# RIP Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [May 18, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640 "2022-05-18T21:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/1 "2022-05-18T21:51:48Z")
> **[Maggie Peterson Dies: ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Actress Was 81](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/maggie-peterson-dies-andy-griffith-215350042.html)** > > Maggie Peterson, an actress who made a lasting impression as the sweet-natured, occasionally flirtatious mountain girl Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s, died May 15 in Colora… I always thought she was the cutest woman on the show. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TTAavFT9WEU/maxresdefault.jpg "Charlene Darling Sings, "Salty Dog" | The Andy Griffith Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTAavFT9WEU) ---
**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:** [May 18, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/2 "2022-05-18T22:12:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I always thought she was the cutest woman on the show. I think you’re right, with the possible exceptions of Thelma Lou and Elly the Druggist. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/3 "2022-05-18T22:32:28Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > …with the possible exceptions of Thelma Lou and **Elly the Druggist.** Yeah, I always had a little bit of a thing for Elinor Donahue. She had a certain quality. She’s still with us at 85. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/4 "2022-05-18T22:36:37Z")
Aw - that “makes me wanna cry!” On guy I pick with probably knows 100 verses for Salty Dog. Some of them actually suitable for a family audience! 😃 ---
**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:** [May 18, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/5 "2022-05-18T22:41:33Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I think you’re right, with the possible exceptions of Thelma Lou and Elly the Druggist. Aw, shucks… 😊 * * * Seriously, I still watch the reruns in the afternoon. I loved the episodes that featured The Darlings, and Charlene was adorable. Sigh… rest in peace. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/6 "2022-05-18T22:48:47Z")
Damn… we are all getting old and our childhood crushes are dying off… RIP Maggie ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/7 "2022-05-18T22:55:40Z")
Yeah, Charlene and Elly were neck-and-neck in the cuteness tourney. Maggie originally auditioned for the role of Elly before it was given to Elinor Donahue. Maggie had some singing talent and actually released an album. It’s title: “Songs That Make Me Cry.” mmm ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/8 "2022-05-19T01:53:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > [@jaycat](#): > > > > I think you’re right, with the possible exceptions of Thelma Lou and Elly the Druggist. > > I always thought she was the cutest woman on the show. You’re both wrong. The cutest girl was Ellen Brown, the manicurist at Floyd’s barbershop. > **["The Andy Griffith Show" The Manicurist (TV Episode 1962) ⭐ 8.6 | Comedy, Family](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512594/)** > > 26m ---
**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:** [May 19, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/9 "2022-05-19T02:03:37Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Maggie had some singing talent and actually released an album. It’s title: “Songs That Make Me Cry.” Including Boil Them Cabbage Down? That one makes the baby cry. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/10 "2022-05-19T03:50:35Z")
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512515/quotes/qt2548721](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512515/quotes/qt2548721) > [PFC Dudley A. ‘Dud’ Wash](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397982/?ref_=tt_trv_qu): Hey, how 'bout playing “Never Hit Your Grandma With A Great Big Stick?” > > [Charlene Darling Wash](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0541571/?ref_=tt_trv_qu): Aw, Dud, that makes me cry. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/11 "2022-05-19T03:57:05Z")
> **[This is arguably the most darling song to Sheriff Andy on The Andy Griffith Show](https://www.metv.com/stories/this-is-arguably-the-most-darling-song-to-sheriff-andy-on-the-andy-griffith-show)** > > Read the lyrics to the final verse never heard on the show. [edit: better video quality, full text of lyrics] ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/12 "2022-05-19T09:29:37Z")
Another favorite: Opie singing Old Dan Tucker. Trivia: Briscoe Darling was Charlene’s mom’s second husband. Her first husband was run over by a team of hogs. mmm ---
**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:** [May 19, 2022, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/13 "2022-05-19T09:59:32Z")
Briscoe isn’t the only one that brings out the hanky when Charlene sings that song. 😢 I didn’t know The Dillards wrote it. Maybe METV will do a whole week of Darling shows. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-maggie-peterson-charlene-darling-on-the-andy-griffith-show/964640/14 "2022-05-20T01:16:26Z")
Maggie was on Green Acres. Looked really nice without the hillbilly outfit. I always wondered why she didn’t get a regular role in a sitcom. [![](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/765/mp2.JPG) ](https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/765/mp2.JPG) [![](https://metvcdn.metv.com/2GAef-1536610231-877-quiz_question_image_-6_green_acres_maggie_mancuso.png) ](https://metvcdn.metv.com/2GAef-1536610231-877-quiz_question_image_-6_green_acres_maggie_mancuso.png)