Elinor Donahue: A Life Of Love, Laughter, And Legacy

Father Knows Best was more than just a sitcom for actress Elinor Donahue. It was her ticket to fame, a place where she became a beloved household name portraying Betty Anderson from 1954 to 1960. But the show was more than just a career milestone—it was also where she met her first husband, Richard Smith. And if you think that's a Hollywood fairy tale, just wait till you hear about her two other marriages and the incredible journey that followed.

After her unforgettable stint on Father Knows Best, Elinor didn’t slow down. She dove headfirst into another iconic series, The Andy Griffith Show, where she played Ellie Walker. Her role lasted a year, but it was a year filled with growth and challenges. Elinor wasn’t just playing a character; she was navigating the complexities of her own identity as an actress.

"I went pretty much immediately from Father Knows Best into The Andy Griffith Show, where I was really playing a grown-up with a profession, and moxie and stuff," Elinor shared with Closer in July 2020. "But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. I didn’t feel like I had all my feathers yet, and I didn’t feel capable. It was the strangest feeling. I had a three-year contract for that show, but at the end of the first year, I asked to be let out of it because I didn’t feel that I was playing the role properly."

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Elinor didn’t just stop there. She continued to juggle her acting career with the responsibilities of motherhood from the '60s to the '80s, landing roles on various NBC series. Between 1972 and 1975, the Washington native scored a recurring role on ABC's The Odd Couple. From 1993 to 1997, she played Rebecca Quinn on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. And later, from 2010 to 2011, she portrayed Judge Marie Anderson on The Young and the Restless.

Nowadays, Elinor has taken a step back from the limelight, choosing to enjoy life with her third husband, Lou Genevrino, in their Palm Springs home. She cherishes her time as a grandmother, embracing the quiet joys of family life.

Let’s dive deeper into Elinor’s remarkable journey of love and marriage. Keep scrolling to uncover the full story.

Meet Elinor’s First Husband: Richard Smith

It all began on the set of Father Knows Best, where Elinor met her first love, Richard Smith. He wasn’t just a sound producer; he was the man who swept her off her feet. In a 2015 interview, Elinor reminisced about their whirlwind romance, explaining how Richard proposed during a simple movie date.

"We had gone to see a movie, and he whispered, 'I love you and I’d like to marry you,' in my ear. And I said, 'OK,'" she recalled with a laugh.

The couple tied the knot in 1955 and welcomed their son, Brian, just a year later. But life has its twists and turns, and their marriage ended in 1961, setting the stage for Elinor’s next chapter.

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Elinor’s Second Love: Harry Ackerman

In 1962, Elinor found love again with Harry Ackerman, a powerhouse in the television industry. As a successful producer, Harry was the creative force behind shows like Bewitched, Gidget, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Partridge Family. Together, Elinor and Harry built a beautiful family, welcoming three children: Peter, James, and Christopher.

Harry wasn’t new to the joys of family life; he had been married before to Mary Shipp, with whom he had two children, daughter Susan and son Stephen. Tragically, Harry's life was cut short when he passed away in 1991 from pulmonary failure at the age of 78, leaving Elinor to cherish the memories of their time together.

Elinor’s Third Act: Life with Lou Genevrino

In 1992, Elinor embarked on her third chapter of love with Lou Genevrino. Lou, a former Broadway dancer, had a rich career in entertainment, appearing in the 1984 short film