Biography
Mary Eleanor Donahue (born April 19, 1937), addressed as Elinor Donahue, is a renowned actress and TV personality from the United States.
She is best known today for playing the role of Betty Anderson on the 1950s American sitcom Father Knows Best.
Elinor Donahue‘s character was the eldest child of Jim and Margaret Anderson, who were played by Robert Young and Jane Wyatt, respectively, on the series, which aired on CBS from 1954 to 1960 and won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award during its run.
Elinor Donahue | |
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 Elinor Donahue: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photo | |
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Mary Eleanor Donahue |
| Stage Name: | Elinor Donahue |
| Born: | 19 April 1937 (age 86 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Tacoma, Washington, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.63 m |
| Parents: | Thomas William Donahue, Doris Genevieve Donahue |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Husband • Spouse: | Lou Genevrino (m. 1992), Harry Ackerman (m. 1962–1991), Richard Smith (m. 1955–1961) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Jack Jones |
| Children: | Christopher Ackerman, James Ackerman, Peter Ackerman, Brian Ackerman |
| Occupation: | Actress • TV Personality |
| Net Worth: | US$4 million |
Early Life & Education
Mary Eleanor Donahue was born on April 19, 1937, in Tacoma, Washington D.C, United States. She was born to Doris Genevieve Donahue and Thomas William Donahue. There is no information concerning her siblings at the moment.
She attended a ballet school alongside Barrie Chase, who later became the wife of Fred Astaire. She also appeared in dancing-chorus film roles at the age of five.
When Elinor Donahue was a little kid, she started her acting career in vaudeville. When she was a teenager, she had already appeared in several small roles in movies, including Elizabeth Taylor‘s 1952 film titled Love Is Better Than Ever.
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Personal Life
Elinor Donahue has been married a couple of times. She was first married to Richard Smith. She got married to Richard Smith in 1955 at the age of 18, and they got divorced in 1961.
A year after her divorce from her first marriage, she got married to Harry Ackerman in 1962, and they had four children. Unfortunately, Harry Ackerman died in 1991.
A year after Harry Ackerman‘s death, she married Lou Genevrino in 1992, and they are still living together. Elinor Donahue is a proud mother of four children. Her first child is called James Ackerman, Christopher Ackerman, Brian Ackerman, and Peter Ackerman.
Elinor Donahue once dated Jack Jones (1959-1960)
Career
Elinor Donahue rose to fame for her portrayal of Betty, the eldest daughter, in the 1954–1960 television family drama 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.
Elinor Donahue served as the musical judge on ABC’s Jukebox Jury from 1953 until 1954. She also had an appearance on The Ray Bolger Show, which starred Ray Bolger as a song-and-dance guy, during the first season of Father Knows Best.
Later, she co-starred with James Best, Ann Doran, and J. Carrol Naish in the 1956 Crossroads religious anthology series episode The White Carnation. She made a cameo on an episode of U.S. Marshal.
Elinor Donahue also made an appearance as a newlywed in the April 2, 1956, episode of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show titled The Newlyweds.
In the 1960 episode of Dennis the Menace called Dennis and the Wedding, Elinor Donahue portrayed Georgiana Balanger, the niece of George and Martha Wilson.
In 1960, Elinor Donahue and Marion Ross were cast together in the episode Duet of The Brothers Brannagan. She portrayed Nurse Hunnicut on Days of Our Lives.
She appeared in 12 episodes of the first season of CBS’s The Andy Griffith Show as the pharmacist Ellie Walker, and she was even thanked in the opening credits.
This character was originally intended to be Sheriff Andy Taylor‘s love interest, but Elinor Donahue decided to ask for a release from her three-year contract after one season (1960–1961).
When Father Knows Best ended, Elinor Donahue did this because she needed a vacation from the stress of her line of work and was experiencing troubles in her personal life.
Net Worth
Elinor Donahue has retained a net worth of US$4 million. She made an estimated salary of around US$10,000 and had a high-end range of earnings from her acting career.
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Her most significant sources of income are her acting career and the ownership stake in businesses.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: N/A
- Twitter handle: N/A
Filmography
- Father Knows Best
- Pretty Woman
- High School USA
- Her First Romance
- Mister Big
- Love is Better Than Ever
- Girls Town
- Three Daring Daughters
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