Faring better than she had on The Andy Griffith Show, Elinor appeared on the first TV version of The Odd Coupleas Miriam Welby (the last name offered up in tribute to Robert Young's popular role . Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. Ellie . Ellie even ran for City Council. 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. It was the strangest feeling. 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.. Author Richard Kelly, who wrote The Andy Griffith Show book, quoted the shows star as saying, We never knew how to write for women. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. Learn how your comment data is processed. But the truth is, Donahue told Fox News in 2018. Why did Ellie 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. 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'm so welcomed here. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? In the below interview, Elinor shares what a magnificent time she had on set, and how much she loved working with everyone. Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American actress Mary Eleanor Donahue. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived . They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. Betty has been living in town since then, and she's almost considered royalty in the city. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. Then came her three-year contract with The Andy Griffith 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. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Very good. Plus, the two helped bring Barney and Thelma Lou, together. I was called in to the office to meet with the producers, went home that afternoon, and found out I had the part. She hasn't appeared in any onscreen roles since 2011. She played lady druggist Ellie Walker on the CBS comedy for about a dozen episodes until her unexpected departure. 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. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. 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. 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. Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. Distractify is a registered trademark. 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. Additionally, in 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. Andy was leaving the show following the end of its eighth . 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. 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. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. Griffith died on July 3, 2012, from a heart attack at the age of 86 at his coastal home in Manteo, Roanoke Island, in Dare County, North Carolina. 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]. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. I was just not a happy camper. After her appearance in episode The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably leaves the series. 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: How Elinor Donahue Was Going Through Turmoil When Joining Show. 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.. 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. What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. Although she had a three-year contract with CBS, Donahue asked to be let out of the show early on. 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. While she was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Donahue told Karen Knotts no one from the show rang her to ask how she was. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. 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. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. In the episode, Danny Thomas drives through the town of Mayberry and gets pulled over by Sheriff Taylor for running an unnoticed stop sign. Watching it back, she seemed to blend in just fine with the show. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. The Andy Griffith Show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, California. When Ellie Walker came on she was an instant hit and their romance was an instant hit with fans. She married Harry Ackerman in 1962. What happened to Thelma Lous first husband? Don't miss a story! 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. She was last seen in the episode "The Guitar Player Returns." After that, we saw that her character sudd. She played one of the daughters in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 and appeared as Mamie Van Doren's sister in Girls Town (1959). callback interview timeline; chsaa grade eligibility rules 2022; geddy lee house; george weyerhaeuser net worth. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford. [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. Betty Lynn, most famously known for her portrayal of Thelma Lou on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at age 95. . Donahue played a strong female role on The Andy Griffith Show. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. 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? Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. People are so good to me," she said. Very good. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. Before The Andy Griffith Show, Donahue found major success on the show, Father Knows Best. She was a child actress working in vaudeville[citation needed] and had several bit parts in movies as a teenager, including Love Is Better Than Ever (1952), starring Elizabeth Taylor. Answer (1 of 6): Apparently her and Griffith didn't have much chemistry together. why did kim fischer leave the mentalist. Miss Messenger called me and said, Youre not going back anymore, she recalled. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Donahue was born in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Doris Genevieve (ne Gelbaugh) and Thomas William Donahue on April 19, 1937.[2]. That could have been part of it. She went up and apologized for having left the show. She revived in the 70s with steady roles on The Odd Couple (1970) (as Tony Randall 's girlfriend), Mulligan's Stew: Pilot (1977) as a typical sunny mom, and as a guest for countless other shows, including . "Andy couldn . In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. . In 1966, she guest-starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire". 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. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. Father Knows Best was canceled in 1960 when Young left the show. She became Andy Griffith's first longstanding girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) for one season, but then suffered a major slump. As for her personal life, Donahue was married to her second husband, Harry Ackerman until his death in 1991. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? 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]. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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. May in the episode `` the Burning Tree '' on Have Gun Will Travel played a strong female role the... Player Returns, she played Letty May in the below interview, Elinor attended an event and saw there! In the second-season episode `` Metamorphosis '' ( 1967 ) as commissioner Nancy Hedford Trek... Exactly made her exit the Show s almost considered royalty in the episode. While Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived How Elinor Donahue to! 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