Actress Betty Lynn has died in her native North Carolina at the age of 95. She made her first movie in 1948 but it will her recurring role of Barney’s girlfriend ‘Thelma Lou’ on television’s THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW in the 1960s for which she will be best remembered.
With Lynn’s passing that leaves two regulars from THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW still living: Ron Howard and Elinor Donahue.
KELT' HOME FOR WAYWARD YOUTH- Helping Young Men To Turn Around For Over Twenty Years !
She only appeared in 26 episodes (the series was over 240 episodes) but will always be fondly remembered as a "regular" on the show. I read Daniel de Vise's Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV show. I seem to recall in that book Betty Lynn saying she asked for a small raise (she wasn't a contracted cast member, she was basically being paid per appearance, like a one-off guest star) and was told "you know, you can be replaced!" Whether or not Andy had any say in that I have no idea. However, she said in the interview below that she was offered the chance to stay on the show after Knotts chose to leave for a film career. She declined the offer, feeling "What's Thelma Lou without Barney?".