This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Barney and Thelma Lou go through a brief, yet touching re-acquaintance and are finally married at the end of the movie. Stanwycks obituary in the New York Times in 1990 said they had been estranged for decades. Dion Anthony Fay died in 2006. She was shocked when he died a . Betty Lynn, who portrayed Thelma Lou, the patient girlfriend of Barney Fife, the bumbling deputy sheriff of the homespun town of Mayberry in the long-running 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, died on Saturday in Mount Airy, N.C. She was 95. It was great to have known and worked with her. Well, Betty Lynn, who played Barney Fife's girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, turned 90. Thelma Lou's last name and occupation are never revealed, however in one episode she mentions getting back to the office. Her name is as light, breezy and innocent as the characters she played on film and TV. Barney and Thelma Lou went their separate ways when Barney left Mayberry to join the Raleigh police force (coinciding with Don Knotts's departure from the series in 1965). And Im just the happiest old lady you ever met., It made me smile to learn that Thelma Lou still watches reruns of, One of Betty Lynns favorite restaurants in Mount Airy is called The Loaded Goat, after. The producers were thinking of keeping her on the show but Betty felt her role was incomplete, without her connection to Don Knotts, after Barney Fife left.TV work continued, never straying far from her wholesome image, with recurring roles on Family Affair (1966) and My Three Sons (1960) and guest parts on The Farmer's Daughter (1963), The Smith Family (1971) and Little House on the Prairie (1974). Several well-known names like Lori Lethin, Alice Hirson, Linda Purl, and Nancy Stafford appeared in the popular TV series. or redistributed. Knotts departed as a series regular, Barney returned for a high school reunion to learn that Thelma Lou had gotten married. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Betty LynnThe Andy Griffith Show Thelma Lou/Played by. Every Tuesday night for as long as I can remember were setting on that couch, a pan of cashew fudge between us, watching that doctor show on TV., Ms. Lynn laughed and said, Would you believe I never have had cashew fudge? in 2007, I didnt think Thelma Lou made much sense., Betty Lynn, Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show, Dies at 95, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/arts/television/betty-lynn-dead.html. On television, she acted in anthology series, westerns and sitcoms, including Family Affair and My Three Sons. In 1986, she played Mr. Griffiths secretary on four episodes of his dramatic series, Matlock, in which he played a lawyer. Did Betty Lynn have children? I couldnt wait to go because I loved doing it so much and everybody on it was wonderful. What about Thelma Lou? She signed a movie contract with the company and made her debut on the big screen in 1948 on Sitting Pretty with Clifton Webb, Maureen OHara, and Robert Young. By the time she was 17, Betty was singing in local clubs and eventually auditioned for the United Service Organizations entertainment group. 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Fans of The Andy Griffith Show know her best as Thelma Lou, the steady sweetheart of Barney Fife, but she occasionally answers to her real name, Betty Lynn. Mother and son did not have a happy time. Lynn appeared as Thelma Lou on the show from 1961 until 1966. She sings in the choir. Im just going to stare at you for a while, if thats okay. Lynn portrayed Thelma Lou, whose last name was never revealed on the classic situation comedy. As for Betty Lynn, her role on the show is mostly thanks to Andy Griffith. When much of the cast reunited in 1986 for a two-hour television movie, Return to Mayberry, Thelma Lou had gotten divorced. Andy and Helen return to Mayberry for a visit and bring their new baby. Of course , the answer is that they never gave her a last name on the show . Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra canceled a March 5 concert scheduled to feature soprano Anna Netrebko in a decision the orchestra said it made ''due to public concerns.''. In the same year, Andy Griffith hired her to play his secretary in a handful of episodes for his Matlock (1986) series. 2. She is apparently self-sufficient; her occupation is never revealed despite references to a never-seen "office", yet she lives in a roomy and well-decorated house of her own. Her marriage in 1965 is revealed to have lasted only a year before ending in divorce. By 14, Betty was singing in local supper clubs, and at 18 she began performing in U.S.O. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have been asked to vacate their home in Britain, suggesting a further fraying of ties with the royal family amid preparations for the coronation of his father, King Charles III. Barney Fife is seen planning dates with her over the phone on several occasions. So, when she decided she had to leave L.A, a friend suggested trying a retirement home at Mount Airy. In another episode, she is mentioned to have attended Mayberry Union High, graduating in the same class with Barney and Andy Taylor. Betty Lynn, better known as Barney Fife's forever girl Thelma Lou on the Andy Griffith Show, passed away peacefully Saturday night in Mount Airy, N.C. (Andy's hometown) after a brief illness. Lynn died peacefully Saturday after a brief illness, The Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, North Carolina, announced in a statement. Surprisingly, Thelma Lou, a character who is so well loved and remembered, only appeared in twenty-six of the 249 episodes. She became part of the small-town ensemble for five seasons -- until Knotts officially left the series to try out, full-time, in motion pictures. My favorite quote of the evening had to be one made when Ms. Lynn was speaking about her time on The Andy Griffith Show. Betty Lynn as Thelma Lou, the girlfriend of the neurotic deputy sheriff Barney Fife (played by Don Knotts) on The Andy Griffith Show. She joined the cast in 1961. Although Barney (Don Knotts) had an occasional telephone flirtation with Juanita, a diner waitress who was never seen, it was clear that Thelma Lou was Barneys steady girl. Thelma Lou, or Thel by boyfriend Barney Fife, is a character on the American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). On April. Her name is as light, breezy and innocent as the characters she played on film and TV. Oh, it was glorious! She told the man that she couldnt marry in their circumstance, because for her, marriage was a forever thing. She was 95. (formerly Whitfield) is Barney Fife's girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show. The 21 Correct Answer, What Will Be The Kinetic Energy Of Photoelectrons Ejected By A Metal? I hated to leave., Don Knotts as Barney Fife, Betty Lynn as Thelma Lou on "Return to Mayberry," 1986 | Photo: GettyImages, Both Betty and Don returned for the final episode of the show, where it was revealed that Betty had married another man. Jack Prince (Rafe Hollister) 1971. What did Thelma Lou on Andy Griffith Show do for a living? They had their tiffs, but would always seem to get back together. Her two cousins are Mary Grace Gossage and Karen Moore. Then, she switched her interest from the big screen to television, starting with a starring role in The Egg and I.. Mary Anne Durkin was born on September 14, 1951 in New York City, New York, USA. She was 95. Juanita Pike is not to be confused with Juanita Beasley, an unseen character from the diner that Barney has dated many times in the series. Elizabeth Ann Theresa Betty Lynn was born on August 29, 1926, in Kansas, Missouri. She even entertained the troops with her light soprano at USO tent shows towards the end of World War II. Quick Answer, What Will Be The Investment For 1000 Mt Of Cold Storage? Her mom and grandparents raised Betty, and the only paternal figure in her life was her grandfather, who was an engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Who was the phone operator on Andy Griffith Show? Still, Betty Lynns Thelma Lou made such an impression on both old and new fans of the show that, 52 years after the series ended, people still line up to meet her, get her sign, some pics, and a kissif shes up for it. In Return to Mayberry, it is said said she is divorced, presumably from Gerald Whitfield. Last Updated: December 2022. Andy and Helen return to Mayberry for a visit and bring their new baby, Andy Jr. with them. I had goosebumps as I read this!! We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. [1] Thelma Lou was portrayed by Betty Lynn. . Unlike her character, Betty was never married, but there were rumors among fans of the show for years about a romance between her and Don. Personally, Ive always thought Barney Fife was a fool to let his steady girl slip through his hands because, to quote him, Thelma Lou, youre the cats. Thelma Lou was the cats, and so is the actress who played her. In this Sept. 6, 2007 file photo, actor Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on "The Andy Griffith Show," pauses at a statue of Andy and Opie Taylor in Mount Airy, N.C. Lynn died Saturday, Oct . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! There were times when Thelma Lou would successfully make Barney jealous - by using Andy Taylor and Gomer Pyle. The two broke up in one episode when Barney pays a bit too much attention to an attractive newcomer to Mayberry. I love watching the old shows and still laugh out loud, Lynn told HuffPost in 2013. Its so funny!. Janney will play the landlord, a hard-shelled . . Pay no attention to the line of people waiting to meet me., Christi, Betty Lynn, and Landon; Photo credit: Thomas Gillingham. [1] This episode is Thelma Lou's final appearance on the series. Aneta made her last appearance as Judge Cynthia Justin in 1992, the same year that Matlock came to an end. Jane could ride very well, but she didnt know how to rope cattle and the studio didnt want her riding through rocks, so I did it, said Brackenbury, who still rides daily and works as a stuntwoman. The following is a list of Andy Griffith Show episodes featuring Thelma Lou. Goosebumps! We were so privileged to be on that show. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Biography. Airy, North Carolina, on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. I thought, No, whats Thelma Lou without Barney Fife? I left, too, Betty explained to Cleveland.com, and continued recalling her last day at work: I said goodbye to Don, and Andy and Aunt Bee and everybody, then I went into the ladies room and just collapsed in tears. Actress Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show, pays her respects at the Andy Griffith statue in Mt. She and Barney married in the film. Actors Don Knotts who played the role of Barney Fife, right, along with George Lindsey, who played Goober and Betty Lynn who played Thelma Lou, left, arrive at a reception at the Governor's Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee Wednesday, June 27, 2001. More like this. Your email address will not be published. Thelma Lou's last name and occupation are never revealed; However, in one episode, she mentions getting back to the office. After Thelma Lou, Betty Lynn had a problem. In one sequence of uninterrupted takes, she jumps and flips over bars with the agility of a circus performer. Thelma Lou's occupation through 26 episodes remained a mystery, as did her surname. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. But in a 1966 episode, after Mr. Knotts departed as a series regular, Barney returned for a high school reunion to learn that Thelma Lou had gotten married. She has traveled with the U.S.O., performed on Broadway, starred opposite Robert Young in her film debut, been a co-star to Bette Davis in two movies, and acted in several other films and numerous television shows. ), According to Beck and Clark, Thelma Lou works in an office in town (were never told exactly where she works or what she does).. (Viewers did see Juanita Pike, one of Mayor Pikes daughters. And I hope, here next year. Thelma Lous last name is never given on the show, though in her last appearance on the series (The Return of Barney Fife) she is married to a man named Gerald Whitfield. Legal Statement. She is so very sweet and puts everyone at ease. The two were former co-stars, seeing as Lynn played Thelma Lou on "The Andy Griffith Show." She was the girlfriend of the hilarious Barney Fife. Four days before the date set for their wedding, Bettys fianc arrived at her home and asked to talk with her and her mother. Burt Mustin (Jud Fletcher, Jubal) 1977. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. - The True Story behind the New Series Candy Starring Jessica Biel, Candy on Hulu - What to Know about the New Limited Series Starring Jessica Biel, Woman Finds Hidden Door in Her Home, Discovers a Secret Room Full of Long-Lost Letters behind It. Ill bet its delicious! Thelma Lou appeared as a semiregular character in The Andy Griffith Show from 1961 until 1966, when the character was dropped from the show following the departure of Don Knotts and his Barney Fife character. She was 95. Thelma Lou appears in the 1986 television reunion movie Return to Mayberry. All you have to do is say, "This is Thelma Lou." Betty Lynn, the film and television actress who played Barney Fife's sweetheart, Thelma Lou, on "The Andy Griffith Show," passed away in 2021 at age 95 after a brief illness. Gossage and Karen Moore so very sweet and puts everyone at ease gotten divorced 1986 reunion... 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