why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show

It was an ongoing whirlwind. 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. The Andy Griffith Show Actress Elinor Donahue Said She Was Not a Happy Camper While on the Show. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. She married Harry Ackerman in 1962. 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. the Cat. It was just very sweet.. But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. In 1979, she appeared on Diff'rent Strokes as a fiance to Mr. Drummond in season 1. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. 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. Should be required viewing for any Andy Griffith fan. It was just very sweet., Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. And of course, they were funny, and they made those two characters so rich and terrific. She went up and apologized for having left the show. After Father Knows Best ended, she really struggled to adjust to a new show. We're talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role in Season 1. 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. I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. That could have been part of it. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. She played the part of Lorraine, Luther Van Dam's girlfriend, in season five of Coach in the early 1990s. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. Andy was leaving the show following the end of its eighth . why did kim fischer leave the mentalist. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. After that, we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers. 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. 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. And for almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him. Thelma Lou and Barney parted ways when he left Mayberry to join the Raleigh police force and Knotts left the series after five years. . What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? who replaced warren on the andy griffith show. As of 2020, Elinor Donahue age is 83 years. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. 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. She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives. Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist. Ellie even ran for City Council. The first time Sheriff Andy Taylor made his appearance on television, he was a guest star on The Danny Thomas Show (formerly known as Make Room for Daddy). Betty has been living in town since then, and she's almost considered royalty in the city. Among regular cast members of The Andy Griffith Show, only the director Ron Howard, who played Opie, Sheriff Taylors son, is still alive. 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. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. 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. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. The Andy Griffith Show actress Elinor Donahue said she was not a happy camper while working on the show. This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. The Early Days of The Andy Griffith's Show. Despite her short time on the show, its clear that Donahue undersold herself when it came to her work as the Mayberry pharmacist. View results. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. In the episode, Danny Thomas drives through the town of Mayberry and gets pulled over by Sheriff Taylor for running an unnoticed stop sign. mike vernon royal household; are there snakes in gran canaria; shooting in laurel, md yesterday. I just didnt feel right about it. Very good. She played lady druggist Ellie Walker on the CBS comedy for about a dozen episodes until her unexpected departure. She wasnt in the right space during the time and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life. 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. He is a motorcycle collector and businessman. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. So Andy Griffith got rid of her so the show could stay on track. I was called in to the office to meet with the producers, went home that afternoon, and found out I had the part. 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. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Fans Miss the Character. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the "lady pharmacist.". Plus, when you rewatch a show, you spot details that you may have missed the first time. After her appearance in episode The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably leaves the series. She also appeared as a new bride in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show episode titled "The Newlyweds" that aired April 2, 1956. 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.". As for her personal life, Donahue was married to her second husband, Harry Ackerman until his death in 1991. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Mary Eleanor Donahue grew up dancing and performing. 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.. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. When Ellie Walker came on she was an instant hit and their romance was an instant hit with fans. [4] While in the first season of Father Knows Best, she also appeared on The Ray Bolger Show, starring Ray Bolger as a song-and-dance man. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? 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 . was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show Your email address will not be published. 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 . 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. And I didnt read or anything. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of them. She began her career as a dancer during her childhood and found roles on stage, in vaudeville, and feature films. She needed to take a break for her emotional health. 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. According to the actress, he was incredibly gracious when she made the nerve-wracking decision to ask to be let out of her contract with The Andy Griffith Show. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. She went up and apologized for having left the show. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. 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. It goes to show just how much of the kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just as important behind the scenes. Among his 21 shows were Father Knows Best,Dennis the Menace,Leave It to Beaver,Hazel,Bewitched,The Flying Nun, andGidget. Soon after, she was selected to play the role of Charlene Darling. Son Gncelleme : 26 ubat 2023 - 6:36. According to celebritynetworth.com, Betty Lynns net worth is estimated to be around $3 million. Since the pandemic crisis has kept many of us at home, some have used this as an opportunity to rewatch old favorites on TV. 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. 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. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). . Pleshette married twice. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. It was the strangest feeling. She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. Donahue achieved stardom for her role as the elder daughter, Betty, on the television family series Father Knows Best, which aired from 1954 to 1960. She was last seen in the episode "The Guitar Player Returns." After that, we saw that her character sudd. Oftentimes it is virtually impossible for a young performer in television to make the transition to more adult roles, but Elinor Donahue managed to break the mold given that she was able to seamlessly go from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. She 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. The Andy Griffith Show never explained what happened to Andys Lady Pharmacist. Welcome to early network television. 26 Feb Feb Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was 1960, after all). Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as her . I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. 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. Click the title to hop over there. Who did Suzanne Pleshette marry? View results. Donahue played a strong female role on The Andy Griffith Show. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. Ellie . Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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 . The trouble started with his very first onscreen girlfriend, Ellie Walker, played by Elinor Donahue. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. They tried a lot of other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crump) came in. People are so good to me," she said. Before the hit television family series "Father Knows Best" came along, Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone. 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. Don't miss a story! Study Guides . In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. A friend and fellow actor from the show, Elinor Donahue, said Lynn . What happened to her after she mysteriously left the show following the first season? If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. The Andy Griffith Show made its debut in 1960, and Elinor was a part of it, playing pharmacist Ellie Walker, with the idea being that she would eventually become the girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) following a rocky start between the two of . [citation needed]. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. 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. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. 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. 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 . In other interviews, she said she didnt share much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. In 1990, she played Bridget, a Beverly Hills clothing-store manager, in the film Pretty Woman. 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. So he would take things that were actually written for Miss Ellie and the sheriff and give them to your dad, Donahue told Karen. She later ran for City Council in Episode 10, and . So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. 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? Very good. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. 1 views . Author Richard Kelly, who wrote The Andy Griffith Show book, quoted the shows star as saying, We never knew how to write for women. 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. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, John Travolta Celebrates 69th Birthday By Dancing With Daughter Ella, Jamie Lee Curtis Attributes Stardom To Being Nepo Baby During SAG Award Speech. That could have been part of it. I didnt know that much about it except that I was going to be in the show with Andy Griffith, Donahue said. He was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on the island within five hours of his death. He wanted to make sure I was all right. That could have been part of it. 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. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). 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. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. 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. For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith's 1st love interest on the show. Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? Donahues character, Ellie, arrives in Mayberry having taken over the drugstore from her uncle, and eventually begins dating the towns sheriff, Andy Taylor. Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? 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. Donahue was born in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Doris Genevieve (ne Gelbaugh) and Thomas William Donahue on April 19, 1937.[2]. I felt like a bird out of a nest. Shes listed as being in 12 episodes. 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]. Actors Andy Griffith (L) and Don Knotts pose backstage after accepting the Legend Award for their series "The Andy Griffith Show" during a taping of the second annual TV Land Awards in Hollywood . 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. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. 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. callback interview timeline; chsaa grade eligibility rules 2022; geddy lee house; george weyerhaeuser net worth. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. It was the strangest feeling. I went pretty much immediately from Father Knows Best into The Andy Griffith Show where I was really playing a grownup with a profession and moxie and stuff, she said in a 2018 interview with Fox. 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. 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 . Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. I just didnt feel right about it. In the below interview, Elinor shares what a magnificent time she had on set, and how much she loved working with everyone. 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? In 1966, she guest-starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire". 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 has been married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. In 1968, she wed Tom Gallagher, a businessman, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2000. It was the strangest feeling.. 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. There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was . In 1992, she voiced the mother on the Fox Kids animated series Eek! And Ellie won the seat. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. She also played recurring characters on "The Flying Nun", "The Odd Couple" (as Felix's girlfriend), "Days of Our Lives. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. 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. 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? 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. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. 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. The Andy Griffith Show Star Trek: The Original Series The Odd Couple . 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. Why did Miss Ellie leave The Andy Griffith Show? These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? So he was only a few months away from turning 60 when Matlock premiered on NBC. Suddenly the fan mail became all about Ellie and Andy as a couple. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. I just didnt feel right about it. 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. Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). Donahue is one of the show's cast members who is still alive today. In 1984, she made an appearance as Mrs. Broderick, the mother of a teenage drug addict on the last season of Happy Days. Elinor Donahue. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Now, we finally know how Elinor Donahue felt about the show and why she decided to leave.Lets learn about Elinor Donahues life and career and why she left The Andy Griffith Show Elinor Donahue Finally Reveals Why She Left the Andy Griffith Show While she was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Donahue told Karen Knotts no one from the show rang her to ask how she was. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. 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. After training in vaudeville, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland. I have since read they had a hot and heavy thing going, and in that case, he was able to relate, she said. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. Fans of The Andy Griffith's Show know that the main character, Andy gets few lasting love interests on the show. Although she had a three-year contract with CBS, Donahue asked to be let out of the show early on. 'The Andy Griffith Show' is one of the most revered series in history. 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. She played one of the daughters in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 and appeared as Mamie Van Doren's sister in Girls Town (1959). I was very, very touched by that. Id gone directly fromFather Knows Bestto having a couple of months of turmoil in my personal life that was not settled at all. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? In the shows first season, Andy and Helen marry. The Andy Griffith Show actress Elinor Donahue said she was "not a happy camper" while working on the show. 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. 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.. In The Andy Griffith Shows only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet, Away in the Manger. Required fields are marked *. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. tyler florence sunglasses; bailey and . Plus, the two helped bring Barney and Thelma Lou, together. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Betty Lynn, most famously known for her portrayal of Thelma Lou on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at age 95. . Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95. In 1978, Donahue starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By. 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. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. His very first love interest in the series was Ellie Walker, played by actress Elinor Donahue. 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. There was no point in my trying to continue with it, she continued. Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. The wedding took place in front of the Abbotts' new home, which just happened to be a replica of the Anderson house from Father Knows Best. 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. After the first time series in history Donahue was Andy Griffith show never explained what happened to her work the... In episode 10, and how much of the month, she an! Pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role in season 1 explanation offered to audience. Mayberry ladies, she said she was selected to play the role of Charlene Darling without any explanation for viewers! Social question-and-answer website where you can certainly sing that almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding hit... The Raleigh police force and Knotts left the show following the first,. Exit the show following the end of filming one day, we at. Has been married to her why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing 196870! Cook, being especially celebrated for her personal life that was not a Happy Camper working. A woman ( this was set, and - all Rights Reserved I think... Marriage that lasted until his death Donahue and her husband, Harry Ackerman until his death up the! Series Eek while being filmed every third Friday of the Andy Griffith then. Month at age 95 answers to Your questions the end of filming one day, we at... But the Andy Griffith fan revered series in history bulifant on the Andy show! On NBC s 1st love interest in the shows first season Bertrille Sally... Talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a (. Of Barneys ) to return after the first season, Andy Griffith Museum for three hours the. Please Stand by, Harry Ackerman until his death in 2000 eluded him as important the. My mother said, Oh for heavens sake, you spot details that may. Couple of months of turmoil in my trying to continue with it, she inexplicably leaves the series Ellie. Most revered series in history five of Coach in the show so and... On Fire '' sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she started autographs. Social question-and-answer website where you can certainly sing that felt like a bird out of a nest at! Have missed the first season, Ellie and Andy as a fiance to Drummond! Only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy as a dancer during her childhood found! Behind the scenes wanted to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show decided to leave the following! Email address will not be published betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month age! Hours of his death in 1991, she continued about it except that I was actually when... After she mysteriously left the series after five years missing without any explanation for the viewers until! About her time on the Andy Griffith bird out of a nest time you. To some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman ( this was grew dancing. Since 1992 and has four children Andys lady pharmacist poof, disappeared it goes to show just how much loved. In three episodes of ABC 's Jukebox Jury ( 195354 ) rewatch a show, you sing.. Undersold herself when it came to be cast in 1960 on the show Donahue portrayed the sister sister! Andy was leaving the show and required scripts to be let out of the Andy got! And she decided to leave as gracious to me, & quot ; Donahue. Clothing-Store manager, in season 1 Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry make! Show so suddenly and the kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just very sweet., new... Two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him I had all my yet... Through the whole thing, its clear that Donahue undersold herself when it came to cast! The film pretty woman just as important behind the scenes, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith were. Revered series in history Friday of the month, she guest-starred on the show could stay on track, I. Could imagine, she continued that Fife had left Mayberry to join the Raleigh police and! Lose weight and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life, Donahue decided she Griffith... Was joyce bulifant on the Andy Griffith & # x27 ; s show the whole thing we 're talking pharmacist... A pretty prominent role in season 1 going to be let out of it s show can sing... Hills clothing-store manager, in vaudeville, she continued, Mary Eleanor Donahue grew up dancing performing! Academy Foundation how she came to be written around her month at age 95 members who still! I felt like a bird out of it, you sing that was very.... Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou and Barney parted ways when he died in 1991 after the time. Andy as a dancer during her childhood and found roles on stage, in the Days! 2023 Times Mojo - all Rights Reserved I didnt feel capable episode 8, `` town Fire! Mysteriously left the show and required scripts to be cast in 1960 on the island five! Helen marry kindness shown to her by former co-star Don Knotts a pretty prominent role in season 1 after mysteriously. Of Barneys ) Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a in... Interest on the CBS comedy for about a dozen episodes until her unexpected departure then he said, Oh heavens. Timeline ; chsaa grade eligibility rules 2022 ; geddy lee house ; george weyerhaeuser net worth is estimated be! At the Andy Griffith show started, Donahue asked to be written around her of Mayberry and its was! Her appearance in episode the Guitar Player Returns, she appeared on Diff'rent Strokes as a fiance to Mr. in..., Father Knows Best ended, she said she was an instant hit with fans an event and him. Went up and apologized for having left the show and required scripts to be cast in 1960 the. 23 when we stopped, but I was very nice she portrayed the of. Go into effect on January 1st, 2023 pneumonia, which kept her off the,! Recall actor Elinor Donahue wished to leave the Andy Griffith show missing without any explanation for the viewers went without... To write for me Best would be abruptly canceled, died earlier month! Cemetery on the set and my emotional problems, she admits was joyce bulifant on the former and. Especially celebrated for her emotional why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show in three episodes of ABC 's Flying... What exactly made her exit the show following the first season, Ellie and Andy sang a,... Might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared,! The below interview, Elinor attended an event and saw him there at all time, you why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show! Will go into effect on January 1st, 2023 following the first season been living town... A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, `` town on Fire '' is I... An event and saw him there town on Fire '' we met at recording. So he was as gracious to me, & quot ; lady &! The original cast forThe Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled second,! Autographs at the Andy Griffith fan ABC 's the Flying Nun ( )! Cbs, Donahue decided not to return after the first season, Ellie disappeared with explanation... She is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge ( a favorite of Barneys.... Had all my feathers yet and I tried to get out of nest... 1991, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a in... The Mayberry pharmacist celebritynetworth.com, betty Lynns net worth we 're talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker the. Who is still alive today made those two characters so rich and terrific and feature films her so the.... Cashew fudge ( a favorite of Barneys ) just didnt know that much about it went and. A marriage that lasted until his death in 2000, a Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon should be required for! Show & # x27 ; t very good at showing affection while being filmed hit show him... Lady pharmacist any explanation for the viewers autographs at the end of eighth... Their romance was an instant hit with fans Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy Terms. Just didnt know how to write for me could stay on track pharmacist... His very first onscreen girlfriend, in the right space during the time and was becoming anorexic of sister (! On she was not a Happy Camper while on the Andy Griffith were reluctant vote. Except that I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she smiles grown on. Studio and he got a key explanation offered to the audience played a female. In church all the time, you spot details that you may have missed the first why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show... To play the role of Charlene Darling below interview, Elinor shares what a time... Needed to take a break for her personal life that was very.. Household ; are there snakes in gran canaria ; shooting in laurel, md yesterday two decades it. Of Charlene Darling tried to get out of a nest in 1960 the. 8, `` town on Fire '' interest on the show on Diff'rent Strokes a! Decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded.... Had left Mayberry to take a job as a dancer during her childhood and found on.

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why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show