- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 19, 1937
- Place of Birth
- Tacoma, Washington, USA
Elinor Donahue
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 star…
Filmography
movieStar Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016 · Self
movieThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
2004 · Lady Palimore
tvCold Case
2003 · Esther 'Legs' Davis (2005)
movieDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within
2001 · Rebecca Quinn Dickinson
movieDear God
1996 · Elinor Donahue
tvE! True Hollywood Story
1996
tvFriends
1994 · Aunt Lillian
tvEllen
1994 · Delores Warwell
tvDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993 · Rebecca Quinn
tvEek! The Cat
1992 · Mom (voice)
tvHerman's Head
1991 · Mrs. Fitzer
movieFreddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
1991 · Orphanage Woman
tvGet a Life
1990 · Gradys Peterson
moviePretty Woman
1990 · Bridget
tvCoach
1989 · Lorraine
tvThe New Adventures of Beans Baxter
1987 · Susan Baxter
tvThe Golden Girls
1985 · Katherine
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984 · Connie Lewis
No Earthly Reason
1984 · Mrs. Morrison
movieHigh School U.S.A.
1983 · Mrs. Franklin
movieGoing Berserk
1983 · Margaret Anderson
movieJust an Overnight Guest
1983
tvHotel
1982 · Louise
tvCondominium
1980 · Audrey Ames
$weepstake$
1979
tvDiff'rent Strokes
1978
moviePolice Story: No Margin for Error
1978
movieDoctors' Private Lives
1978 · Mona Wise
movieFather Knows Best: Home for Christmas
1977 · Betty Anderson
Mulligan's Stew
1977 · Jane Mulligan
movieDick Clark's Good Old Days
1977
tvThe Love Boat
1977 · Rowena, Betty Anderson, Mrs. Van Buren
tvCHiPs
1977 · Elnor Donahue (uncredited)
movieMulligan's Stew
1977 · Jane Mulligan
movieThe Father Knows Best Reunion
1977 · Betty Anderson
tvBattle of the Network Stars
1976
tvOne Day at a Time
1975
tvS.W.A.T.
1975
tvPolice Woman
1974 · Ellie Tarlow
tvHappy Days
1974
tvPolice Story
1973
tvBarnaby Jones
1973 · Judy Corbett
tvThe Rookies
1972
movieGidget Gets Married
1972 · Medley Blaine
tvThe Odd Couple
1970 · Miriam Welby
movieIn Name Only
1969 · Esther Garrity
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1969
tvThe Flying Nun
1967 · Dr. Jennifer Ethrington
tvOccasional Wife
1966
tvStar Trek
1966 · Commissioner Nancy Hedford
Many Happy Returns
1964
tvRedigo
1963
tvThe Eleventh Hour
1962
tvThe Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
tvThe Virginian
1962 · Carole Cole
tvDr. Kildare
1961 · Sharon Calloway
tvThe Andy Griffith Show
1960 · Ellie Walker
tvThe Brothers Brannagan
1960 · Diane
movieGirls Town
1959 · Mary Lee Morgan
tvDennis the Menace
1959
movieImitation of Life
1959 · Lora's Friend
tv77 Sunset Strip
1958 · Laura Holt
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957 · Letty Mae Stinchcomb
tvFather Knows Best
1954 · Betty Anderson
tvLetter to Loretta
1953 · Debbie Waring, Janey
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953 · Carol Madsen
movieLove Is Better Than Ever
1952 · Pattie Marie Levoy
tvSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
movieHer First Romance
1951 · Lucille Stewart
tvThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950 · Emily Vanderlip Foster
movieMy Blue Heaven
1950 · Mary (uncredited)
movieTea for Two
1950
movieThe Happy Years
1950 · Connie Brown
movieSinging Guns
1950 · Little Girl (uncredited)
movieAn Old-Fashioned Girl
1949 · Maud Shaw (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
movieTenth Avenue Angel
1948 · Cynthia (uncredited)
movieThree Daring Daughters
1948 · Alix Morgan
movieThe Unfinished Dance
1947 · Josie (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
movieWinter Wonderland
1946 · Betty Wheeler
movieAnd Now Tomorrow
1944 · Janice
movieHoneymoon Lodge
1943 · Janie Thomas
movieMister Big
1943 · Muggsy
movieGirls' Town
1942 · Bit Role (uncredited)