# Betty Lynn aka Thelma Lou has died (Not our regular poster, ThelmaLou.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 17, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667 "2021-10-17T23:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/1 "2021-10-17T23:59:00Z")
The Andy Griffith show brought me many wonderful hours of entertainment. Betty met a lot of fans after retiring to Mount Airy, N.C. Ron and Clint Howard and Maggie Peterson are the three cast members still living. Maggie played Charlene the singer with The Darlings. > **[Actress Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ dead...](https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending/actress-betty-lynn-who-played-thelma-lou-andy-griffith-show-dead-95/F4LH6AJS2REVDFITZRXWF4PGPY/)** > > The Kansas City, Missouri, native also performed for the United Service Organizations, or USO, and on Broadway, as well as in numerous films and TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/2 "2021-10-18T00:03:38Z")
Oh no! 😢 I will carry on for her. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/3 "2021-10-18T00:06:31Z")
Thelma Lou is gone, Andy Griffith is gone, Don Knotts is gone. WTF is wrong with this world? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/4 "2021-10-18T00:12:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Ron and Clint Howard and Maggie Peterson are the three cast members still living. What role did Clint play? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/5 "2021-10-18T00:14:14Z")
I’ve seen video of Betty in Mount Airy. She was doing well after retiring there. She really enjoyed meeting fans. She didn’t look very good in more recent video. I dont think she met fans in the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/6 "2021-10-18T00:16:30Z")
Leon: the little boy who was always offering a bite of his sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/7 "2021-10-18T00:20:33Z")
If minor characters are to be included, then several members of the Darling family are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/8 "2021-10-18T00:20:44Z")
Rance Howard had a few appearances as an extra. He was on set as Ron’s guardian and available. That’s probably why Clint got used a few times. The Dillards played the Darlings on Andy Griffith. They rarely spoke. I’m not sure which are still alive. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/9 "2021-10-18T00:21:40Z")
Leon. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/10 "2021-10-18T00:29:24Z")
“Leon” appeared 4 times, while Maggie Mancuso as “Charlene Darling” appeared 6 times, as did four members of The Dillards musical group as her brothers(two of whom, Doug and Rodney, are still alive). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/11 "2021-10-18T00:34:58Z")
They made the reunion movie at the right time. A lot of the cast was alive. I felt that Thelma Lou should have continued appearing after Don Knotts left. She was a good actress and a popular character. But the writers only saw her as Barney’s gf. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/12 "2021-10-18T00:36:22Z")
Jesus F. Christ. The thread title stopped my heart for a moment. @ThelmaLou, I’m really glad you’re still among us. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/13 "2021-10-18T00:46:26Z")
No shit, this thread title had me agape - in a bad way. Glad I read further. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/14 "2021-10-18T00:47:35Z")
Sorry, @Czarcasm, didn’t mean to address that to you. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/15 "2021-10-18T00:55:21Z")
I reported the title to add a bit of clarification that it’s not our @ThelmaLou. I hope @aceplace57 won’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/16 "2021-10-18T01:02:13Z")
I didn’t expect any confusion on a Cafe thread. The title change is welcome to avoid concern about a poster. . ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/17 "2021-10-18T01:07:40Z")
Awww…y’all are sweet. The title kind of gave me a start, too. 😮 Years ago I saw my own name in the obituaries. Someone in my own city with my own actual first and last name. That gets your attention. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/18 "2021-10-18T01:08:54Z")
She was so much nicer (and prettier) than that awful Helen Crump. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/19 "2021-10-18T01:11:15Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Helen Crump. Was that the character played by Elinor Donahue? * * * Nevermind, [Played by](https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvJ_1eu1kTWoYL_RuXIRxBgpsx7RUQ:1634519389359&q=helen+crump+played+by&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LUz9U3SCrLNjTSMslOttJPy0wuyczPS8yJL83LLEstKk5FEkrOSCxKTC5JLbIqyEmsTE1RSKpcxCqakZqTmqeQXFSaW6AAFwcANxRexlsAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjv1dKc49LzAhVhU98KHdUXAsUQ6BMoAHoECFAQAg&cshid=1634519588895713): [Aneta Corsaut](https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvJ_1eu1kTWoYL_RuXIRxBgpsx7RUQ:1634519389359&q=Aneta+Corsaut&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LUz9U3SCrLNjRSAjMtTEqqCrVMspOt9NMyk0sy8_MSc-JL8zLLUouKU5GEkjMSixKTS1KLrApyEitTUxSSKhex8jrmpZYkKjjnFxUnlpbsYGUEAK8fTKJhAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjv1dKc49LzAhVhU98KHdUXAsUQmxMoAXoECFAQAw&cshid=1634519588895713) * * * > [@aceplace57](#): > > Ron and Clint Howard and Maggie Peterson are the three cast members still living. Maggie played Charlene the singer with The Darlings. Elinor Donahue is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667/20 "2021-10-18T01:21:15Z")
I forgot about Miss Ellie. I liked her character. > **[Ellie Walker](https://mayberry.fandom.com/wiki/Ellie_Walker)** > > Ellie Walker is a pharmacist (or "lady druggist" as Andy called her) who assists her uncle Fred Walker at Walker's Drugstore in Mayberry. She is played by actress Elinor Donahue in twelve episodes of the first season of The Andy Griffith Show, during... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/betty-lynn-aka-thelma-lou-has-died-not-our-regular-poster-thelmalou/952667.md?page=2)