Ellie Walker
Profile
Full Name	Elinor Mae Walker
Occupation	Pharmacist
First Episode	Ellie Comes to Town
Last Episode	The Guitar Player Returns
Spin-off Appearances
Relationships
Family	Fred Walker (uncle)
Spouse
Romances	Andy Taylor
Children
Portrayed by	Elinor Donohue

Ellie Walker is a pharmacist 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 which she becomes Andy Taylor's girlfriend. After her appearance in episode 131 The Guitar Player Returns, she inexplicably disappears. Ellie makes 12 appearances in the first season. Despite the paucity of her appearances, she was intended as a series regular. Unlike girlfriends that would follow, her portrayer, Elinor Donahue, is given opening credit billing, alongside Andy Griffith.

Ellie's AdventuresEdit

In her first appearance, "Ellie Comes to Town", Ellie refuses to dispense pills to Emma Brand without authorization. Emma is unable to offer a prescription and black lists Ellie. Unknown to Ellie, her uncle regularly placated Emma with sugar pills. When Ellie discovers the ploy, she gives Emma the pills she demands. Emma then accepts Ellie into her good graces.

In a later episode, Ellie runs for town council and faces stiff resistance from the menfolk of Mayberry who cannot abide the idea of a woman holding a man's position. With a good word or two from Andy however, the men change their minds and Ellie is elected. In another episode, Ellie introduces a muddy looking farmer's daughter to makeup, perfume, hairdos, and attractive dresses. In the only Christmas episode in the show's run, Ellie and Andy sing "Away in a Manger" with guitar accompaniment.

Andy and EllieEdit

After a short and somewhat turbulent getting acquainted period, Ellie and Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor date and become steadies. In the episode "Cyrano Andy", Ellie and Andy are instrumental in bringing Andy's deputy Barney Fife and Mayberry townswoman, Thelma Lou together as romantic partners. The two couples often double date.

Leaving MayberryEdit

After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the audience. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on-screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave. Griffith later admitted that it was his own fault because he had a hard time showing affection on-screen, and as a result, the relationship didn't appear real or believable.

FamilyEdit

• Fred Walker (Uncle)

AppearancesEdit

The Andy Griffith ShowEdit

• Ellie Comes to Town
• Irresistible Andy
• Andy the Matchmaker
• Ellie for Council
• The Christmas Story
• The Horse Trader
• The Beauty Contest
• Mayberry on Record
• Cyrano Andy
• The New Doctor
• Ellie Saves a Female
• Quiet Sam - mentioned
• The Guitar Player Returns

GalleryEdit

Gallery of Ellie Walker