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Elinor Donahue
Actor
Born April 19, 1937 (87 years)
Mary Eleanor Donahue (born April 19, 1937), credited as Elinor Donahue, is an American actress, best remembered today for playing the role of Betty Anderson, the eldest child of Robert Young and Jane Wyatt, on the 1950s American sitcom Father Knows Best.
Donahue achieved stardom for her role as the elder daughter, Betty, on the television family series Father Knows Best. Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as her younger brother, James "Bud" Anderson, Jr., and Lauren Chapin as her younger sister, Kathy.
Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (1953–54). 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. 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. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. Marshal. She also appeared as a new bride in the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show episode titled "The Newlyweds" that aired April 2, 1956.
She played Georgiana Balanger in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace.[5] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives.
She was featured in 12 episodes of CBS's The Andy Griffith Show as pharmacist Ellie Walker, even getting a mention in the opening credits. The character was intended to be a love interest for Sheriff Andy Taylor, but after one season (1960–1961), Donahue decided to ask for a release from her three-year contract.[6]
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.
Additionally, on February 9, 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel.
In the 1964–65 season, Donahue costarred as Joan Randall, the daughter of Walter Burnley, played by John McGiver, on the CBS sitcom, Many Happy Returns about the complaint department of a fictitious Los Angeles department store. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford.
In 1966, she guest starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire."
Donahue achieved stardom for her role as the elder daughter, Betty, on the television family series Father Knows Best. Her co-stars were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray as her younger brother, James "Bud" Anderson, Jr., and Lauren Chapin as her younger sister, Kathy.
Donahue was a musical judge in ABC's Jukebox Jury (1953–54). 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. 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. She guest starred on an episode of U.S. Marshal. She also appeared as a new bride in the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show episode titled "The Newlyweds" that aired April 2, 1956.
She played Georgiana Balanger in the episode "Dennis and the Wedding" (1960) on Dennis the Menace.[5] Donahue was also cast, in 1960, with Marion Ross in an episode ("Duet") of The Brothers Brannagan. She played Miriam Welby on ABC's The Odd Couple, Jane Mulligan on Mulligan's Stew, and Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives.
She was featured in 12 episodes of CBS's The Andy Griffith Show as pharmacist Ellie Walker, even getting a mention in the opening credits. The character was intended to be a love interest for Sheriff Andy Taylor, but after one season (1960–1961), Donahue decided to ask for a release from her three-year contract.[6]
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.
Additionally, on February 9, 1963, she played Letty May in the episode "The Burning Tree" on Have Gun Will Travel.
In the 1964–65 season, Donahue costarred as Joan Randall, the daughter of Walter Burnley, played by John McGiver, on the CBS sitcom, Many Happy Returns about the complaint department of a fictitious Los Angeles department store. She guest-appeared on Star Trek in the second-season episode "Metamorphosis" (1967) as commissioner Nancy Hedford.
In 1966, she guest starred on the TV series A Man Called Shenandoah, episode 8, "Town On Fire."
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement · as Lady Palimore |
| 2003 | The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry · as Elinore 'ellie' Walker |
| 2003 | Cold Case (TV Series) · as Esther 'legs' Davis (2005) |
| 2001 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within · as Rebecca Quinn Dickinson |
| 1999 | Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story · as Mrs. Lebowitz |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) |
| 1995 | The Invaders (1995) (TV Series) · as Norma Winters |
| 1994 | Friends (TV Series) · as Aunt Lillian |
| 1994 | Ellen (TV Series) · as Delores Warwell |
| 1993 | Biker Mice from Mars (TV Series) · as Munsterella |
| 1993 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series) |
| 1992 | Eek! the Cat (TV Series) · as Mom (voice) |
| 1991 | Herman's Head (TV Series) · as Mrs. Fitzer |
| 1991 | Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare · as Orphanage Woman |
| 1991 | The Legend of Prince Valiant (TV Series) · as Queen Eleanora |
| 1990 | Get a Life (TV Series) · as Gradys Peterson |
| 1990 | Pretty Woman · as Bridget |
| 1989 | Generations (TV Series) · as Sylvia Furth #2 |
| 1989 | Coach (TV Series) · as Lorraine |
| 1987 | The New Adventures of Beans Baxter (TV Series) · as Susan Baxter |
| 1986 | The New Gidget (TV Series) · as Margaret Sewell |
| 1985 | The Golden Girls (TV Series) · as Katherine |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Connie Lewis |
| 1984 | Santa Barbara (TV Series) · as Dr. Anderson |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special (TV Series) · as Laura Donovan |
| 1984 | Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Elaine Warwick |
| 1983 | High School U.S.A. · as Mrs. Franklin |
| 1983 | Going Berserk · as Margaret Anderson |
| 1983 | Hotel (TV Series) |
| 1982 | Newhart (TV Series) · as Irma |
| 1980 | Condominium (TV Series) · as Audrey Ames |
| 1979 | The Dukes of Hazzard (TV Series) · as Marjorie Dane |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) |
| 1978 | Mork & Mindy (TV Series) · as Dr. Joni Lincoln |
| 1977 | Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas · as Betty Anderson |
| 1977 | CHiPs (TV Series) · as Elnor Donahue (uncredited) |
| 1977 | The Father Knows Best Reunion · as Betty Anderson |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Betty Anderson |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Blanche Barrens |
| 1976 | The Feather And Father Gang (TV Series) · as Julie |
| 1975 | One Day at a Time (TV Series) |
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. (TV Series) |
| 1974 | Police Woman (TV Series) · as Ellie Tarlow |
| 1974 | Petrocelli (TV Series) · as Joan Hiller |
| 1974 | Happy Days (TV Series) |
| 1973 | The Young and the Restless (TV Series) · as Judge Marie Anderson |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Barnaby Jones (TV Series) · as Judy Corbett |
| 1972 | The Rookies (TV Series) |
| 1972 | Gidget Gets Married · as Medley Blaine |
| 1970 | The Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Miriam Welby |
| 1967 | The Flying Nun (TV Series) · as Dr. Jennifer Ethrington |
| 1966 | Occasional Wife (TV Series) |
| 1966 | Star Trek (TV Series) · as Commissioner Nancy Hedford |
| 1965 | Days of our Lives (TV Series) · as Kate Honeycutt |
| 1965 | A Man Called Shenandoah (TV Series) · as Julie Wade |
| 1964 | Many Happy Returns (TV Series) |
| 1962 | The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Carole Cole |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Sharon Calloway |
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) · as Ellie Walker |
| 1960 | Insight (TV Series) · as Margaret Drill |
| 1959 | Girls Town · as Mary Lee Morgan |
| 1959 | Dennis the Menace (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Imitation of Life · as Lora's Friend |
| 1958 | U.S. Marshal (TV Series) · as Martha Watson |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Laura Holt |
| 1957 | Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) · as Connie Peters |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) · as Letty Mae Stinchcomb |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as Blossom |
| 1955 | Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | Father Knows Best (TV Series) · as Betty Anderson |
| 1954 | Woman's World · as Daughter In Bargain Basement |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) · as Fran Crowell |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Debbie Waring |
| 1953 | Sweethearts on Parade · as Student |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Carol Madsen |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Katherine Casey |
| 1952 | This Is The Life (TV Series) · as Mary Foster |
| 1952 | Love Is Better Than Ever · as Pattie Marie Levoy |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) |
| 1951 | Her First Romance · as Lucille Stewart |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven · as Mary (uncredited) |
| 1950 | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series) · as Emily Vanderlip Foster |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Helen Richards |
| 1950 | |
| 1950 | The Happy Years · as Connie Brown |
| 1950 | Singing Guns · as Little Girl (uncredited) |
| 1949 | An Old-Fashioned Girl · as Maud Shaw (as Mary Eleanor Donahue) |
| 1948 | Three Daring Daughters · as Alix Morgan |
| 1948 | Tenth Avenue Angel · as Cynthia (uncredited) |
| 1947 | The Unfinished Dance · as Josie (as Mary Eleanor Donahue) |
| 1946 | Winter Wonderland · as Betty Wheeler |
| 1944 | And Now Tomorrow · as Janice |
| 1944 | Bowery to Broadway · as Young Bessie Jo |
| 1943 | Mister Big · as Muggsy |
| 1942 | Girls' Town · as Bit Role (uncredited) |