Elinor Donahue
Acting
88
Acting Credits
Biography
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 a...
Known For
Filmography
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016
as Self
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
2004
as Lady Palimore
Cold Case
2003
as Esther 'Legs' Davis (2005)
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Heart Within
2001
as Rebecca Quinn Dickinson
Dear God
1996
as Elinor Donahue
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
Ellen
1994
as Delores Warwell
Friends
1994
as Aunt Lillian
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
as Rebecca Quinn
Eek! The Cat
1992
as Mom (voice)
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
1991
as Orphanage Woman
Herman's Head
1991
as Mrs. Fitzer
Pretty Woman
1990
as Bridget
Get a Life
1990
as Gradys Peterson
Coach
1989
as Lorraine
The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
1987
as Susan Baxter
The Golden Girls
1985
as Katherine
No Earthly Reason
1984
as Mrs. Morrison
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Connie Lewis
Going Berserk
1983
as Margaret Anderson
Just an Overnight Guest
1983
High School U.S.A.
1983
as Mrs. Franklin
Hotel
1982
as Louise
Condominium
1980
as Audrey Ames
$weepstake$
1979
Doctors' Private Lives
1978
as Mona Wise
Police Story: No Margin for Error
1978
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas
1977
as Betty Anderson
Mulligan's Stew
1977
as Jane Mulligan
Dick Clark's Good Old Days
1977
The Father Knows Best Reunion
1977
as Betty Anderson
The Love Boat
1977
as Rowena
Mulligan's Stew
1977
as Jane Mulligan
The Love Boat
1977
as Betty Anderson
CHiPs
1977
as Elnor Donahue (uncredited)
The Love Boat
1977
as Mrs. Van Buren
The Love Boat
1977
as Andrea Hammond
Battle of the Network Stars
1976
S.W.A.T.
1975
One Day at a Time
1975
Happy Days
1974
Police Woman
1974
as Ellie Tarlow
Petrocelli
1974
as Joan Hiller
Police Story
1973
Barnaby Jones
1973
as Judy Corbett
Gidget Gets Married
1972
as Medley Blaine
The Rookies
1972
The Odd Couple
1970
as Miriam Welby
In Name Only
1969
as Esther Garrity
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1969
The Flying Nun
1967
as Dr. Jennifer Ethrington
Star Trek
1966
as Commissioner Nancy Hedford
Occasional Wife
1966
Many Happy Returns
1964
Redigo
1963
The Eleventh Hour
1962
The Virginian
1962
as Carole Cole
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Dr. Kildare
1961
as Sharon Calloway
The Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Ellie Walker
The Brothers Brannagan
1960
as Diane
Girls Town
1959
as Mary Lee Morgan
Imitation of Life
1959
as Lora's Friend (uncredited)
Dennis the Menace
1959
77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Laura Holt
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
as Letty Mae Stinchcomb
Father Knows Best
1954
as Betty Anderson
General Electric Theater
1953
as Carol Madsen
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Debbie Waring
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Janey
Love Is Better Than Ever
1952
as Pattie Marie Levoy
Her First Romance
1951
as Lucille Stewart
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Singing Guns
1950
as Little Girl (uncredited)
Tea for Two
1950
The Happy Years
1950
as Connie Brown
My Blue Heaven
1950
as Mary (uncredited)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950
as Emily Vanderlip Foster
An Old-Fashioned Girl
1949
as Maud Shaw (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
Three Daring Daughters
1948
as Alix Morgan
Tenth Avenue Angel
1948
as Cynthia (uncredited)
The Unfinished Dance
1947
as Josie (as Mary Eleanor Donahue)
Winter Wonderland
1946
as Betty Wheeler
And Now Tomorrow
1944
as Janice
Mister Big
1943
as Muggsy
Honeymoon Lodge
1943
as Janie Thomas
Girls' Town
1942
as Bit Role (uncredited)