DONAHUE, Elinor 1937–
(Mary Eleanor Donahue, Mary Elinor Donahue, Elinor Donohue)

PERSONAL

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); married Lou Genevrino, February 29, 1992; children: Brian Patrick, Peter Kyran, James Jay, Christopher Asher; (stepchildren) Susan, Stephen. Education: Studied at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career: Actress. Bert Levy Vaudeville Circuit, singer and dancer, 1944–46. SHARE (an organization for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled), member.

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nomination, best supporting actress (continuing character) in a comedy series, 1959, for Father Knows Best.

CREDITS

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 The Light 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 as Nightmare on Elm Street 6 ), New Line Cinema, 1991.

Herself, Dear God, Paramount, 1996.

Television Appearances; 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.

Television Appearances; 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.

Television Appearances; 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.

Television Appearances; 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.

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.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Dick Clark's Good Old Days: From Bobby Sox to Bikinis (also known as Good Old Days ), NBC, 1977.

NBC team, Battle of the Network Stars, ABC, 1977.

Laura Donovan, "Never Say Goodbye," CBS School-break Special, CBS, 1988.

30 Years of Andy: A Mayberry Reunion, TBS, 1990.

Stand–Up Comics Take a Stand!, The Family Channel, 1991.

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.

Television Appearances; 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.

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.

$weepstake$, 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," The Love 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," Biker Mice 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.

Television Work; Series:

Additional voices, Eek! the Cat (animated; also known as Eek! and the Terrible Thunderlizards and Eek-!stravaganza ), Fox, 1992.

Radio Appearances:

Sang on KMO–Radio, Tacoma, WA, 1939.

WRITINGS

Books:

In the Kitchen with Elinor Donahue, Cumberland House, 1998.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, November 7, 1997, p. 100.