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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Michael Denison to Carol L. Dudley
Elinor Donahue Biography (1937-)
Born April 19, 1937, in Tacoma, WA; daughter of Thomas William and Doris Genevieve (maiden name, Gelbaugh) Donahue; married Richard Smith (divorced); married Harry Stephen Ackerman (a producer), April 21, 1961 (died, 1991); marriedLou Genevrino, February 29, 1992; children: Brian Patrick, Peter Kyran, James Jay, Christopher Asher; (stepchildren) Susan, Stephen.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress
- Birth Details
- April 19, 1937
- Tacoma, Washington, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Mary Lee Morgan, Girl's Town, 1942
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Muggsy, Mr. Big. Universal, 1943
- (As Mary Elinor Donahue) Janie Thomas, Honeymoon Lodge, 1943
- (Uncredited) Bessie Jo as a child, Bowery to Broadway, 1944
- (Uncredited) Janice, age 4, And Now Tomorrow, 1944
- (Uncredited) Little Miss Big (also known as Baxter's Millions), 1946
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Betty Wheeler, Winter Wonderland, 1947
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Josie, The Unfinished Dance, 1947
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Alix Morgan, Three Daring Daughters (also known as The Birds and the Bees), 1948
- (Uncredited) Cynthia, Tenth Avenue Angel, 1948
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Maud Shaw, An Old-Fashioned Girl, 1948
- (As Mary Eleanor Donahue) Toni MacGregor, Arkansas Swing, 1949
- Mike Murphy's kid, Singing Guns, 1950
- (Uncredited) Connie Brown, The Happy Years, 1950
- (Uncredited) Lynne, Tea for Two, 1950
- (Uncredited) Bratty autograph seeker, My Blue Heaven, 1950
- Lucille Stewart, Her First Romance (also known as Girls Never Tell), Columbia, 1951
- Pattie Marie Levoy, Love Is Better than Ever (also known as TheLight Fantastic), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952
- Margaret Anderson, Going Berserk, Universal, 1983
- Bridget, Pretty Woman, Buena Vista, 1990
- Orphanage woman, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (also known asNightmare on Elm Street 6), New Line Cinema, 1991
- Herself, Dear God, Paramount, 1996
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Betty "Princess" Anderson, Father Knows Best (also known as I Told You So), CBS, 1954-1955, then NBC, 1955-1958, then CBS, 1958-1960
- Elinore "Ellie" Walker, The Andy Griffith Show (also known as Andy of Mayberry), CBS, 1960-1961
- Joan Randall, Many Happy Returns, CBS, 1964-1965
- Miriam Welby, The Odd Couple, ABC, 1972-1974
- Jane Mulligan, Mulligan's Stew, NBC, 1977
- Carol Lambert, Please Stand By, syndicated, 1978-1979
- Kate Honeycutt, Days of Our Lives (also known as DOOL and Days), NBC, 1984-1986
- Mrs. Baxter, The New Adventures of Beans Baxter, Fox, 1987-1988
- Dr. Anderson, Santa Barbara, NBC, 1989
- Sylvia Furth, Generations, NBC, 1989
- Gladys Peterson, Get a Life, Fox, 1990
- Rebecca Quinn, a recurring role, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS, 1993-1998
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Miniseries
- Mona Welk, Doctors' Private Lives, ABC, 1978
- Norma Winters, The Invaders, The WB, 1995
- Mrs. Lebowitz, Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story, CBS, 1999
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Movies
- Esther Garrity, In Name Only, ABC, 1969
- Betty, The Father Knows Best Reunion, NBC, 1977
- Betty, Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas, NBC, 1977
- Audrey Ames, Condominium, syndicated, 1980
- Mrs. Parsons, Hear Me Cry, 1984
- Rebecca Quinn, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within, CBS, 2001
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Pilots
- Medley Blaine, Gidget Gets Married, ABC, 1972
- Alice Bennett, If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?, CBS, 1974
- Jane Mulligan, Mulligan's Stew, NBC, 1977
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No Margin for Error, 1978
- Major Oberlin, Aeromeds, syndicated, 1978
- Ellie Williams, The Grady Nutt Show, NBC, 1981
- Trish Carlon, Sign-On, CBS, 1981
- Mrs. Franklin, High School, U.S.A., NBC, 1983
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Specials
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Dick Clark's Good Old Days: From Bobby Sox to Bikinis (also knownas Good Old Days), NBC, 1977
- NBC team, Battle of the Network Stars, ABC, 1977
- Laura Donovan, "Never Say Goodbye," CBS Schoolbreak Special, CBS,1988
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30 Years of Andy: A Mayberry Reunion, TBS, 1990
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Stand-Up Comics Take a Stand!, The Family Channel, 1991
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Lauren Chapin: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 1999
- Herself, Andy of Mayberry: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2000
- (In archive footage) Elinore "Ellie" Walker, The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry (documentary), CBS, 2003
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Episodic
- "I Want to Be a Star," Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, 1952
- Debbie Waring, "He Always Come Home," Letter to Loretta, 1955
- Janey, "Week-End in Winnetka," Letter to Loretta, 1955
- Helen, "The Life of Emile Zola," The Lux Video Theatre, 1955
- Katherine, "Sheila," The Ford Television Theatre, 1956
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The Ed Sullivan Show, 1958
- Georgianna Ballinger, "Dennis and the Wedding," Dennis the Menace,CBS, 1960
- Connie Peters, "Marked Down for Connie," Goodyear Theatre, NBC, 1960
- Kate Warren, "Duet," The Brothers Brannigan, 1960
- Fran Crowell, "Delayed Honeymoon," The United States Steel Hour, 1961
- Carol Madsen, "A Voice on the Phone," General Electric Theater, CBS, 1961
- "The Secrets of Stella Crozier," The United States Steel Hour, 1963
- Laura Holt, "Scream Softly, Dear," 77 Sunset Strip, 1963
- Letty Mae, "The Burning Tree," Have Gun--Will Travel, 1963
- Sharon Calloway, "Ship's Doctor," Dr. Kildare, 1963
- Joanie-Mae Kilpatrick, "Hostage Hero Riding," Redigo, 1963
- Carole Cole, "Siege," The Virginian, 1963
- Melanie, "The Secret in the Stone," The Eleventh Hour, 1964
- Julie Wade, "Town on Fire," A Man Called Shenandoah, 1965
- Commissioner Nancy Hedford, "Metamorphosis," Star Trek, NBC, 1967
- Linda Sue, "Oil Be Seeing You," Occasional Wife, 1967
- Dr. Jennifer Ethrington, "The Hot Spell," The Flying Nun, 1968
- Jennifer, "How to be a Spanish Grandmother," The Flying Nun, 1968
- Dr. Jennifer Ethrington, "My Sister, the Sister," The Flying Nun,1968
- Ellie Tarlow, "Warning: All Wives ... ," Police Woman, 1974
- Amanda, "Blue Christmas," The Rookies, ABC, 1974
- Joan Hiller, "Vengeance in White," Petrocelli, 1975
- Majorie Kemp, "Lessons in Fear," S.W.A.T., 1976
- Camille Tackleberry, "Ice Time," Police Story, NBC, 1977
- "The People's Choice," The Feather and Father Gang, 1977
- "No Margin for Error," Police Story, NBC, 1978
- Diane Sloane, "The Woman," Diff'rent Strokes, 1979
- Rowena, "A Funny Valentine/The Wallflower/Home Is Not a Home," The Love Boat, ABC, 1979
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$weepstake$, NBC, 1979
- Mrs. Marson, "Rogues to Riches/Stark Terror," Fantasy Island, ABC,1980
- Judy Corbett, "The Silent Accuser," Barnaby Jones, 1980
- (Uncredited) Herself, "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2," CHiPs, 1980
- Madge Nolan, "Delphine/The Unkillable," Fantasy Island, 1981
- Dr. Joni Lincoln, "Mindy and Mork," Mork & Mindy, 1981
- Mrs. Van Buren, "He's My Brother/Zeke and Zelda/Teach Me Tonight," TheLove Boat, ABC, 1981
- Miss Barrens, "Romance Times Three/Night of the Tormented Soul," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1981
- Federal agent, "The Sounds of Music--Hazzard Style," The Dukes of Hazzard, 1982
- Louise, "Deceptions," Hotel, 1983
- Mrs. Broderick, "School Dazed," Happy Days, 1984
- Herself, Our Time, 1985
- Margaret Sewell, "Stand up and Cheer" (also known as "Danni Becomes a Cheerleader"), The New Gidget, 1986
- Elaine Warwick, "Echoes," Riptide, NBC, 1986
- Irma Brown, "Courtin' Disaster," Newhart, 1988
- Katherine, "Stan Takes a Wife," The Golden Girls, NBC, 1989
- Connie Lewis, "The Szechuan Dragon," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1990
- Mrs. Fitzer, "A Charlie Brown Fitzer," Herman's Head, Fox, 1992
- Lorraine, "Burden of the Burleighs," Coach, ABC, 1993
- Voice of Munsterella, "A Scent, a Memory, a Far Distant Cheese," BikerMice from Mars (animated), 1993
- Lorraine, "Luthario," Coach, ABC, 1993
- Aunt Lillian, "The One Where Nana Dies Twice," Friends, NBC, 1994
- Delores, "The Tape," Ellen, ABC, 1996
- Rebecca Quinn, "The Heart Within," Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS,2001
- Also appeared as Felicia, One Day at a Time, CBS; in Crossroads, ABC; "Circle," Shortstories.
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Television Work
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Series
- Additional voices, Eek! the Cat (animated; also known as Eek! and the Terrible Thunderlizards and Eek!stravaganza), Fox, 1992
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Radio Appearances
- Sang on KMO-Radio, Tacoma, WA, 1939.
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WRITINGS
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Books
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In the Kitchen with Elinor Donahue, Cumberland House, 1998
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Periodicals
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Entertainment Weekly, November 7, 1997, p. 100
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