Person
Elinor Donahue
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 19, 1937
- Place of birth
- Tacoma, Washington, USA
- Also known as
- Mary Eleanor Donahue
Biography
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."
Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
In Catlg
1 Work in the catalog credit them.
Acting (1)
Filmography
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry VaultFilm · 2016 · as Self
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementFilm · 2004 · as Lady Palimore
Cold CaseTV · 2003 · as Esther 'Legs' Davis (2005) · 1 episode
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart WithinFilm · 2001 · as Rebecca Quinn Dickinson
Dear GodFilm · 1996 · as Elinor Donahue
E! True Hollywood StoryTV · 1996 · Acting · 1 episode
EllenTV · 1994 · as Delores Warwell · 1 episode- FriendsTV · 1994 · as Aunt Lillian · 1 episode
Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanTV · 1993 · as Rebecca Quinn · 9 episodes
Eek! The CatTV · 1992 · as Mom (voice) · 112 episodes
Freddy's Dead: The Final NightmareFilm · 1991 · as Orphanage Woman
Herman's HeadTV · 1991 · as Mrs. Fitzer · 1 episode- Get a LifeTV · 1990 · as Gradys Peterson · 35 episodes
Pretty WomanFilm · 1990 · as Bridget- CoachTV · 1989 · as Lorraine · 2 episodes
The New Adventures of Beans BaxterTV · 1987 · as Susan Baxter · 17 episodes
The Golden GirlsTV · 1985 · as Katherine · 1 episode
Murder, She WroteTV · 1984 · as Connie Lewis · 1 episode- No Earthly ReasonFilm · 1984 · as Mrs. Morrison
Going BerserkFilm · 1983 · as Margaret Anderson
High School U.S.A.Film · 1983 · as Mrs. Franklin
Just an Overnight GuestFilm · 1983 · Acting
HotelTV · 1982 · as Louise · 1 episode- NewhartTV · 1982 · as Irma · 1 episode
CondominiumTV · 1980 · as Audrey Ames · 2 episodes- $weepstake$TV · 1979 · Acting · 1 episode
Diff'rent StrokesTV · 1978 · Acting · 1 episode
Doctors' Private LivesFilm · 1978 · as Mona Wise
Police Story: No Margin for ErrorFilm · 1978 · Acting
CHiPsTV · 1977 · as Elnor Donahue (uncredited) · 1 episode
Dick Clark's Good Old DaysFilm · 1977 · Acting
Father Knows Best: Home for ChristmasFilm · 1977 · as Betty Anderson
Mulligan's StewFilm · 1977 · as Jane Mulligan- Mulligan's StewTV · 1977 · as Jane Mulligan · 6 episodes
The Father Knows Best ReunionFilm · 1977 · as Betty Anderson
The Love BoatTV · 1977 · as Rowena · 1 episode
Battle of the Network StarsTV · 1976 · Acting · 1 episode- One Day at a TimeTV · 1975 · Acting · 1 episode
S.W.A.T.TV · 1975 · Acting · 1 episode
Happy DaysTV · 1974 · Acting · 1 episode
PetrocelliTV · 1974 · as Joan Hiller · 1 episode
Police WomanTV · 1974 · as Ellie Tarlow · 1 episode
Barnaby JonesTV · 1973 · as Judy Corbett · 1 episode
Police StoryTV · 1973 · Acting · 2 episodes
Gidget Gets MarriedFilm · 1972 · as Medley Blaine
The RookiesTV · 1972 · Acting · 1 episode
The Odd CoupleTV · 1970 · as Miriam Welby · 17 episodes
In Name OnlyFilm · 1969 · as Esther Garrity
Mr. Deeds Goes to TownTV · 1969 · Acting · 1 episode
The Flying NunTV · 1967 · as Dr. Jennifer Ethrington · 1 episode
Occasional WifeTV · 1966 · Acting · 1 episode
Star TrekTV · 1966 · as Commissioner Nancy Hedford · 1 episode
Many Happy ReturnsTV · 1964 · Acting · 26 episodes
RedigoTV · 1963 · Acting · 1 episode
The Eleventh HourTV · 1962 · Acting · 1 episode
The Merv Griffin ShowTV · 1962 · as Self · 1 episode
The VirginianTV · 1962 · as Carole Cole · 1 episode
Dr. KildareTV · 1961 · as Sharon Calloway · 1 episode
The Andy Griffith ShowTV · 1960 · as Ellie Walker · 12 episodes
The Brothers BrannaganTV · 1960 · as Diane · 1 episode
Dennis the MenaceTV · 1959 · Acting · 1 episode
Girls TownFilm · 1959 · as Mary Lee Morgan
Imitation of LifeFilm · 1959 · as Lora's Friend (uncredited)
77 Sunset StripTV · 1958 · as Laura Holt · 1 episode
Have Gun, Will TravelTV · 1957 · as Letty Mae Stinchcomb · 1 episode
Father Knows BestTV · 1954 · as Betty Anderson · 203 episodes
General Electric TheaterTV · 1953 · as Carol Madsen · 1 episode
Letter to LorettaTV · 1953 · as Debbie Waring · 1 episode
Love Is Better Than EverFilm · 1952 · as Pattie Marie Levoy
Her First RomanceFilm · 1951 · as Lucille Stewart
Schlitz Playhouse of StarsTV · 1951 · Acting · 1 episode
My Blue HeavenFilm · 1950 · as Mary (uncredited)
Singing GunsFilm · 1950 · as Little Girl (uncredited)
Tea for TwoFilm · 1950 · Acting
The George Burns and Gracie Allen ShowTV · 1950 · as Emily Vanderlip Foster · 1 episode
The Happy YearsFilm · 1950 · as Connie Brown
An Old-Fashioned GirlFilm · 1949 · as Maud Shaw (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
Tenth Avenue AngelFilm · 1948 · as Cynthia (uncredited)
The Arkansas SwingFilm · 1948 · as Toni MacGregor
Three Daring DaughtersFilm · 1948 · as Alix Morgan
The Unfinished DanceFilm · 1947 · as Josie (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
Winter WonderlandFilm · 1946 · as Betty Wheeler
And Now TomorrowFilm · 1944 · as Janice
Honeymoon LodgeFilm · 1943 · as Janie Thomas
Mister BigFilm · 1943 · as Muggsy
Girls' TownFilm · 1942 · as Bit Role (uncredited)
No FriendsFilm · as Aunt Lillian
Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.