Betty Lynn - # 271 on the list.

 

Betty Lynn Dies: Thelma Lou, Barney Fife’s Girlfriend On ‘The Andy Griffith Show, Was 95

 She was number 271 on the list.

Betty Lynn, a veteran actress who was best known as the girlfriend of bumbling sheriff’s deputy Barney Fife on television classic The Andy Griffith Show, has died at age 95. She passed on Saturday in Culver City, Calif. of an undisclosed but brief illness, according to the Andy Griffith Museum.

Lynn appeared in 26 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show over a span of five years from 1961 to 1966.

Actress Betty Lynn, most known for her role as Thelma Lou on ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ died over the weekend, according to Andy Griffith Museum.

Lynn died after a brief illness on Saturday. She was 95.

She was born Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn on August 29, 1926, in Kansas City, Mo. She was raised by her mother.

Lynn’s character on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ was Barney Fife’s girlfriend, Thelma Lou.

“I had seen the Griffith show twice before I went to read for the part,” Betty recalled. “I remember that I laughed out loud—it was so funny. I didn’t do that very often. I thought, ‘Gee, this is really unusual.’”

Lynn was in 26 episodes of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ which were broadcast between 1961 and 1966 and spanned the show’s first six seasons.

She began studying dance when she was five and was acting and singing at age 14. In 1944, when she turned 18, she began performing for USO Camp Shows in the US.

She then went overseas, including extensive time in the China-Burma-India Theater, in 1945 where she entertained the troops and visited injured servicemen.

After the war, she returned to New York and caught the attention of Hollywood scouts. Twentieth Century-Fox signed her to a multi-year contract.

Lynn made several movies for Fox, RKO, MGM and Universal, including:

 

    “June Bride”

    “Mother Is a Freshman”

    “Father Was a Fullback”

    “Cheaper by the Dozen”

    “Payment on Demand”

She also performed in several stage productions and appeared in multiple shows during the early years of television.

She was under contract with Disney when producers for The Andy Griffith Show contacted her about playing Barney Fife’s girlfriend, Thelma Lou. Disney agreed to release Lynn to work on “The Andy Griffith show.”

Her recurring role as Thelma Lou spanned parts of the first six seasons. She also joined others from the cast for the “Return to Mayberry” reunion movie for NBC-TV in 1986.

She was a devout Roman Catholic. She is survived by multiple cousins, friends and fans of her work.

Donations in Lynn’s memory can be made to the Betty Lynn Scholarship Endowment, which is for students pursuing a career in dance or acting, or the Barbara and Emmett Forrest Endowment Fund. Both are in the care of Surry Arts Council, P.O. Box 141, Mount Airy, NC 27030; or Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church, 1208 N. Main Street, Mount Airy NC 27030.

Actress (57 credits)

 1990 Shades of LA (TV Series)

Sister Clara

- Some Like It Cold (1990) ... Sister Clara

 1986 Matlock (TV Series)

Sarah

- Santa Claus (1986) ... Sarah

- The Angel (1986) ... Sarah

- The Don: Part 1 (1986) ... Sarah

- The Seduction (1986) ... Sarah

 1986 Return to Mayberry (TV Movie)

Thelma Lou

 1978 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)

Mrs. Russell

- Blind Jeopardy (1978) ... Mrs. Russell

 1976 Gibbsville (TV Series)

Leora Kanzler

- Saturday Night (1976) ... Leora Kanzler

 1975 Police Story (TV Series)

Alma

- The Cutting Edge (1975) ... Alma

 1974 Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)

Bridget

- If I Should Wake Before I Die (1974) ... Bridget

 1969-1972 Mod Squad (TV Series)

Nurse Kearny / Mrs. Hill

- I Am My Brother's Keeper (1972) ... Nurse Kearny

- The Healer (1969) ... Mrs. Hill

 1971 The Smith Family (TV Series)

Barbara Martin

- Strangers: Part 1 (1971) ... Barbara Martin

 1967-1971 My Three Sons (TV Series)

Janet Dawson / Janice Dawson / Lois Bradley

- The New Vice-President (1971) ... Janet Dawson

- The Honeymoon Is Over (1970) ... Janice Dawson

- Double Jealousy (1970) ... Janice Dawson

- Instant Co-Worker (1969) ... Janice Dawson

- The Grandfathers (1968) ... Janet Dawson

1959-1970 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)

Viola Slaughter / Viola Howell / Lottie Ladare / ...

- The Boy Who Stole the Elephant: Part 2 (1970) ... Lottie Ladare

- The Boy Who Stole the Elephant: Part 1 (1970) ... Lottie Ladare

- Texas John Slaughter: Frank Clell's in Town (1961) ... Viola Slaughter

- Texas John Slaughter: A Trip to Tucson (1961) ... Viola Slaughter

- Texas John Slaughter: A Holster Full of Law (1961) ... Viola Slaughter

1970 The Boy Who Stole the Elephant (TV Movie)

Lottie Ladare

 1966-1968 Family Affair (TV Series)

Miss Lee

- Family Portrait (1968) ... Miss Lee

- Mr. French's Holiday (1968) ... Miss Lee

- That Was the Dinner That Wasn't (1967) ... Miss Lee

- Jody and Cissy (1966) ... Miss Lee

 1967 The Singles

 1961-1966 The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series)

Thelma Lou

- The Return of Barney Fife (1966) ... Thelma Lou

- The Arrest of the Fun Girls (1965) ... Thelma Lou

- Barney Runs for Sheriff (1965) ... Thelma Lou

- Goober and the Art of Love (1965) ... Thelma Lou

- The Lucky Letter (1965) ... Thelma Lou

1965 My Brother the Angel (TV Series)

Verna

- Here Comes the Bridegroom (1965) ... Verna

 1963 The Farmer's Daughter (TV Series)

Sylvia

- The Speechmaker: Part 2 (1963) ... Sylvia

 1960 National Velvet (TV Series)

Barbara Howard

- Mi's Girl (1960) ... Barbara Howard

 1959 Mike Hammer (TV Series)

Mona

- Pen Pals (1959) ... Mona

 1959 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)

Mary Francis

- The Bounty Hunter (1959) ... Mary Francis

 1959 Markham (TV Series)

Helen Burke

- The Marble Face (1959) ... Helen Burke

 1959 The Louisiana Hussy

Lili Guillot

 1959 Sugarfoot (TV Series)

Alice Fenton / Sarah Sears

- The Twister (1959) ... Alice Fenton

- The Royal Raiders (1959) ... Sarah Sears

 1959 The Hangman

Molly - Waitress

 1959 Bronco (TV Series)

Molly Bailey

- Baron of Broken Lance (1959) ... Molly Bailey

 1958 Wagon Train (TV Series)

Molly Richardson

- The Dick Richardson Story (1958) ... Molly Richardson

 1958 Lawman (TV Series)

Edna Phillips

- The Oath (1958) ... Edna Phillips

 1958 M Squad (TV Series)

Susan Baines

- The Trap (1958) ... Susan Baines

 1958 The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (TV Series)

Sylvia

- How to Catch a Man (1958) ... Sylvia

 1957 Sally (TV Series)

- Episode #1.1 (1957)

 1956-1957 Matinee Theatre (TV Series)

Emmy Chase

- The Man Without a Country (1957)

- The Nineteenth Hole (1957) ... Emmy Chase

- The Hex (1957)

- The Reverberator (1956)

- Beg, Borrow or Steal (1956)

Show all 8 episodes

 1956 Gun for a Coward

Claire

 1955-1956 Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (TV Series)

Sally / Anne

- Let Yesterday Die (1956) ... Sally

- Bamboo Cross (1955) ... Anne

 1956 Behind the High Wall

Anne MacGregor

 1956 Meet Me in Las Vegas

Young Bride

 1953-1955 Cavalcade of America (TV Series)

Beth Shearer

- Doctor on Wheels (1955) ... Beth Shearer

- The Betrayal (1953)

 1955 TV Reader's Digest (TV Series)

- Emergency Case (1955)

 1955 Your Play Time (TV Series)

Jeanne Collins

- Call from Robert Jest (1955) ... Jeanne Collins

 1954-1955 Fireside Theatre (TV Series)

Kay

- Night of Terror (1955) ... Kay

- The Last Hat (1954)

- The Man Who Sold Himself (1954)

 1955 Studio 57 (TV Series)

Jeanna Collins

- Call from Robert Jest (1955) ... Jeanna Collins

 1951-1955 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)

Lois Harlow / Nan Tolland

- Fast Break (1955) ... Lois Harlow

- Spangal Island (1954) ... Nan Tolland

- Never Wave at a WAC (1951)

 1955 Many Rivers to Cross

Cissie Crawford (uncredited)

 1954 Ricochet Romance

Bit Role (uncredited)

 1954 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV Series)

Virginia Beasley

- Gracie Gives a Baby Shower for Virginia Beasley (1954) ... Virginia Beasley

 1953-1954 Where's Raymond? (TV Series)

June

- Redecorate the Coffeeshop (1954) ... June (uncredited)

- Find the Dog (1954)

- The Maid (1954)

- Two Tickets (1954)

- Susan, the Horse (1954)

Show all 8 episodes

 1953 The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV Series)

Mary

- Lullaby (1953) ... Mary

 1952 Million Dollar Mermaid

Minor Role (uncredited)

 1952 The Egg and I (TV Series)

Betty

- Episode dated 24 June 1952 (1952) ... Betty

- Episode dated 23 June 1952 (1952) ... Betty

- Paw Turns Over a Leaf (1952) ... Betty

 1952 Chevron Theatre (TV Series)

Eve Smith

- The Word (1952) ... Eve Smith

 1951 Take Care of My Little Girl

Marge Colby

 1951 Payment on Demand

Martha

 1950 Cheaper by the Dozen

Deborah Lancaster

 1949 Father Was a Fullback

Connie Cooper

 1949 Mother Is a Freshman

Susan Abbott

 1948 June Bride

Boo Brinker

 1948 Apartment for Peggy

Wife (as Betty Ann Lynn)

 1948 Sitting Pretty

Ginger (as Betty Ann Lynn)

Hide Hide Soundtrack (2 credits)

 1961 The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)

- Cyrano Andy (1961) ... (performer: "Seeing Nelly Home" (aka "When I Saw Sweet Nellie Home"), "L'il Liza Jane")

 1954 Where's Raymond? (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)

- Redecorate the Coffeeshop (1954) ... (performer: "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" - uncredited)

 

Self

 2021 CBS News Sunday Morning (TV Series)

Self

- 09-19-2021 (2021) ... Self

 2021 The Mayberry Effect (Documentary)

Self

 2005 TV Land Confidential (TV Series documentary)

Self

- Being Bad Behind the Scenes (2005) ... Self

 2004 The Passions of Howard Hughes (Video documentary)

Self

 2000 Inside TV Land (TV Series)

Self

- Inside TV Land: The Andy Griffith Show (2000) ... Self

 2000 E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series documentary)

Self

- Andy of Mayberry (2000) ... Self

 1991 Nashville Now (TV Series)

Thelma Lou / Self

- Mayberry Reunion (1991) ... Thelma Lou / Self

 1985 The 2th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV Special)

Self

 1970 Della (TV Series)

Self

- Episode #1.160 (1970) ... Self

 1962 Here's Hollywood (TV Series)

Self

- Episode #2.151 (1962) ... Self

- Episode #2.130 (1962) ... Self

 1951 The Freddy Martin Show (TV Series)

Self

- Episode #1.16 (1951) ... Self

 

Archive footage (3 credits)

 2003 The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry (TV Special documentary)

Self / Thelma Lou

 2000 Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer (TV Series documentary)

- Jim Nabors (2000)

 1993 Andy Griffith Show Reunion (TV Special)

Self