Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was 1960, after all). But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. This is because Elinor Donahue wished to leave the show. 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. And then went right into [The Andy Griffith Show]. She played the part of Lorraine, Luther Van Dam's girlfriend, in season five of Coach in the early 1990s. 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 . That could have been part of it. After Father Knows Best ended, she really struggled to adjust to a new show. It was the strangest feeling. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. 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. 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? Elinor Donahue decided not to return after the first season, because she felt she had no on-screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. 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 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. In 1959, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her supporting role as Betty Anderson on "Father Knows Best". The trouble started with his very first onscreen girlfriend, Ellie Walker, played by Elinor Donahue. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. Not many people realize this, but The Andy Griffith Show was technically a spinoff of sorts. Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? 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. In the below interview, Elinor shares what a magnificent time she had on set, and how much she loved working with everyone. It was the strangest feeling.. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. 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. 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.". I have always wondered why he was uncomfortable around women. It was just very sweet.. For instance, if you are watching Andy Griffith, you might have noticed that a particular character just, poof, disappeared. 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. Donahue played Georgiana Balanger, the niece of George and Martha Wilson, in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace. 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 . After playing a few bit roles in popular TV shows, she became a star with Father Knows Best. 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. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. 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. Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. Born on August 29, 1926, Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn was a well-known actress and appeared in several films during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1987, she played the title character's mother in the short-lived Fox series The New Adventures of Beans Baxter. Father Knows Best was canceled in 1960 when Young left the show. I was just not a happy camper. Donahue, who started her acting career when she was six in 1943, accomplished fame for her role as the elder daughter, Betty, on the '50s sitcom. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? 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. [citation needed]. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing . Most notably, Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his "peculiar nature" and relationships with women. Pleshette married twice. 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 the Andy Griffith Show? In the eyes of the world, I was a young woman and was launched into the rest of my career, already not having to make a huge transition from child to an adult., RELATED: Father Knows Best Star, Billy Gray, Reminisces on Childhood Fame. 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. Donahue was born in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Doris Genevieve (ne Gelbaugh) and Thomas William Donahue on April 19, 1937.[2]. In 1991, she portrayed the "Orphanage woman" in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. 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 . 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. I just didnt feel right about it. These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. In 1977, she appeared in an episode of the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang. The Andy Griffith Show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, California. She has also made appearances on Days of Our Lives, Many Happy Returns, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. She has been married to Lou Genevrino since 1992 and has four children. 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. how to reset cobra microtalk walkie talkies; sacramento state gymnastics coaches; Workshop. judy norton children; court ordered community service california 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. 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. I didnt know that much about it except that I was going to be in the show with Andy Griffith, Donahue said. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. 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. 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. 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 . View results. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. Elinor, now 83 years old, went on to have an extremely successful career in both television and film. 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 1978, Donahue starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By. 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 . Elinor Donahue (born Mary Eleanor Donahue, April 19, 1937) is an American actress, best known today for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson on the 1950s American sitcom Father Knows Best. She also played recurring characters on "The Flying Nun", "The Odd Couple" (as Felix's girlfriend), "Days of Our Lives. 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. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Betty was the oldest daughter of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt's characters with Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin starring as her younger siblings. What makes literary nonfiction different from other nonfiction? It was just very sweet., Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. 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. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. 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. Author Richard Kelly, who wrote The Andy Griffith Show book, quoted the shows star as saying, We never knew how to write for women. Edris March is an American actress who portrayed Frances Frankie Flint. What happened to kitten on Father Knows Best? Woodsy locales were filmed north of Beverly Hills at Franklin Canyon. 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. As a producer, he dominated early television. 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. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. A friend and fellow actor from the show, Elinor Donahue, said Lynn . This is why every third Friday of the month, she started signing autographs at the Andy Griffith Museum for three hours. Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive? 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. Plus, when you rewatch a show, you spot details that you may have missed the first time. 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. 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. So Andy Griffith got rid of her so the show could stay on track. 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]. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. "I'm so welcomed here. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? 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. 1 views . 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. The actress was born on 19 April 1937. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was . I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. 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. Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, died earlier this month at age 95. Learn how your comment data is processed. I was called in to the office to meet with the producers, went home that afternoon, and found out I had the part. Elinor holds American citizenship but her ethnicity is Caucasian. 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. 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 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. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? 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. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. In 1968, she wed Tom Gallagher, a businessman, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2000. It was just very sweet.. Miss Messenger called me and said, Youre not going back anymore, she recalled. It was the strangest feeling. And while Ellie and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a short-lived . I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. After all, she was only 23 when he agreed to the three-year contract as Ellie. In 1966, she guest-starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire". They wanted me to sing Away in a Manger with Andy and I tried to get out of it. 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. But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. And for almost two decades after it ended in 1968, finding another hit show eluded him. Okay, thats it. I said, What? He faked me out, because he knew how nervous I was, and that was the take that they used. She went up and apologized for having left the show. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). Watching it back, she seemed to blend in just fine with the show. She married Harry Ackerman in 1962. Shed played Betty, the oldest daughter on Father Knows Best, from 1954 to 1960. 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.. Click the title to hop over there. Donahue portrayed the sister of Sister Bertrille (Sally Field) in three episodes of ABC's The Flying Nun (196870). Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Very good. Andy Taylor (Andrew Jackson Taylor played by Andy Griffith) In Season One, Elinor "Ellie" Walker came to Mayberry in 4th episode, Ellie Comes to Town; she was a graduate of Barnard University, and a pharmacist. 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.. was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show was joyce bulifant on the andy griffith show She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives. 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. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. Donahue played Ellie Walker from 1960 through 1961. 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. It was the strangest feeling. 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 She wasnt in the right space during the time and was experiencing many struggles in her personal life. So he was only a few months away from turning 60 when Matlock premiered on NBC. I was actually 23 when we stopped, but I was playing 19. 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. 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. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Study Guides . In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. It goes to show just how much of the kindness of Mayberry and its characters was just as important behind the scenes. Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. However, the episode "The Guitar Player Returns" was her last. 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. 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. 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. [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. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. But THAT is the more intense "dark side" of Andy Taylor, the flip-side. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. Ellie . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford. When I left Father Knows Best, I was playing a young woman rather than a child, she explains. tyler florence sunglasses; bailey and . 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? Since the pandemic crisis has kept many of us at home, some have used this as an opportunity to rewatch old favorites on TV. 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 . Andy Griffith was already in his mid-thirties when he began playing everyones favorite country sheriff on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. His very first love interest in the series was Ellie Walker, played by actress Elinor Donahue. Elinor Donahue, who portrayed Ellie, wanted off the show almost immediately. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? Why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith Show? After that, we saw that her character suddenly went missing without any explanation for the viewers. Your email address will not be published. In 1984, she made an appearance as Mrs. Broderick, the mother of a teenage drug addict on the last season of Happy Days. 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. Should be required viewing for any Andy Griffith fan. The Andy Griffith Show actress Elinor Donahue said she was "not a happy camper" while working on the show. In The Andy Griffith Shows only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet, Away in the Manger. Still, Donahue said she didnt feel right on the show. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Possibly, she might be the only child of her parents. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. Ellie even ran for City Council. 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. 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. At least now we know what happened. Thankfully, she was able to leave the show with no bad blood. . I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. Who did Suzanne Pleshette marry? The post An Unhappy Elinor Donahue Quit The Andy Griffith Show, Feeling There Was No Point In Continuing appeared first on DoYouRemember? Gray retired from acting in 1980. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. He wanted to make sure I was all right. 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. There didnt seem to be any fight about it, so I left the show at the end of the first year.. "Nip It In the Bud": $20 'Andy Griffith Show' Tee Is a Funny, Cozy Memory. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. 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. 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. I just didnt feel right about it. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. The Andy Griffith Show Actress Elinor Donahue Said She Was Not a Happy Camper While on the Show. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a motorcycle collector and businessman. In 1994, she made an appearance as Aunt Lillian in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice", an episode of Friends. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. Walker was Mayberrys pharmacist. However, when Don Knotts became such a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for . People are so good to me," she said. 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. Before the hit television family series "Father Knows Best" came along, Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone. If you're an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, you'll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series' first season.She played "lady druggist" Ellie Walker on the CBS comedy for about a . The Andy Griffith Show: How Elinor Donahue Was Going Through Turmoil When Joining Show. What happened to Thelma Lous first husband? He said they just didnt know how to write for me. We're talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role in Season 1. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. The Andy Griffith Show Star Trek: The Original Series The Odd Couple . But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. When Ellie Walker came on she was an instant hit and their romance was an instant hit with fans. Several women did come into his life but none of them seemed to stick around. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. Years later, Elinor attended an event and saw him there. I was exhausted.. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. I had a three-year contract. He was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on the island within five hours of his death. Except Don Knotts. Among regular cast members of The Andy Griffith Show, only the director Ron Howard, who played Opie, Sheriff Taylors son, is still alive. This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. 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. That could have been part of it. The Andy Griffith Show never explained what happened to Andys Lady Pharmacist. Welcome to early network television. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. Distractify is a registered trademark. 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. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. 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. 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. 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. It was the strangest feeling. 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. While she was hospitalized for treatment of pneumonia, Donahue told Karen Knotts no one from the show rang her to ask how she was. We just wish poor Ellie had been given a better send-off her character certainly deserved it! 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. Andy was leaving the show following the end of its eighth . 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. As of 2020, Elinor Donahue age is 83 years. Fans Miss the Character.

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