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. Very good. Click the title to hop over there. Is Ellie off of Andy Griffith Show still alive? 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 didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. It was just very sweet.. But there was a reason that Andy didnt have Ellie in his life for long. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. Elinor Donahue played Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. 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. In 1988, she appeared in a Newhart episode ("Courtin' Disaster"), and she appeared in a 1989 episode of The Golden Girls as the newest wife of Dorothy Zbornak's ex-husband, Stan. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. Donahue appeared in a 1981 episode of One Day at a Time, as Alex's mother Felicia. As The Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing. Sheriff Andy liked to call her the lady pharmacist. Ellie even ran for City Council. It really affected him. Elinor Donahue, who portrayed Ellie, wanted off the show almost immediately. So at the end of filming one day, we met at a recording studio and he got a key. How old was Andy Griffith during the show? Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. His very first love interest in the series was Ellie Walker, played by actress Elinor Donahue. The Andy Griffith Show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at Forty Acres in Culver City, California. 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 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. 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). 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. 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. Known professionally as Elinor Donahue, she made a name for herself in Hollywood starring as Betty Anderson on the CBS sitcom Father Knows Best. I went pretty much immediately fromFather Knows BestintoThe Andy Griffith Showwhere I was really playing a grownup with a profession, and moxie and stuff, she says. Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (195354). What happened to her after she mysteriously left the show following the first season? View results. Chapin married an auto mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later. Plus, Donahue still didnt have much life experience as she went from Father Knows Best to The Andy Griffith Show. But I felt that it was because I was so terrible.. Son Gncelleme : 26 ubat 2023 - 6:36. As for her personal life, Donahue was married to her second husband, Harry Ackerman until his death in 1991. In The Andy Griffith Shows only Christmas episode, Ellie and Andy sang a duet, Away in the Manger. 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 has also made appearances on Days of Our Lives, Many Happy Returns, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. They tried other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut came in. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. Why did Elinor Donahue leave the Andy Griffith Show? Answer (1 of 6): Apparently her and Griffith didn't have much chemistry together. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. I just didnt feel right about it. 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. 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. "People of all ages hug me. Thelma Lou and Barney parted ways when he left Mayberry to join the Raleigh police force and Knotts left the series after five years. This time it was Corsaut and not the shows writers who said no to marriage. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. This article is from Do You Remember. 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. He was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles. He wanted to make sure I was all right. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Later, Andy took the blame and said he is not very good at showing affection while filming. The actress was born on 19 April 1937. However, when Don Knotts became such a popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for . He was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on the island within five hours of his death. Elinor Donahue. Marshal. I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided it like the plague, she admits. Several women did come into his life but none of them seemed to stick around. It seemed like the conflict she experienced on the show that caused her to stay on for only a year came from herself. Donahue called the role her "swan song."[7]. Copyright 2023 Distractify. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. Plus, when you rewatch a show, you spot details that you may have missed the first time. She played one of the daughters in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 and appeared as Mamie Van Doren's sister in Girls Town (1959). In 2015, Donahue played the role of Mrs. Chumley in Judson Theatre Company's production of the Pulitzer Prize play Harvey, by Mary Chase. 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. In 1998, Donahue published a memoir entitled In the Kitchen with Elinor Donahue, in which she relived some of her memories of Hollywood along with providing more than 150 of her recipes.[6]. 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. Required fields are marked *. In 1984, she made an appearance as Mrs. Broderick, the mother of a teenage drug addict on the last season of Happy Days. 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? Andy later took the blame and said he wasn't very good at showing affection while being filmed. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. judy norton children; court ordered community service california 'The Andy Griffith Show' is one of the most revered series in history. 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. View results. 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. 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. 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. 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. Betty Lynn, most famously known for her portrayal of Thelma Lou on the classic "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at age 95. . 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. Father Knows Best was canceled in 1960 when Young left the show. Donahue portrayed Miriam Welby in 17 episodes of The Odd Couple (197275). She later rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977. As she explained to Don Knotts daughter Karen in her recent book Tied Up in Knotts: My Dad and Me, she was only 23 years old when she appeared on the Griffith Show. So, what happened? Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. 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 . Walker was Mayberry's pharmacist. [citation needed] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. 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. Betty has been living in town since then, and she's almost considered royalty in the city. The Andy Griffith Show: How Elinor Donahue Was Going Through Turmoil When Joining Show. 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. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina. All Rights Reserved. COPYRIGHT 2023, WOMG. It was the strangest feeling. After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered to the audience. Author, Ed Gross, Your email address will not be published. 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. Plus, the two helped bring Barney and Thelma Lou, together. 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. 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. As she grew older, she began seeking out roles in feature films.But it was television where she found her best work. He was just absolutely precious. the Cat. She later ran for City Council in Episode 10, and . . Who did Suzanne Pleshette marry? While she was on tour, Maggie was discovered by The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben. She hasn't appeared in any onscreen roles since 2011. Your email address will not be published. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. But the truth is, Donahue told Fox News in 2018. And of course, they were funny, and they made those two characters so rich and terrific. Its difficult to go from one series to another, especially in the early days of network television. Author Richard Kelly, who wrote The Andy Griffith Show book, quoted the shows star as saying, We never knew how to write for women. 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. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. We're talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role in Season 1. She became Andy Griffith's first longstanding girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) for one season, but then suffered a major slump. 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. I was called in to the office to meet with the producers, went home that afternoon, and found out I had the part. "Nip It In the Bud": $20 'Andy Griffith Show' Tee Is a Funny, Cozy Memory. I had a three-year contract. I was just not a happy camper. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. I was very, very touched by that. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. It was an ongoing whirlwind. There didnt seem to be any fight about it, so I left the show at the end of the first year.. There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. I just didnt feel right about it. 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 . 1960-Season 1), 1960-68. These days, there are no hard bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith. 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. Elinor was born to Thomas William Donahue (father) and Doris Genevieve Donahue (mother). Just a rehearsal. We started singing and sang through the whole thing. Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. 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. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. In 1994, she made an appearance as Aunt Lillian in "The One Where Nana Dies Twice", an episode of Friends. Thankfully, still-single Barney and now-single Thelma Lou were reunited and married in 1986s Return to Mayberry movie. 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 1 views . The Home of Nostalgia. why did kim fischer leave the mentalist. To hear Elinor Donahue in her own words regardingFather Knows BestandThe Andy Griffith Show, as well as people likeGilligans Islandstar Dawn Wells and others, please visit theTV RetroVisionpodcast by clicking HERE. She went up and apologized for having left the show. Andy talked to some of his friends who were reluctant to vote for a woman (this was . However, the episode "The Guitar Player Returns" was her last. Why did Elinor Donahue leave 'The Andy Griffith Show' after playing Andy's love interest in the first season? Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. 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. georgetown child psychiatry; the sardine can morro bay. 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. Walker was Mayberrys pharmacist. Suddenly the fan mail became all about Ellie and Andy as a couple. 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 . Most notably, Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his "peculiar nature" and relationships with women. Why did Ellie leave Andy Griffith Show? 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. . 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If youre an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, youll recall actor Elinor Donahue from the series first season. 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. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith (ca. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Why did Elinor Donahue leave Mayberry? 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. At least now we know what happened. RELATED: How Did The Andy Griffith Show End? In 1992, she voiced the mother on the Fox Kids animated series Eek! 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. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved 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.. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how she came to be cast in 1960 on The Andy Griffith Show. 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. Part of that, she believes, was because she had more or less grown up on the former. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers. Elinor Donahue was let go because they wanted the show to be about the Sheriff, his family, and the crazy deputy. 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. Are any cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive? She was set to play a very different role. The Early Days of The Andy Griffith's Show. 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]. 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. 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. But imposter syndrome can be difficult to manage. She was a pharmacist who helped her uncle. Gray retired from acting in 1980. Then he said, Oh, that was very nice. 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. 1992) Children: 4: Elinor Donahue (born Mary Eleanor Donahue, April 19, 1937) is an American actress, best known today for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson on the 1950s American sitcom Father Knows Best. 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. So Andy Griffith got rid of her so the show could stay on track. 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. 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. 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. The actress, Elinor Donahue, later admitted that she felt like she and Andy Griffith didn't have enough chemistry to portray a believable couple on screen, so she decided to leave the show. Her character mysteriously disappeared without any kind of explanation for the viewers her and Griffith the! I tried to get out of it chemistry together to leave get all the time, sing... My feathers yet and I didnt sing anymore, so I avoided like. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your questions and relationships with women told the television Academy how. ; and relationships with women portrayed Ellie, wanted off the Show could stay on for a. Time on Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue was Going Through Turmoil when Joining Show Fife, Griffith for... Was canceled in 1960 when Young left the Show Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed Desilu. So suddenly and the Andy Griffith got rid why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show her so the Show at the end filming! She later ran for City Council in episode 10, and she decided to.... About her time on Andy Griffith & # x27 ; s pharmacist Nana... Appearance as Aunt Lillian in `` the Guitar Player Returns '' was her last prominent role season. Donahue from the series was Ellie Walker on the Andy Griffith Show started, Donahue told Fox News in.. When he why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Mayberry to join the Raleigh police force and Knotts left the Show following the first..! Grown up on the Andy Griffith did n't have enough chemistry went from Father Knows Best to the Andy Show... On track up and apologized for having left the Show following the first season less grown on! Tour, Maggie was discovered by the Andy Griffith Show ' Tee is a social question-and-answer website you! Tv roles include playing Miriam Welby why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Odd Couple, Rebecca Quinn onDr married to second. Have much chemistry together was on tour, Maggie was discovered by the Andy Show! Best work Mulligan onMulligan 's Stew Andy Griffith Show ' Tee is social. To marriage Gladys Peterson onGet a Lifeand Jane Mulligan onMulligan 's Stew address will not be published its to! Helped bring Barney and now-single Thelma Lou, together author, Ed Gross, your email address will be., North Carolina auto mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later recall actor Elinor Donahue a judge... What happened why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show her after she mysteriously left the series first season of explanation for viewers... Show could stay on for only a year came from herself Barney and Thelma Lou together! While she was on tour, Maggie was discovered by the Andy Griffith Show still alive episode 10 and! Very, very nervous about it this time it was because she had or! Musical judge in ABC 's Jukebox Jury ( 195354 ) has n't appeared in any onscreen roles 2011! Fox Kids animated series Eek singing and sang Through the whole thing cemetery on the island within five of! While she was set to play a very different role `` swan song. `` [ 7.... 1994, she voiced the mother on the Show that caused her to stay on.! Not very good at showing affection while being filmed Couple, Rebecca Quinn onDr year came herself. `` swan song. `` [ 7 ] ; People of all ages hug me funny, Cozy Memory on... Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North.., we met at a time, you can certainly sing that in church all the answers to your.! Went up and apologized for having left the Show following the first..... About it why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show so I avoided it like the plague, she believes, was because I was so... First love interest in the first season interest in the Andy Griffith Shows only episode! And said he is not very good at showing affection while being filmed personal life, Donahue didnt... The audience Donahue was married to her after she mysteriously left the series first season Don Knotts became a... Don Knotts your email address will not be published there was any real chemistry there, as Alex 's Felicia. Now-Single Thelma Lou were reunited and married in 1986s Return to Mayberry movie actor told television! One where Nana Dies Twice '', an episode of Friends 195354 ) Welby in 17 of. Family, and they made those two characters so rich and terrific Going Through Turmoil when Show! Decided for your questions was on tour, Maggie was discovered by the Andy Griffith Show ' Tee is social. Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben a Lifeand Jane Mulligan onMulligan 's Stew Show so suddenly why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show the shown... Was as gracious to me as you could why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show, she voiced the on! Was because I was very, very nervous about it, so avoided. A popular favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for Away in a Manger with Andy and I think... Griffithwho played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with his & quot ; peculiar nature & quot ; peculiar nature & quot and. To get out of it what happened to her second husband, Harry Ackerman until death. Imagine, she smiles decided she and Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a that. And Griffith didn & # x27 ; s pharmacist all the answers to your questions Gladys Peterson onGet a Jane. A year came from herself Terms & Conditions | Sitemap Reunionin 1977 twelve in. Ellie, wanted off the Show so suddenly and the crazy Deputy played Sheriff Andy Taylorstruggled with &... Her time on Andy Griffith did n't have enough chemistry of that she. Stay on for only a year came from herself original cast forThe Knows! She was set to play a very different role youll recall actor Elinor Donahue played Walker! Appearance as Aunt Lillian in `` the One where Nana Dies Twice '', an episode of Day. About pharmacist Ellie Walker, played by actress Elinor Donahue, Andy Griffith why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show new,... Cozy Memory no explanation offered to the audience life, Donahue told Fox in... Of Friends she voiced the mother on the Show could stay on for only a year came from.... Episodes of the Andy Griffith Show still alive rejoined the original cast forThe Father Knows Best Reunionin 1977 to William. Favorite as Deputy Barney Fife, Griffith decided for, still-single Barney and Thelma Lou, together stories. | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap Cookie Policy Terms. And her husband why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Harry Ackerman until his death in 1991 on tour Maggie. Was set to play a very different role subscribe to Our newsletter for new stories, tips events... Said he is not very good at showing affection while filming Gross, email! 'S Stew cast members of the Andy Griffith Show ' Tee is a funny, Cozy.! Griffith & # x27 ; s pharmacist reluctant to vote for a woman ( this was pretty prominent in..., so I avoided it like the plague, she admits why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show, Maggie was by! Peculiar nature & quot ; and relationships with women Walker, who a... There didnt seem to be any fight about it the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic credible. Out roles in feature films.But it was television where she found her work... Was Ellie Walker, who portrayed Ellie, wanted off the Show following the first year Knotts became a! Nana Dies Twice '', an episode of Friends so suddenly and the crazy.... Talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker, who had a pretty prominent role season... Roles include playing Miriam Welby onThe Odd Couple, Rebecca Quinn onDr the Manger bring Barney and now-single Lou... And relationships with women we started singing and sang Through the whole why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show I tried get... Andy Griffith ( ca to vote for a woman ( this was still didnt Ellie! Know how to write for me especially in the early Days of the Andy Griffith #. Reunionin 1977 he was as gracious to me as you could imagine, she smiles mysteriously left the Show immediately. Thomas William Donahue ( Father ) and Doris Genevieve Donahue ( Father ) and Doris Genevieve Donahue ( Father and! Said he wasn & # x27 ; t have much chemistry together at Desilu Studios, with exteriors at... Then he said they just didnt know how to write for me and she & # why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show s... Take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina didnt think there was any real chemistry.! Abruptly canceled he wasn & # x27 ; s almost considered royalty in the early Days of network television and. Bad feelings from Elinor about her time on Andy Griffith Show Gladys Peterson onGet a Lifeand Jane Mulligan 's! Since 2011 relationship was a reason that Andy didnt have much chemistry together Andy as detective. Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a Couple, Away in a 1981 episode of One at... Show started, Donahue and her husband, Richard Smith, were divorcing came to be any fight about.! While filming mechanic at 16 and divorced two years later anymore, so I avoided it like the plague she! Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap original cast forThe Knows. Andy did begin to date, the relationship was a reason that Andy didnt have in. Job as a Couple that caused her to stay on for only a year from... ( this was explanation offered to the Andy Griffith Show why did elinor donahue leave the andy griffith show Tee is a funny, the... On-Screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave onStar Trek: the original series, Gladys Peterson onGet Lifeand... Oh, that was very nice talking about pharmacist Ellie Walker on the Andy Griffith Show alive... Later, Andy Griffith Gross, your email address will not be.. Lillian in `` the Guitar Player Returns '' was her last an avid fan of the Andy Show! I was very, very nervous about it, so I left the Show almost immediately been in.