Arlene Golonka, who played waitress Millie, dies at 85 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-01-2021, 06:50 PM

https://deadline.com/2021/06/arlene-...85-1234767365/

Golonka joined The Andy Griffith Show in 1967 as a potential love interest for Jack Dodson's bookish bachelor Howard Sprague. She became a regular the following year on spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. Golonka had numerous guest-starring appearances on TV shows from the 1959 through 2005, when she guest-starred on The King of Queens.

Zoneboy · 06-01-2021, 07:57 PM

Arlene Golonka, best known for her portrayal of waitress Millie on the classic CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and its spinoff Mayberry R.F.D., died Monday at a West Hollywood memory care facility following a battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 85.

Her death was announced by her friend, the literary agent Cary Kozlov.

Golonka, who made her Broadway debut in 1958’s short-lived The Night Circus before landing stage roles in 1962’s Come Blow Your Horn and 1963’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, already had made numerous appearances on television prior to her breakthrough role on The Andy Griffith Show in 1967, among them Car 54, Where Are You?, The Doctors, The Flying Nun and The Big Valley.

She made her first Griffith appearance on Oct. 16, 1967, in an episode that introduced her as Millie Hutchins, initially intended as a love interest for bookish bachelor Howard Sprague (played by Jack Dodson). Golonka reprised the role the following month in an episode about the couple’s failed elopement.

Golanka returned to the Griffith universe the following year, this time as a regular on the spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D. starring Ken Berry. Renamed Millie Swanson, Golanka’s character was paired with Berry’s town councilman, a role that continued throughout R.F.D.‘s three-season run.

A Chicago native, Golonka studied at the city’s storied Goodman Theatre prior to a move to New York and the Broadway stage.

Following her signature role on R.F.D., Golonka was a familiar presence on television, making guest appearances on The Rookies, The FBI, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, M*A*S*H, Cannon, Love American Style, That Girl, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Alice, One Day at a Time and, in perhaps her most memorable post-Mayberry roles, as a call girl on All In The Family and as the daughter of Chuckles the Clown on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Her TV career continued well into the 1990s and beyond, with credits including Matlock, 1st & Ten and, in 2005, The King of Queens. As a voice actress, Golonka’s credits include The New Yogi Bear Show, Capitol Critters and the Scooby-Doo franchise.

On film, Golanka was featured in Hang ‘Em High (1968) with Clint Eastwood, Airport ’77 (1977), The In-Laws (1979) and Longshot (1981), among others.

Golonka is survived by sister, Zorine, and nine nieces and nephews.

Samme · 06-01-2021, 10:21 PM

Sad to read this. She was excellent in a very good episode taking that train trip with Howard, Andy, and Helen. That was funny stuff and is always fun to watch again. And it was also great to see her again in her last TV role in The King of Queens. I was happy to see her do such a great job in that episode after not seeing her for so long. Always nice to see her.

AB · 06-02-2021, 06:02 PM

May she rest in peace. She seemed like a very upbeat person from the different shows she appeared on.

Ohio8 · 06-03-2021, 09:43 PM

06-01-2021, 06:50 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,398	Arlene Golonka, who played waitress Millie, dies at 85 https://deadline.com/2021/06/arlene-...85-1234767365/ Golonka joined The Andy Griffith Show in 1967 as a potential love interest for Jack Dodson's bookish bachelor Howard Sprague. She became a regular the following year on spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. Golonka had numerous guest-starring appearances on TV shows from the 1959 through 2005, when she guest-starred on The King of Queens.

06-01-2021, 07:57 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	I was going to post this. Arlene Golonka, best known for her portrayal of waitress Millie on the classic CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and its spinoff Mayberry R.F.D., died Monday at a West Hollywood memory care facility following a battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 85. Her death was announced by her friend, the literary agent Cary Kozlov. Golonka, who made her Broadway debut in 1958’s short-lived The Night Circus before landing stage roles in 1962’s Come Blow Your Horn and 1963’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, already had made numerous appearances on television prior to her breakthrough role on The Andy Griffith Show in 1967, among them Car 54, Where Are You?, The Doctors, The Flying Nun and The Big Valley. She made her first Griffith appearance on Oct. 16, 1967, in an episode that introduced her as Millie Hutchins, initially intended as a love interest for bookish bachelor Howard Sprague (played by Jack Dodson). Golonka reprised the role the following month in an episode about the couple’s failed elopement. Golanka returned to the Griffith universe the following year, this time as a regular on the spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D. starring Ken Berry. Renamed Millie Swanson, Golanka’s character was paired with Berry’s town councilman, a role that continued throughout R.F.D.‘s three-season run. A Chicago native, Golonka studied at the city’s storied Goodman Theatre prior to a move to New York and the Broadway stage. Following her signature role on R.F.D., Golonka was a familiar presence on television, making guest appearances on The Rookies, The FBI, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, MAS*H, Cannon, Love American Style, That Girl, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Alice, One Day at a Time and, in perhaps her most memorable post-Mayberry roles, as a call girl on All In The Family and as the daughter of Chuckles the Clown on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her TV career continued well into the 1990s and beyond, with credits including Matlock, 1st & Ten and, in 2005, The King of Queens. As a voice actress, Golonka’s credits include The New Yogi Bear Show, Capitol Critters and the Scooby-Doo franchise. On film, Golanka was featured in Hang ‘Em High (1968) with Clint Eastwood, Airport ’77 (1977), The In-Laws (1979) and Longshot (1981), among others. Golonka is survived by sister, Zorine, and nine nieces and nephews.

06-03-2021, 09:43 PM	#5
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,912	Attached Images
	__________________ "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death." -- Pink Floyd

06-01-2021, 10:21 PM	#3
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	Sad to read this. She was excellent in a very good episode taking that train trip with Howard, Andy, and Helen. That was funny stuff and is always fun to watch again. And it was also great to see her again in her last TV role in The King of Queens. I was happy to see her do such a great job in that episode after not seeing her for so long. Always nice to see her.

06-02-2021, 06:02 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	May she rest in peace. She seemed like a very upbeat person from the different shows she appeared on.