Elinor Donahue

Elinor Donahue was interviewed for three hours plus in Burbank, CA. Donahue talked about growing up as a performer in radio and vaudeville, having started out at about the age of two, and the trials and tribulations of her career before landing a regular role on Father Knows Best.  She outlined her early film career in such films as Mister Big and The Unfinished Dance.  She described appearing in early experimental television for Klaus Landsberg (under hot lights and wearing unusual make-up) and spoke fondly of Ray Bolger who she danced with on The Ray Bolger Show.  She spoke in great detail about her regular role as teenager “Betty ‘Princess’ Anderson” on the classic ‘50s television sitcom Father Knows Best. She described auditioning for the role, the long production hours, and the series’ abrupt cancellation. She recalled working with series producer Eugene Rodney who she described as a “benevolent despot” who demanded strict adherence to the script.  She talked about working with fictional father Robert Young (and his pleasant nature in real life), “mother” Jane Wyatt and “siblings” Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. She talked about her marriage to the sound man on the series and working on the show until six weeks before the birth of her first child, disguising her pregnancy from the cameras.  Donahue then spoke about her role as Andy Taylor’s love interest “Ellie May Walker” on The Andy Griffith Show, and described the atmosphere on the Griffith set.  She talked about two other recurring parts, “Miriam Welby” on The Odd Couple (originally planned as a one-shot role) and “Rebecca” on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  She discussed playing the mother of 30-year-old paperboy Chris Elliot on Get A Life and how she read for the part as if she were speaking to a twelve-year-old, not knowing that Elliot would be playing the lead.  Throughout the interview, Donahue talked about her many guest appearances on series over the years including The Loretta Young Show, Star Trek, and Ellen. The interview was conducted by Jennifer Howard on April 25, 2006.