---
name: "Elinor Donahue"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/elinor-donahue"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "19 April 1937"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 78
updated: "2026-09-16T21:21:07.136541+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Elinor Donahue

Actor. Born 19 April 1937 in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 19 April 1937, Tacoma, Washington, USA
- **Active:** 1990–1994
- **Also known as:** Mary Eleanor Donahue

## Biography

Elinor Donahue is an American actress, born Mary Eleanor Donahue on 19 April 1937 in Tacoma, Washington. She began performing as a child in radio, vaudeville and film roles, appearing in dancing-chorus parts from the age of five.

She achieved prominence playing Betty Anderson, the eldest daughter, in the television series *Father Knows Best* (1954–1960). She later appeared as Ellie Walker in 12 episodes of *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960–1961) and took guest and recurring roles in series including *The Odd Couple*, *Star Trek*, *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* and *Friends*.

Her film credits include Bridget in *Pretty Woman* (1990) and Lady Palimore in *The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement* (2004). She was also seen in *Imitation of Life* (1959) and *Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare* (1991).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Friends* (1994), Fi1m 78, as Aunt Lillian — [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Pretty Woman* (1990), Fi1m 77, as Bridget — [page](https://film.one/film/pretty-woman.md)

## Also known for

- *The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement* (2004), Lady Palimore
- *Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare* (1991), Orphanage Woman
- *Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman* (1993), Rebecca Quinn
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), Connie Lewis
- *Cold Case* (2003), Esther 'Legs' Davis (2005)
- *Imitation of Life* (1959), Lora's Friend
- *Happy Days* (1974)
- *Diff'rent Strokes* (1978)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/elinor-donahue