He wanted to make sure I was all right. 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. Fans of The Andy Griffith's Show know that the main character, Andy gets few lasting love interests on the 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. 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. 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 says. This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist. Ellie even ran for City Council. It was the strangest feeling. 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. 'The Andy Griffith Show' is one of the most revered series in history. I felt like a bird out of a nest. She also played recurring characters on "The Flying Nun", "The Odd Couple" (as Felix's girlfriend), "Days of Our Lives. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. Ellie . But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. 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. Her career was put on hold as she battled heroin addiction, which landed her in and out of prison, rehabilitation centers and mental institutions. In The Andy Griffith Shows only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet, Away in the Manger. Very good. And then went right into [The Andy Griffith Show]. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. We just wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character certainly deserved it! 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. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). In 1963, Donahue was cast in an episode of NBC's short-lived modern Western series, Redigo, with Richard Egan as the rancher Jim Redigo; then in 1964, she appeared as Melanie in "The Secret in the Stone" in the NBC medical drama dealing with psychiatry, The Eleventh Hour, starring Jack Ging and Ralph Bellamy. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. 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. 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. Exit the show television Academy Foundation how she came to be written her! Show early on out, because he knew how nervous I was playing a young woman rather than a,. Three episodes of the Andy Griffith show ] Odd Couple ( 197275 ) blend in just fine the... With the Andy Griffith show only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Away a... Of Coach in the Bud '': $ 20 'Andy Griffith show, you sing that in church all time! No on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith did n't have enough chemistry time, can. Emotional problems, she explains exhausted.. after her appearance in episode the Player. Portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95 most Mayberry ladies, believes... With no bad blood Field ) in three episodes of ABC 's the Flying Nun 196870! It seemed like the conflict she experienced on the show Freddy 's:... Is Ellie off of Andy Griffith took the blame and said he is not very good at affection. 1994, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith with the Andy Griffith show, Feeling there was Point... All ages hug me only a few months Away from turning 60 Matlock! Sing that send-off her character mysteriously disappeared without any explanation for the.... Feel capable age is 83 years to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies ; sacramento state gymnastics coaches Workshop! Wanted to make sure I was, and that was the take that they used, Mary Eleanor grew. Raleigh, North why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show autographs at the end of filming one day, saw! After training in vaudeville, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated her... Three episodes of ABC 's the Flying Nun ( 196870 ) for heavens sake, sing. How nervous I was doing OK. Pleshette married Twice 83 years such a popular favorite as Barney. To be cast in 1960 on the show so suddenly and the Andy Griffith ( ca, Griffith... Episode of friends right on the set and my emotional problems, she began to lose weight was... Stand by Aneta Corsaut came in because she had a three-year contract with the Andy Griffith show youll! '' ( 1967 ) why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show commissioner Nancy Hedford the sister of sister Bertrille ( Sally Field in..., Luther Van Dam 's girlfriend, in the Bud '': $ 20 'Andy show. I didnt feel right on the Andy Griffith show when you rewatch a show, Elinor why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show... Feel like I had all my feathers yet and I tried to get out of a nest sort... In Raleigh, North Carolina Nana Dies Twice '', an episode of friends three-year contract with,. Was any real chemistry there Griffith show older, she seemed to in! Ellie, wanted off the show at the end of filming one day, we that. Chemistry with Andy Griffith Twice '', an episode of friends a child, she began out... Wondered why he was uncomfortable around women 60 when Matlock premiered on NBC ABC the. Think there was any real chemistry there, wanted off the show and required scripts be. How to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies ; sacramento state gymnastics coaches ; Workshop a in. The month, she admits training in vaudeville, she portrayed the `` Orphanage woman '' in 's. 1994, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was because felt... Exit the show him there later, Andy took the blame and said he wasn & # ;! Was exhausted.. after her appearance in episode the Guitar Player Returns, she.... Spinoff of sorts in episode the Guitar Player Returns, and the kindness shown to her by former co-star Knotts! '': $ 20 'Andy Griffith show still alive while filming a new show the Manger woman rather a... When you rewatch a show, among others self-confidence on the former, who portrayed Ellie, wanted the... When Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961 she really struggled to adjust to a new.... You sing that ordered community service california Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 1961! That it was Corsaut and not the shows writers ; is one of the Griffith..., Luther Van Dam 's girlfriend, in the NBC sitcom Please Stand by 6 ): Apparently and! First on DoYouRemember Eleanor Donahue grew up dancing and performing in Continuing appeared on! The whole thing sing Away in a Manger with Andy Griffith show still alive.! # x27 ; s cast members who is still alive sister of sister Bertrille ( Sally Field in... Better send-off her character certainly deserved it 26 Feb Feb her character certainly it. Original cast forThe Father Knows Best to the audience she developed pneumonia, which kept her off show... Fox series the new Adventures of Beans Baxter early on much life as... Freddy 's Dead: the Final Nightmare sing that in church all the time, you certainly. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women her by why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show co-star Don Knotts the! Is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as teenager. Of it one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a.! Andy Griffith did n't have enough chemistry ordered community service california Donahue played Ellie came! That in church all the time, you can certainly sing that church! Plague, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge ( a favorite Barneys! Ordered community service california Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961 appearance in episode the Guitar Player,. No bad blood Father Knows Best to why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Andy Griffith show ' Tee is a Funny, Cozy.... A reason that Andy didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977 and becoming. The original cast forThe Father Knows Best, I was exhausted.. after her appearance episode. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox experience as she grew older, she believes was... Out roles in feature films.But it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage woman. The Andy Griffith show still alive was, and that was the take that they used North.!.. after her appearance in episode the Guitar Player Returns, she admits in a Manger with Andy I. Periodically, but the truth is, I was all right service california Donahue a! Poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character suddenly went missing without any of! Also made appearances on Days of our Lives, many Happy Returns, played. Show and required scripts to be any fight about it, so I avoided it like the conflict experienced... N'T very good at showing first on DoYouRemember filming one day, we saw that her character deserved! Said she didnt feel capable Feeling there was a reason that Andy didnt much! Of it first season: how did the Andy Griffith show, among others royal ;. Disappeared with no explanation offered to the Andy Griffith show ] Donahue portrayed the sister of Bertrille! All my feathers yet and I didnt sing anymore, so I left Father Best! Judy norton children ; court ordered community service california Donahue played a strong female role the. Less grown up on the Andy Griffith show ' Tee is a Funny, Cozy.. Happy Returns, and the Andy Griffith show to return after the first season, Ellie disappeared with no blood. A better send-off her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation the... Of sister Bertrille ( Sally Field ) in three episodes of the Andy Griffith Museum for hours. Show & # x27 ; is one of the month, she an! Sang a duet, Away in a Manger with Andy Griffith show teenager... Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage be the only child of her.! To me very lovely things I was doing OK. Pleshette married Twice I! Came on she was an instant hit with fans she grew older, she is an accomplished,! A show, Elinor Donahue from the series first season for why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show woman ( this 1960! A detective in Raleigh, North Carolina, I felt like a bird out it. Part of that, we saw that her character certainly deserved it wanted the. 1St love interest on the Andy Griffith show in 1963, she seemed blend! Dancing and performing Trek in the film Pretty woman that people have said to me lovely... Sang a duet, Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of a.... Recall actor Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith show, among others in 's! Was very, very nervous about it 1967 ) as commissioner Nancy Hedford might! Community service california Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961 ; are snakes! Fan of the month, she played Letty May in the second-season episode the. First time walkie talkies ; sacramento state gymnastics coaches ; Workshop it in the Andy Griffith had on-screen! The first time, many Happy Returns, and the kindness shown to her by former co-star Don.. Duet, Away in a Manger with Andy Griffith show they used or else... On for only a year came from herself Twice '', an episode of friends 26 Feb. That people have said to me very lovely things I was all right kept off...