Ronnie Claire Edwards obit

‘The Waltons’ Actress Ronnie Claire Edwards Dies at 83

She was not on the list.

Ronnie Claire Edwards, best known for her portrayal of Corabeth Godsey in the 1971 series The Waltons, has died, according to a post on her Facebook page. She was 83.

Edwards made her debut in the third season of The Waltons as a mousy spinster who, after some persuasion from John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned), hesitantly marries storekeeper Ike Godsey after his proposal following their first date. She appeared in over 100 episodes.

Though The Waltons was her most recognizable role, the Oklahoma-born actress began her career in 1963, starring as Sally in All the Way Home. She appeared in multiple miniseries and TV movies afterwards including The American Parade, Paper Moon and This the West that Was.

Edwards’ acting career spanned several decades, also landing roles in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1995, she reprised her role as Corabeth in A Walton Wedding and again in 1997’s A Walton Easter. She appeared in her last TV series, 12 Miles of Bad Road, in 2007.

Edwards also wrote a play titled Idols of the King with Allen Crowe which dealt with the passionate fans of Elvis Presley.

She had been living in Dallas until her death.


Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.

1963 All the Way Home Sally

Drama film directed by Alex Segal

Based on the 1957 James Agee novel A Death in the Family and the 1960 Tad Mosel play All the Way Home

1978 Five Days from Home Marian Lemoore Drama film directed by and starring George Peppard

1980 Getting Wasted Mrs. Carson Comedy film directed and co-written by Paul Frizler

1985 Perfect Melody Romantic drama film directed, co-written, and co-produced by James Bridges

1986 Nobody's Fool Bingo Comedy film directed by Evelyn Purcell

1988 The Dead Pool Molly Fisher Action film directed by Buddy Van Horn

1994 8 Seconds Carolyn Kyle Biographical drama film directed by John G. Avildsen

2000 Sordid Lives Funeral Guest Romantic comedy film directed and written by Del Shores

2002 A Day Out with Gordy Flo Short film directed by Danika Kohler Doman



Television

Year Title Role Notes

1974 The American Parade "The 34th Star"

1974 Paper Moon "Gimme That Old Time Relation"

1974 This Is the West That Was TV film

1975–1981 The Waltons Corabeth Walton Godsey Recurring role

1976 Future Cop Dr. Avery "Pilot"

1978 When Every Day Was the Fourth of July Mrs. Najarian TV film

1982 A Wedding on Walton's Mountain Corabeth Walton Godsey TV film

1982 Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain Corabeth Walton Godsey TV film

1982 A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain Corabeth Walton Godsey TV film

1983–1984 Boone Aunt Dolly Sawyer Main role

1984 Dallas Lydia "Barbecue Five"

1985 Falcon Crest Maxie McCoy "Vicious Circle"

1985 Sara Helen Newcomb Main role

1985 Crazy Like a Fox "Desert Fox"

1985 Dynasty Sister Theresa "The Gown", "The Titans"

1987–1988 Designing Women Ione Frazier "Nashville Bound", "Come on and Marry Me, Bill"

1988 Just in Time Carly Hightower Main role

1988 Murder, She Wrote Sylvia McMasters "Snow White, Blood Red"

1989 Sweet Bird of Youth Aunt Nonnie TV film

1990 In the Heat of the Night Lorraine Reeves "Perversions of Justice"

1990 Guess Who's Coming for Christmas? Martha TV film

1991 The Torkelsons Bootsie "The Cotillion", "A Kiss Is Still a Kiss", "For Love or Money", "Men Don't Leave"

1993 A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion Corabeth Walton TV film

1994 Star Trek: The Next Generation Talur "Thine Own Self"

1994 A Walton Wedding Corabeth Walton Godsey TV film

1999 Inherit the Wind Mrs. Haley TV film

2003 Sweet Potato Queens TV film

2007 12 Miles of Bad Road Harlene "Collateral Verbiage", "Moonshadow", (final appearance)