Who ended up being the bigger star after playing the eldest daughter in a classic family sitcom.

shelly fabares...

Generally I think Elinor got more regular-cast TV roles on very successful series -- I mean it doesn't get much bigger than being named in the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show...!

Shelley too went on to some big roles, notably Coach and The Brian Kieth Show, and was memorable on Love, American Style. But when you consider Elinor having recurring roles on The Odd Couple and The Flying Nun, and additionally doing a Star Trek episode (TOS), I'd give Elinor the nod. Even later in life she was in the regular cast of Get a Life, showing how she remained in demand.

Not even a close race....factually......SHELLEY

Against her wishes screen gems forced her to have a singing career, Johnny Angel among the biggest hit......Her own success and maturity might well have forced her to leave Donna reed so she could start a successful theatrical career......check IMDB......

as for guest spots, shelly did them all as well, just saw a "Rockford Files", but then moved onto to a regular multi year stint on "One Day At A Time" and then starred in the multi year "Coach".

As For Elinor a handful of first season Andy Griffith shows basically playing the same FNB character and a handful of occassional appearances not beyond 1970 makes Shelley way over Elinor in career success and beauty!

As For Elinor a handful of first season Andy Griffith shows basically playing the same FNB character and a handful of occassional appearances not beyond 1970 makes Shelley way over Elinor in career success and beauty!

You obviously failed to do your research before you posted. Elinor has many credits beyond 1970.

Link (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0231942/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

I still maintain that Elinor went on to become the "bigger star," as per the original question. This is not a knock on Shelley at all. I'm a fan of both. In terms of TV though, I think Elinor became a bigger name.

I might add that Elinor's 12 appearances in regular cast of TAGS Season 1, with opening billing, was quite a bit more than the "handful" of spots alluded to. And that's not even to mention the syndication success of TAGS, which kept her Ellie Walker character on the air for many decades...!

I still maintain that Elinor went on to become the "bigger star," as per the original question. This is not a knock on Shelley at all. I'm a fan of both. In terms of TV though, I think Elinor became a bigger name.

I might add that Elinor's 12 appearances in regular cast of TAGS Season 1, with opening billing, was quite a bit more than the "handful" of spots alluded to. And that's not even to mention the syndication success of TAGS, which kept her Ellie Walker character on the air for many decades...!

Agreed, I like both but for me Elinor is the clear winner here. Why beauty was brought into it is beyond me as it's totally irrelevant to the original question but for what it's worth, I thought both women were attractive.

As far as television I have to go with Shelley. After the Donna Reed Show ,she was a regular on The Brian Keith Show, the Practice, One Day at a Time, Coach and guest starred on many more. Elinor had a great career too. Coach is what settled it for me because she was a main part of that show and Elinore never achieved that kind of success again. I know she was a regular on TAGS but she was written off early on because they didn't know how to write for her. It's nice to see 2 child stars that had success as adults.

As far as television I have to go with Shelley. After the Donna Reed Show ,she was a regular on The Brian Keith Show, the Practice, One Day at a Time, Coach and guest starred on many more. Elinor had a great career too. Coach is what settled it for me because she was a main part of that show and Elinore never achieved that kind of success again. I know she was a regular on TAGS but she was written off early on because they didn't know how to write for her. It's nice to see 2 child stars that had success as adults.

I apologize for the "beauty" comment, sorry I let a childhood crush interfere with my post, I like both as well, so please posters don't be so offended as I like Elinor, own all seasons of FNB, I just felt her character on AG was the same as "Betty", so it didn't show any range as a actress, Shelley had to leave Donna Reed in season 5 because her movie career was demanding it, yes a few beach movies, but she worked with Elvis! So she was a bonefide movie, recording and TV Star, and having over 12 seasons of combined TV series work with Donna Reed, One Day At A Time & Coach plus her singing career put her over the top for me in being a well rounded performer.

It's worth mentioning, however, that Shelley's big recording hit "Johnny Angel" came during The Donna Reed Show (and was featured on it) -- not following. Had that hit in the years following the series, I'd be more inclined to add her musical success to the "after" stardom.

I'm leaning towards Shelley after reading all these great comments.

Elinor did some well-known films like Pretty Woman and Princess Diaries 2.

At the risk of sounding like Bill Clinton, Elinor Donahue and Shelley Fabares were both successful, but in distinctly different ways.

Elinor Donahue would have given her television father fits because she was secretly married after "Father Knows Best" first came on the air. While that marriage eventually failed, she later married Harry Ackerman (a notably successful producer of many, many Screen Gems sitcoms) and remained happily married until Ackerman's death in 1992. So she was successful in both television life on and off screen.

Shelley Fabares, is must be noted, was the niece of Nanette Fabray (whose last name was Anglicized from "Fabares"). The character Shelley played seemed livelier and more vivacious than the serious, somber character Elinor played, and to a pre-teen boy like me, I preferred Mary Stone to "Princess" Anderson.

And at the time, Shelley seemed prettier to me. Time, however, has turned Elinor Donahue into a lovely, elegant lady, so beauty may be a moot point today. But Miss Fabares parlayed Mary Stone into a career that, according to one critic, seemed to star her "in every other TV sitcom ever produced."

And we're fortunate they're still on TV somewhere!

I think that Shelley Fabares did better than Elinor Donahue. Shelly's role on "Coach" put her ahead of Elinor Donahue. I don't recall seeing Elinor on anything except for guest spots and "The Andy Griffith Show".

I think that Shelley Fabares did better than Elinor Donahue. Shelly's role on "Coach" put her ahead of Elinor Donahue. I don't recall seeing Elinor on anything except for guest spots and "The Andy Griffith Show".

I just started watching Father Knows Best. Bought the season sets. Before that I vaguely remember Elinor in that 90's sitcom Get A Life wearing that robe & the two movies I mentioned on my previous post.

Shelley I fondly remember from her long stint on Coach and seeing her on Nick&Nite reruns of Donna Reed Show (now own all 5 seasons on DVD!). She seems to be a popular fixture on Television doing series, voice-overs, guest spots, and movies. Her film career is another story...I know of those 3 Elvis movies & a movie featuring John Cusak.

One must underscore the feature films Shelly made after Donna: Ride the Wild Surf, Girl Happy, Spinout, Clambake, and a Time to Sing - Elinor did not star in features so far as I can ascertain.

Shelley a bit more...but Elinor showed up a lot too.

I think Shelley had the bigger career, but Elinor’s was impressive nonetheless.

It's unfair to compare the two, both did well, Elinor found a niche as a supporting player, Shelley as a lead performer. It's really apples and oranges.

We could check how many Love Boats and Fantasy Islands they each did! : )

Shelley Fabares

We could check how many Love Boats and Fantasy Islands they each did! : )

:D

Elinor did 4 Love Boats. She also did 3 Fantasy Islands.

Shelley did 3 Love Boats. She also did 4 Fantasy Islands.

:)

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5d/94/bd/5d94bdb145d95cbff0e3a9b1822da2bd.jpghttps://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/a2/97/21a297203d16429d6de329be4d364fcc.png

I think because of Coach, Shelley later had a slightly bigger career. Elinor was usually a better actress. They both seem like very nice ladies and are very interesting and charming in interviews. Yet they can both come off as kinda strident in their roles. But they both seem very nice as themselves.

I'd have to say Shelley Fabares. If for no other reason than she starred in the made for TV movie "Brian's Song," but also because of "Coach." I don't know that Elinor Donahue was ever in any movie (but tell me if I"m wrong!)

Elinor had a role in Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts & Richard Gere.

I might mention too that she had a recurring role in the highly successful & popular TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.