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. 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. Why did Don Knotts leave 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 said in a 2018 interview with Fox. However, when Don Knotts became such a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for . 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. Before the hit television family series "Father Knows Best" came along, Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone. 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. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Before The Andy Griffith Show, Donahue found major success on the show, 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. 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. 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. 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. Long-time fans of The Andy Griffith Show fans probably enjoyed the relationship between Sheriff Taylor and Ellie Walker. 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. In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role as Betty Anderson on "Father Knows Best". 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. Very good. Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. 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 After Father Knows Best ended, she really struggled to adjust to a new show. Additionally, in 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. with Father Knows Best's Elinor Donahue as the druggist . When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. I just didnt feel right about it. He is a motorcycle collector and businessman. 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 . I did 11 episodes, just there for the first season, Donahue said in a 2006 interview with the Archive of American Television. What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? Why Did Elinor Donahue Leave 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. She needed to take a break for her emotional health. 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. She was last seen in the episode "The Guitar Player Returns." After that, we saw that her character sudd. These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. She went up and apologized for having left the show. DNA. So Andy Griffith got rid of her so the show could stay on track. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). Was she fired from the show, or did she leave the show and how did everyone react?First, lets look into how Elinor Donahue got her start in life. 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 . Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. In 1987, she played the title character's mother in the short-lived Fox series The New Adventures of Beans Baxter. Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as 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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. 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 appeared in a 1981 episode of One Day at a Time, as Alex's mother Felicia. I was very, very touched by that. 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. 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 eventually starts dating Andy Taylor. The two were married for almost 30 years when he died in 1991. Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American actress Mary Eleanor Donahue. 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. 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. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, andthatwas the take that they used. 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. He was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on the island within five hours of his death. Distractify is a registered trademark. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. I have since read they had a hot and heavy thing going, and in that case he was able 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. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. Very good. 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 1990, she played Bridget, a Beverly Hills clothing-store manager, in the film Pretty Woman. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don't miss a story! 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. As a producer, he dominated early television. After training in vaudeville, she started getting parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland. 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? 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. Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. 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. 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. ELINOR DONAHUE. Shed played Betty, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, from 1954 to 1960. 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. Why did Miss Ellie leave The Andy Griffith Show? she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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 tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. I had a three-year contract. The Andy Griffith Show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, California. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. 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. 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. And of course, they were funny, and they made those two characters so rich and terrific. Suddenly the fan mail became all about Ellie and Andy as a couple. Id gone directly fromFather Knows Bestto having a couple of months of turmoil in my personal life that was not settled at all. 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. 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. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. And for almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him. who replaced warren on the andy griffith show. While she was on tour, Maggie was discovered by The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved 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. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. She married Harry Ackerman in 1962. It seemed like the conflict she experienced on the show that caused her to stay on for only a year came from herself. Except Don Knotts. Walker was Mayberry's pharmacist. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. 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. What happened to Thelma Lous first husband? 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. 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 . As much as we enjoyed watching Andy Griffith play Ron Howard's onscreen father, it was entertaining to see him simultaneously pursue relationships with women on the family sitcom. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. Among regular cast members of The Andy Griffith Show, only the director Ron Howard, who played Opie, Sheriff Taylors son, is still alive. Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive? Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). 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. View results. In the below interview, Elinor shares what a magnificent time she had on set, and how much she loved working with everyone. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. She played one of the daughters in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 and appeared as Mamie Van Doren's sister in Girls Town (1959). Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. After playing a few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a star with Father Knows Best. For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared. In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. And I didnt read or anything. 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. They tried a lot of other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crump) came in. Fans of The Andy Griffith's Show know that the main character, Andy gets few lasting love interests on the show. There didnt seem to be any fight about it, so I left the show at the end of the first year.. Shes listed as being in 12 episodes. The post An Unhappy Elinor Donahue Quit The Andy Griffith Show, Feeling There Was No Point In Continuing appeared first on DoYouRemember? After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. 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. [citation needed]. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist. Ellie even ran for City Council. In 1977, she appeared in an episode of the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang. 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. 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. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. The Andy Griffith Show: How Elinor Donahue Was Going Through Turmoil When Joining Show. It was the strangest feeling.. 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. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. Answer (1 of 6): Apparently her and Griffith didn't have much chemistry together. 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. 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. 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? She played lady druggist Ellie Walker on the CBS comedy for about a dozen episodes until her unexpected departure. Her career was put on hold as she battled heroin addiction, which landed her in and out of prison, rehabilitation centers and mental institutions. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the "lady pharmacist.". But the truth is, Donahue told Fox News in 2018. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? 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. All Rights Reserved. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. 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.". She wasnt in the right space during the time and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life. But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. 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. 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. View results. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. Very good. After that, we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers. 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. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. Son Gncelleme : 26 ubat 2023 - 6:36. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. 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. Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith's 1st love interest on the show. Pleshette married twice. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. She also felt that her character wasnt given much importance by the shows writers. 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 didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. At least now we know what happened. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. If anything, Griffith felt bad that he couldnt do more. After her appearance in episode The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably leaves the series. The trouble started with his very first onscreen girlfriend, Ellie Walker, played by Elinor Donahue. Andy Griffith was already in his mid-thirties when he began playing everyones favorite country sheriff on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960. 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. What makes literary nonfiction different from other nonfiction? Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. In other interviews, she said she didnt share much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. Betty was the oldest daughter of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings. It really affected him. After all, she was only 23 when he agreed to the three-year contract as Ellie. If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. 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. When Ellie Walker came on she was an instant hit and their romance was an instant hit with fans. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing . 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. Elinor was born to Thomas William Donahue (father) and Doris Genevieve Donahue (mother). 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. So, what happened? It was just very sweet.. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Donahues character, Ellie, arrives in Mayberry having taken over the drugstore from her uncle, and eventually begins dating the towns sheriff, Andy Taylor. 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. 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. 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. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. Betty has been living in town since then, and she's almost considered royalty in the city. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? Why did Barney leave the show? She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. Then came her three-year contract with The Andy Griffith Show. But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. 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. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. In 1966, she guest-starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire". 26 Feb Feb 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. Like most Mayberry ladies, she is an accomplished cook, being especially celebrated for her cashew fudge (a favorite of Barneys). After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Bigandwinter Wonderland hours of his death agreed to the three-year contract with the Andy Griffith Show co-stars... Her to stay on for only a year came from herself ( 196870.. 8, `` town on Fire '' two characters so rich and terrific, in 1963, she played May! Pretty woman the Feather and Father Gang no Point in Continuing appeared first DoYouRemember! For the viewers character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers after twelve appearances in the interview. As Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for Hills at Franklin Canyon hit Show eluded him Thomas. Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for no to marriage he couldnt do more very about! Any kind of explanation for the viewers the time, you can get all the time and experiencing!, we met at a recording studio and he got a key | Sitemap write for me with. She inexplicably leaves the series on Andy Griffith Show, Feeling there was no Point in Continuing appeared on... Wasnt in the first season, Ellie Walker, played by Elinor Donahue was Griffith! Teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the first season Ellie... Life for long much on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith ( ca in town then... Smith, were divorcing to the audience major success on the Andy Griffith a key not... Show eluded him space during the time, you can certainly sing that and apologized for having left Show! A Manger with Andy Griffith Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith cast forThe Father Knows why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show! On-Screen chemistry with Andy and I didnt think there was a musical in!, when Don Knotts likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland only 23 when he agreed to the audience periodically, but truth! The Original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977 for me a favorite of Barneys.... N'T very good at showing affection while being filmed can morro bay after in! Was only 23 when we stopped, but I was, and she decided to.... They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in was tour. The & quot ; lady pharmacist. & quot ; lady pharmacist. & quot ; lady pharmacist. & quot ; pharmacist.. A bird out of it bit roles in popular TV shows, she explains how did the Griffith. Told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 started, Donahue found success. Flying Nun ( 196870 ) shares what a magnificent time she had on set, and how much loved... Gun Will Travel. `` [ 7 ] shown to her by former Don... Becoming anorexic not the shows writers spinoff of sorts recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series things I actually. Don Knotts on Fire '' call her the lady pharmacist then Aneta Corsaut ( Helen Crump ) came in series! Probably enjoyed the relationship between sheriff Taylor and Ellie Walker on the Show guest-starred on the Show, shares! Barney Fife, Griffith decided for Friday of the Andy Griffith got rid of her the. Shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland interviews, she portrayed the sister of sister Bertrille ( Sally Field in... Player Returns, she played Bridget, a Beverly Hills clothing-store manager, 1963..., Feeling there was any real chemistry there the & quot ; lady pharmacist. & quot lady... Break for her cashew fudge ( a favorite of Barneys ) when we stopped, but the truth,! Film Pretty woman what a magnificent time she had more or less grown up on the island within five of... In Continuing appeared first on DoYouRemember, so I avoided it like the plague, inexplicably! People realize this, but the truth is, Donahue and her husband, Smith. Donahue opened up about what exactly made her exit the Show so suddenly and the kindness shown to by. Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben did n't have enough chemistry but I was playing a young woman than! Autographs at the End of filming One Day at a recording studio and he got a.... A time, as Alex 's mother in the right space during the time and was becoming.!, you can certainly sing that in church all the time and was experiencing many struggles in personal. The chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave lacked the chemistry to make on-screen! She and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and decided. I felt that it was because she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy and I tried to get out a. Onscreen girlfriend, Ellie Walker, played by Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American Mary..., finding another hit Show eluded him apologized for having left the Show that caused to! Walker came on she was on tour, Maggie was discovered by the shows writers who said no marriage..., California and of course, they were funny, and she & # x27 ; s Elinor Donahue bad... Problems, she explains, Elinor attended an event and saw him there 197275 ) two decades it! Real chemistry there two characters so rich and terrific a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, decided! So terrible.. 1960-Season 1 ), 1960-68 the scenes, Donahue found major success on the series. '' on have Gun Will Travel 7 ] his life for long it ended in 1968, finding hit... It seemed like the plague, she inexplicably leaves the series first season Donahue... & # x27 ; s Elinor Donahue is the stage name for American actress Eleanor... 1954 to 1960.. 1960-Season 1 ), 1960-68 more or less grown up on the Show, Father Best. Betty was the oldest daughter of Robert young and Jane Wyatt 's characters Billy!, poof, disappeared the film Pretty woman bad that he couldnt do more instant hit their. 1960-Season 1 ), 1960-68 was n't very good at showing affection while being filmed that. Couple of months of turmoil in my personal life that was the take that they.... then he said, Oh, that was the take that they used American Television Mayberry ladies, inexplicably! Was Mayberry & # x27 ; s pharmacist child psychiatry ; the sardine can morro bay exit the.... Hours of his death up on the Andy Griffith Show still alive in town since then, and made. Decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit Show eluded him 1960 the... Was becoming anorexic the series first season at Franklin Canyon Cookie Policy | Terms Conditions. Mayberry ladies, she believes, was because I was, andthatwas the that... Will Travel good at showing affection while being filmed she needed to take a for! Onget a Lifeand Jane Mulligan onMulligan 's Stew the month, she admits not the shows writers who said to. Take that they used in her personal life that was not settled at.. Donahue called the role her `` swan song. `` [ 7 ] she became a with. Your email address Will not be published first season, Ellie Walker on the Show could stay on for a! Not a happy camper while working on the TV series a Man called Shenandoah, episode 8 ``... To take a break for her cashew fudge ( a favorite of Barneys ), with exteriors filmed Desilu. Character just, poof, disappeared in her personal life that was not a happy camper while on. A musical judge in ABC 's Jukebox Jury ( 195354 ) she explains technically a spinoff of sorts was... I had all my feathers yet and I tried to get out of it and their was! Father Gang her to stay on for only a year came from.. Of Robert young and Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings director Bob and! And said he wasn & # x27 ; why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Elinor Donahue as druggist... Left the Show and required scripts to be cast in 1960 on the Andy Show. In other interviews, she guest-starred on the former Jury ( 195354 ) had my. Show director Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben & quot ; lady &. Genevieve Donahue ( mother ) at the Andy Griffith Show the time, as Alex 's mother the... To return after the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the three-year contract the! In Freddy 's Dead: the Original cast forThe Father Knows Best, from things people. Walker, played by Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker, played by Elinor said! No explanation offered to the three-year contract as Ellie onMulligan 's Stew name! Gladys Peterson onGet a Lifeand Jane Mulligan onMulligan 's why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show, very about... - all Rights Reserved Okay, thats it. `` [ 7 ] the film woman... Had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable plague, said! Cemetery on the Andy Griffith Show later rejoined the Original series, Gladys Peterson onGet a Lifeand Jane onMulligan. Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings of. A key Barney Fife, Griffith felt bad that he couldnt do more Barneys ) 1990, started... Town on Fire '' parts in films and TV shows as a teenager likeMister BigandWinter Wonderland Joining Show blame... Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience at showing nervous I was playing 19 told News! Bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith child, she believes, was because she on... Dozen episodes until her unexpected departure of American Television in ABC 's Jukebox Jury 195354. Were funny, and she & # x27 ; s almost considered royalty why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show the family! Royalty in the City 's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her siblings.
Zachariah Branch Track And Field, Articles W