U.S. Edition
Without much crime to solve in North Carolina’s fictional Mayberry, Sheriff Andy Taylor had plenty of time to woo the ladies on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
From the widowed father’s first girlfriend, Ellie Walker, to his eventual wife, Helen Crump, here’s a look back at Andy’s on-screen love life:
(In real life, Griffith, who died on Tuesday, was married three times. His first and second marriages ended in divorce in 1972 and 1981, respectively. He married his third wife, Cindi Knight, in 1983.)
Ellie Walker We met Ellie Walker during the show’s first season. She came to Mayberry to fill in for her ailing Uncle Fred, the town pharmacist, and ended up becoming Andy’s first serious girlfriend. Opie takes a liking to Ellie early on when she offers him a free ice cream cone, under one condition: He can’t say “ain’t” anymore.
Mary Simpson Nurse Mary Simpson, played by Julie Adams and Sue Ane Langdon, had a brief stint on “The Andy Griffith Show’s” second season. Mary attracted the attention of both Andy and Barney in an episode titled “Three’s a Crowd.”
Peggy McMillan Andy dated nurse Peggy McMillan (Joanna Moore) during the show’s third season. But when he learned about her cushy upbringing, in an episode appropriately titled “Andy’s Rich Girlfriend,” their relationship suffered.
Sharon DeSpain We learned a bit about Andy’s past at his high school reunion, which took place during the show’s third season. On the episode, he was reunited with his high school sweetheart, Sharon DeSpain, played by Peggy McCay. Of course, it wasn't in the cards for the former lovers. Sharon headed back to Chicago to be a “big fish in a big pond,” and Andy moved on to the next.
Helen Crump Schoolteacher Helen Crump (Aneta Corsaut) is Andy’s longest love. The pair dated from the third season through the series finale. They were married on the first episode of CBS spin-off “Mayberry R.F.D.”
Which of Andy’s on-screen ladies were you hoping he'd end up with? Let us know in the comments below - and don't miss this video of actress Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou (the girlfriend of Don Knotts' Barney Fife) on "The Andy Griffith Show" and harbored a bit of a crush on her co-star, Griffith:
(Photos from CBS)
Give me Elle May any day!!! That lil gal was a spitfire!!! I always love a girl with spirit... besides Helen was an Ice Queen
My mom liked the Andy Griffith Show so much she named me Helena. She likes the subtle romance between Andy Taylor and Helen Crump. My brother learned a lot about how to treat a girlfriend from those shows.
I love the TAGS. Helen was the best choice. She matched Andy's intelligence. She loved his son and his Aunt. She had a career and wasn't concerned with being in the kitchen all day. They waited too long to have them married. Seems like that could have been a focus when Barney left the show. I still watch the TVLand reruns. But, they don't show the one where they got married.
i loved all the show with Helen in them she was the best lady for andy but they all were great looking women he couldn't go wrong with any of them
Peggy!!!! Helen was the absolute worst thing that ever hapend to the andy griffeth show ( other than losing don knotts) Peggy was the greatest. they should have gotten mary tyler moore.
What about Charlene Darling, she was crazy about Andy.
I always thought JULIA ADAMS was the best one for Andy
good question who was opie mother?
Andy was a widower, she died when Opie was very young.
all this fake stuff in time. c's say its both.
What about the "Fun Girls"
ron Howard got his start on this show.
I guess the episodes where he and the bumbling deputy snuck over to the neighboring town to hit the gay bars have been lost.
Ya right.
Ellie Walker was the best, she was pretty smart had spunk and spoke up for herself without being obnoxious. Helen Krump was and still is the most frigid non-sociopathic woman ever to be portrayed on television. She was humorless and as dry as toast.
I agree, Helen was a Miss Milktoast!
Ellie Walker was dreamy
yep
Peggy the nurse. She was beautiful, fun and even though she was from a rich family, felt right at home in Mayberry. Helen was too much like a older lady. Ellie was cute as a button, but maybe a on and off girlfriend. Mary the nurse was a cutie as well. I vote for Peggy.
I vote for Peggy, she was beautiful,funny,a nurse, could cook and sing. Perfect!
Ellie Walker was the real girl friend. She had a great smile and just seemed like a real person.
I only remember Helen Crump being Andy's true girlfriend. The others were just causal dates.
What about the gal who was the skeet shooting champion? I liked her
What about the "fun girls" from Mount Pilot?
Back in the 50s, nobody "knew" a woman, everybody was a virgin, went to church 12 times a day, didn't smoke or drink or cuss.
I don't recall any women smoking, but Andy smoked once in a while in the early episodes.
Sheriff Andy Taylor was a straight up pimp with all the ladies, much to Aunt Bee's dismay.
Ellie Walker was a real doll. What was her real name?
Elinor Donahue
I BELIEVE HER NAME WAS ELEANOR DONAHUE SHE PLAYED ON FATHER KNOWS BEST EPISODES AS THE OLDEST DAUGHTER!!
Ellie Walker was played by Elinor Donahoe. She was also one of the daughters in in Father Knows Best.
Commissioner Nancy Hedford, the love interest of Zefram Cochrane.
I always thought that Helen Crump was the best choice for Andy. They seemed to have a good working relationship and their personalities were matched perfectly. I just wish he had married her sooner.
I remember the episode where a couple of bimbos roll into town and try to nail Andy and Barney.
Ahahaha – I remember that one!
Is that you, Moe Profane?
I only care about one woman on that show and she only showed up once. Check out the episode called 'The Manicurist' featuring a young Barbara Eden. Wow and Holy Cow!
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/148804/si/Manicurist
Yeah! I still remember that one too. The scene where Andy and Barney watch her walking off down the sidewalk... oh man...
such a great family show. no cussing, no perversions, no deviant storylines. If it tried to air today, it would be mocked and vilified as being to white, to christian or anglo saxon or some other BS by liberals in our PC sick society we live in today. sad testamount of how far we have fallen.
It does air today, on TV Land. It is highly watched around the world today even in Muslim countries. My teenage nephews love it.
You can see Mayberry on TV almost everyday. It's been rerun for years and I hope it continues. You can also see Matlock on TV everyday. It was another excellent show.
Yes, but your opinion is silly and doesn't count for anything... one of those "I remember when" conservatives... did you walk 15 miles to school AND back, and it was ALL uphill?
oh, and btw, xfiler93, it's spelled "testament", not "testamount". You go to the same grade-, middle-, and high schools as Sarah Palin?
All of the children who grew up watching this show are the people who grew up and created the society that you seem so sickened by today.
Sorry the correct name of the epdisode was called "The Perfect Female". I thought she was perfect for Andy, and would have made a great co star shooting all the future bad guys in the show!
What about Karen Moore played by Gail Davis in the episode "The Perfect Woman" from Season 2 also?
To clarify, they did include nurse Mary but in one episode she was played by a different actress – Julie Adams. All I can say is, Meowwwww!!
They forgot nurse Mary who never was shown really as Andy's girlfriend but who was hotter than any of the rest of them hands down. And by the way, I never understood what Andy saw in Helen.
You forgot Charlene Darling!
yes, indeed, Charlene gets my vote. Just jump in and hold on.
Who was Opie's mother?
yea ive wondered that for years!
Andy Griffith was a widower. It's in like the second paragraph.
Opie's mother was a one-night-stand for the young sheriff. He doesn't even remember her name.
Patti–you sound like a HORRIBLE person. is html permitted here??
he will be missed.
A great talent.
HELEN WAS MODERN FOR THAT TIME ERA, SHE HAD A CAREER, ATTRACTIVE AND OUT SPOKEN AND IF ANY CHEATED ON HER SHE'D DUMP HIS ASS...
ANDY AND HELEN WERE GERAT AND WITH HELEN HE MATURED AS A MAN....
HELEN WAS MODERN FOR THAT TIME ERA, SHE HAD A CAREER, ATTRACTIVE AND OUT SPOKEN.
ANDY AND HELEN WERE GERAT. ANDY BECAME MORE MATURE AS A MAN WITH HELEN.
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I liked Helen for Andy, the writers made her character ahead of it's time; independent and not anxious to get married. There was a lot of chemistry between those two, I always wondered if they ever dated in real life. She never married but he was unless in between marriages. I loved the show, I have the DVD's but still watch TV land. The show is still the best ever.
DID SHE GET FIRED AGAIN!
Ellie was a stone fox! Plus she was educated, independent, sweet, etc. I liked Andy, but he wasn't good enough for her. Now, if Ernest T. Bass had gotten together with her...
Elinor Donahue was ok, but she was a little too young for Andy and I felt she and Andy lacked chemistry. I think Joanna Moore would have been the logical long-term girl for Andy. I think they worked very well together. I guess her substance abuse problems kept her from continuing on the show.
Elli walker looks just like sarah silverman and peggy (joanna Moore) was entirely hot did you see how sweet she looked in that dress in the episode where they are at the pond at night ,with barney and thelmalou? Joanna Moore was Tatum O'neils (Movie-Paper Moon)mom by the way!
Peggy was Andy's best girlfriend. Any of them were better than witchy Helen Crump. She would always fly off the handle first, ask questions later.
Everyone in the world still flips the Andy Griffith Show on TV Land. Andy appeared to be a decent and kind gentleman. We had the Danny Thomas show which was hysterical, I Love Lucy, Bob Hope, Cid Ceaser, Red Skelton, Jack Benny and many others, Martha Raye, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett....these people were true comics - families were able to sit down together and watch these shows. Unlike like today where its mostly sh-t on TV....swapping wives and and disrespecting others ...these reality shows that are not helping your brain learn anything..I did an essay on this 2 years ago...Most of this sh-t on tv are a poor examples to children who think this is the way life is..Having some innocent fun in your life keeps you grounded as a person. At this moment right now i'm thinking of Carol Burnett when she did the spinoff of gone with the wind, i love lucy's vita meata vegimin classic show. Mary Tyler Moore, Chuckles the Clown Dies, Red Skelton's Freddie the Freeloader...It was all harmless and innocent fun that people need to get back to at times, not this crap on TV that doesn't enlighten your brain at all. Rest in Peace to one of the most famous Sheriff's in the world!
YOU DON'T LIKE THIS OPINION SCREW YOU.....
Re: Margaret and Family's post.
This post, by Margaret and Family, is just dripping with irony. Complaining about all the stuff on TV that is not family-friendly and disrespecting others while using expletives and disrespect. Very nice.
ARE WE READY? BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO
Margaret and Family: You seem like lovely people. Who ends a comment with "you don't like this, screw you?" Go away....
MAY I HAVE A HOTDOG WITH PASTRAMI AND FILLET WITH JELLY ON A SEEDED ROLL , ALSO A MARTINI WITH A SPLASH OF BEER IN A COLD GLASS AND DELIVER IT TO 1313 MOCKINGBIRD LANE. GOT IT?
that last line on the review.....i would say she mean't ... thats the way it goes...her words are a little jumbled but i got the ending part.. This woman appears to be able to give somebody a reality check they will never forget...she doesn't appear to have been through a terrible situation actually its the opposite...this chick has balls.
margaret– a bit of stong ending .... Andy comments were great and your right..its time to get back to basics.
what i got from your closing line is...you punch..i punch 3 more times(not psychically of course but you know what i mean) - i agree chick don't play...
the patty that i fired a few years ago?
I THINK SHE WAS QUITE CLEAR AND DID A GREAT JOB...A LITTLE POWERUL AT THE END BUT SO TRUE.
.NOW GO MAKE SOME EGG SALAD SANDWICHES AND A COUPLE OF TEQUILA'S I'M HUNGRY!
Margaret's review was fine...the last line was a little dramatic, i feel she may have been debated on this issue at some point so that is why she ended it that way...however, she's right... we need that innocent fun back in our lives, there is too much bitter going on. the innocence kept us going. my wife and i are married 47 yrs and we understood what you mean't girl!
Andy, Barney & the rest of the cast were terrific, my personal favorite was Gomer Pyle! RIP Andy
How are your anger management classes going?
t
I agree with you 100%. My sister and I talk about it all the time. When sitcoms and those old shows were "funny and entertaining." It's so sad that this world has gone to the Kardashians, the Lindsay Lohens (how many get out of jail free cards does she have). All of these so called "entertainers" are not entertaining to me. I would love to see reruns of all the shows you mentioned, including Archie Bunker. Guess I am showing my age.
Danny Thomas was a brillinat man.
Ellie all the way! Peggy was pretty cool too. Crump was a drag.
Helen was INTELLIGENT and had pretty eyes, however she would never allow a man to cheat on her or treat her like a wet rag...Helen was the one!
Miss Ellie, although she was to independent...she ran for office!
I feel sad – feel like a long lost high school friend passed away. He (and his roles) were comfortable to watch and wish we had more people like him and more neighborhoods like his.
Our neighborhoods do not have an Andy, or a Barney type around us anymore.
I've done alot of analysis on people over the last 5 years who disloyal and do not care that they are disloyal...... Are they on drugs, alcoholics, bipolar disorder, genetic, disfunctional parents/families that could have caused terrible behavior ..its like people want to suck you into their baggage life style so it makes them feel better for a few minutes.
I have the same friends for 35 years and our friends enzo and his girlfriend said recently at a bbq that we together are the only people that we can trust, we will continue never include people we do not trust in our world. we all put our hands on top of each other and cheered.
The Andy Griffith Show was an example of loyalty, innocence, but most of all true friendship.
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NOT HERE DIMWIT! TAKE IT ELSEWHERE! WHY DON'T YOU GET A MEGAPHONE AND PREACH ON THE CORNER LIKE ALL THE OTHER WINGNUTS?
I don't know about Andy, but i always had a thing for Aunt Bea...
I always wanted Andy to be with Peggy McMillian!!
I totally agree with you, nurse Peggy was my favorite. Reminded me of Atticus Finches 'across the street' neighbor Maudie in 'To Kill A Mockingbird'- I always thought Maudie had an eye for Atticus.
He must have loved shooting off his night stick
Andy loved the cream puff
He sure was a busy man.
Ole Andg got a lotta pus.
What are you? Twelve? I will never understand why they even allow comments like that to stay up.
Pus oozes from infected wounds.
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