Elinor Donahue

About

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...

Known for

FriendsSeries • 1994The Love BoatSeries • 1977Star TrekSeries • 1966Murder, She WroteSeries • 1984Cold CaseSeries • 2003The Andy Griffith ShowSeries • 1960The VirginianSeries • 1962Happy DaysSeries • 1974Have Gun, Will TravelSeries • 1957NewhartSeries • 1982Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanSeries • 1993CoachSeries • 1989Dr. KildareSeries • 1961The Golden GirlsSeries • 1985HotelSeries • 1982Police WomanSeries • 1974Barnaby JonesSeries • 1973EllenSeries • 1994The Odd CoupleSeries • 1970The RookiesSeries • 1972One Day at a TimeSeries • 197577 Sunset StripSeries • 1958Father Knows BestSeries • 1954Dennis the MenaceSeries • 1959