Elinor Donahue is famous for her role on the popular TV show “Father Knows Best,” but her career didn’t stop there. She continued to work on screen and in other areas after the show ended.
Now at 86 years old, Elinor Donahue recently appeared as a guest on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”
On “Father Knows Best,” Elinor Donahue played Betty ‘Princess’ Anderson, a key character in the show about a happy middle-class family in the Midwest.
The show began as a radio program in 1949 and aired every Thursday until 1954. After that, CBS brought it to TV, keeping only Robert Young, who played the father, Jim Anderson.
During her six years on the popular show, which was among the top ten TV shows in America, Elinor also appeared on “Crossroads” and “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” Her busy schedule was so demanding that she admitted she didn’t have time to watch her own show.
Elinor Donahue, who was born in Tacoma in 1937, worked hard on “Father Knows Best.” By the time she got home at night, she would have dinner and then prepare for the next day’s lines. This busy schedule meant she never had time to watch the show.
As a teenager, Elinor’s acting career took off, and she became the main provider for her family. She appeared in movies like *Love is Better than Ever* with Elizabeth Taylor and *Girls Town*.
Since Elinor was still a child, she needed an adult with her on set. With her father not around and her mother working full-time, her mom Doris had to quit her job to be with her.
After “Father Knows Best,” Elinor appeared on other popular shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Star Trek,” and “Mork & Mindy.”
Elinor Donahue, now 86, has appeared in over 70 TV shows and movies like *Winter Wonderland* and *Pretty Woman*.
At 19, she married her first husband, hoping it would make her feel like a grown-up. She admitted to Emmy TV Legends that she felt like a teenager at that age, saying, “I was like a 13-year-old 19.” She felt she hadn’t grown up properly and thought that marriage and having a baby would help her mature.
The person she married was Richard Smith, a sound man from “Father Knows Best.” Elinor decided to marry him because she thought it was her chance to become an adult.
Elinor Donahue shared a funny story about how she got engaged. She said that after a movie date, her first husband, Richard Smith, whispered in her ear, “I love you and I’d like to marry you.” She laughed and replied, “Okay.”
Elinor had her first son, Brian, with Richard. They were married for six years before divorcing in 1961.
In 1962, she married TV producer Harry Ackerman, who was 20 years older than her. They had three sons together and were happily married for almost 30 years until he passed away in 1991.
The following year, Elinor married her third husband, Lou Genevrino, a contractor. She has been retired from acting for the past decade.
Despite never planning to be on screen, Elinor Donahue has had a remarkable and successful career. She has appeared in more than 70 TV shows and movies like *Winter Wonderland* and *Pretty Woman*. Her role as Betty Anderson on *Father Knows Best* made her a household name, and she has continued to impress audiences with her work in shows like *The Andy Griffith Show*, *Star Trek*, and *Mork & Mindy*.
Share this with all the *Father Knows Best* fans you know to celebrate her impressive achievements and enduring impact on television!
Tragic: 7-Year-Old Boy Found Dead After Hurricane Helene — His Heartbreaking Final Words Disclosed
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, many lives were tragically lost, including those of a young boy and his grandparents. The child’s aunt shared the heartbreaking details in an emotional online post.
According to a recent CBS News report, Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 135 lives, with the Carolinas bearing the brunt of the storm’s destruction. Officials have confirmed that over 80 people were found dead in those states.
One of the most devastating stories reported involved a mother, her son, and her parents, who became stranded on the roof of a house in Ashville, North Carolina. As the floodwaters rose, Megan Drye watched in horror as her 7-year-old son, Micah, and her parents were swept away after the house collapsed.
Though Megan was rescued, her son and parents were not as fortunate. Her sister, Jessica Drye Turner, took to Facebook to share the pain the family is experiencing.
In her post, dated September 30, Jessica opened up about the emotional struggle she faces in accepting the loss of both her parents and her nephew.
She shared, “I feel a strange sense of peace, knowing we will see them again one day. Nothing could bring them back after being with Jesus.”
Jessica went on to reflect on the peace she believes her parents now feel, free from the fear and panic of their final moments. However, she acknowledged the immense burden Megan carries. “It breaks my heart that Megan has to live with these memories, but they are no longer suffering […] It’s going to be a long and difficult journey for Megan,” Jessica wrote.
She also mentioned the challenges that lie ahead for her and their other sister, Heather Kephart. Turning her attention to her nephew, Jessica revealed, “Micah’s body was found about a quarter of a mile from where Megan was rescued […] He was such a beautiful little boy, and he always dreamed of being a superhero. Now, he is.”
Jessica then shared the heartbreaking detail of Micah’s last words, “Before he was swept away, he cried out, ‘Jesus! Please help me!’” She ended her post with a message of faith and strength, “I still call on His name, through this new grief. Strong faith. That’s my new motto.”
In addition to sharing her thoughts on the grief experienced by herself, Megan, and Heather, Jessica also provided a detailed recount of the terrifying moments her sister, nephew, and parents endured during the height of the storm.
Jessica revealed that Megan, who had been swept away by the floodwaters and became stuck between two trailers, was left waiting for three agonizing hours before finally being rescued.
Like Jessica, Heather’s friend Amanda Sprouse Simpkins also took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking news.
In her post, Amanda pleaded with her followers, saying, “Please pray for Megan, Jessica Drye Turner, Heather, and their entire family. The loss Megan has suffered is beyond words. She has lost everything. If you feel compelled to help, please donate. If you can’t, please keep them in your prayers.”
Amanda’s request for donations refers to the GoFundMe page that Heather set up for her sister.
“For Megan Drye, our miracle, who has faced a mother’s worst nightmare. She has survived the unimaginable but lost everything. The support of others will help her keep going, one breath, one step, and one day at a time,” reads part of the GoFundMe page’s description.
Adding to the heartbreak, Heather chose to use the last photo Micah’s grandmother had taken of him for the GoFundMe page. In the image, Micah is wearing a Jurassic World T-shirt, smiling brightly, while his grandmother is reflected in the door as she takes the picture.
Our deepest condolences go out to Micah’s mother, aunts, and the rest of the family as they grieve such a tragic loss.
Hurricane Helene’s aftermath continues to wreak havoc across several states, despite efforts to mitigate the storm’s impact. One such measure involved the closure of 15 schools across Georgia, as reported on September 26.
As Florida’s capital prepared for the impact of a powerful hurricane, one the region hadn’t seen in over a century, residents were strongly advised to brace themselves for the worst.
According to the BBC, Hurricane Helene, initially classified as a category 1 storm, was expected to escalate quickly into a category 4 by the time it made landfall in Florida. The official forecasts described the potential consequences as “catastrophic,” “life-threatening,” and “unimaginable.”
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