Elinor Donahue - Betty - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lisa Hains · 08-20-2001, 02:45 PM

Does anyone know why she quit The Andy Griffith Show. She was so good as Ellie. She was my favorite character on FKB. Remember the one she tried to join a club and she wore a sheet and Bud and Kathy tried to burn it. Or when she got Margaret to lie to Jim about her friend meeting a boy secretly. Those were great episodes. What is she doing now?

Schmoopie · 09-22-2008, 04:57 AM

OMG, this thread is ancient but I'm surprised that no one has responded to it. The only thing that I know of that she's done (that I've seen anyway) was that part in "Pretty Woman". She played the sales person that the hotel manager sends Vivian (Julia Roberts) to see to buy the cocktail dress. That was after Vivian was humiliated on Rodeo Drive when she tried to buy a dress. I really liked that scene. It was a surprise to see Elanor, but I recognized her instantly from Father Knows Best. That says a lot about her good looks!

Anyone know if she's done anything else?

Andrea

honeybea · 09-22-2008, 10:17 AM

She was on the show, Cold Case a few years back, but other than that, I haven't seen her acting in anything either. She IS narrating some on the first season set with Lauren Chapin. She still looks great.

Schmoopie · 09-23-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeybea

She IS narrating some on the first season set with Lauren Chapin. She still looks great.

That's cool! Maybe I'll see if I can rent these! It's been a really long time since I've seen them!

Andrea

Tweety · 11-21-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

That's cool! Maybe I'll see if I can rent these! It's been a really long time since I've seen them!

Andrea

FKB is available through netflix, if you subscribe to it. We're going through the first season now.

Tweety · 11-21-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa Hains

Does anyone know why she quit The Andy Griffith Show. She was so good as Ellie. She was my favorite character on FKB. Remember the one she tried to join a club and she wore a sheet and Bud and Kathy tried to burn it. Or when she got Margaret to lie to Jim about her friend meeting a boy secretly. Those were great episodes. What is she doing now?

The U.S. was a lot different at the time this question was posted (August 2001).

I've heard that Griffith thought that there was a lack of chemistry between him and Donahue. I've never heard Griffith say that, of course, but I've heard others allude to that reason.

I've always liked Donahue...I thought she was beautiful as Betty on FKB, had a huge crush on her when I first started watching the show. She was a beauty! I've also heard that she was married in real life during part of the run of FKB, and went through a bitter divorce even while FKB was still being produced.

comedyfreak · 11-24-2008, 11:44 AM

Ms Donahue was also played Miriam, Felix's girlfriend on The Odd Couple.

catlover79 · 01-18-2009, 12:20 AM

I too have always enjoyed Ms. Donahue's work. She was happily married for many years to Bewitched executive producer, Harry Ackerman, until he passed in the early 1990s. She also played Lorraine, one of Luther's girlfriends, on Coach!!

BabyBoomer58 · 01-26-2009, 11:28 AM

She also played Ross & Monica's aunt on Friends. I recall her in the episode when their Grandmother passed away. She played their mother's sister.

08-20-2001, 02:45 PM	#1
Lisa Hains Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: Springfield, MO USA Posts: 19	Elinor Donahue - Betty Does anyone know why she quit The Andy Griffith Show. She was so good as Ellie. She was my favorite character on FKB. Remember the one she tried to join a club and she wore a sheet and Bud and Kathy tried to burn it. Or when she got Margaret to lie to Jim about her friend meeting a boy secretly. Those were great episodes. What is she doing now?

09-22-2008, 04:57 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	OMG, this thread is ancient but I'm surprised that no one has responded to it. The only thing that I know of that she's done (that I've seen anyway) was that part in "Pretty Woman". She played the sales person that the hotel manager sends Vivian (Julia Roberts) to see to buy the cocktail dress. That was after Vivian was humiliated on Rodeo Drive when she tried to buy a dress. I really liked that scene. It was a surprise to see Elanor, but I recognized her instantly from Father Knows Best. That says a lot about her good looks! Anyone know if she's done anything else? Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

11-24-2008, 11:44 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Ms Donahue was also played Miriam, Felix's girlfriend on The Odd Couple.
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01-18-2009, 12:20 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I too have always enjoyed Ms. Donahue's work. She was happily married for many years to Bewitched executive producer, Harry Ackerman, until he passed in the early 1990s. She also played Lorraine, one of Luther's girlfriends, on Coach!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-22-2008, 10:17 AM	#3
honeybea Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 06, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 503	She was on the show, Cold Case a few years back, but other than that, I haven't seen her acting in anything either. She IS narrating some on the first season set with Lauren Chapin. She still looks great.

01-26-2009, 11:28 AM	#9
BabyBoomer58 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 16, 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 22	She also played Ross & Monica's aunt on Friends. I recall her in the episode when their Grandmother passed away. She played their mother's sister.