Who Were Andy Taylor’s Love Interests on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’? Vote for Your Favorite!
Andy Taylor might have been Mayberry’s sheriff, but he was also one of television’s most eligible bachelors. Played with an easy charm by Andy Griffith, Andy didn’t fall in love easily or often, but when he did, the women were warm and intelligent. Across The Andy Griffith Show‘s eight seasons, three major love interests stood out, each leaving her own mark on the show. But who was Andy’s best match? Read on to learn a bit more about each of them, and vote in our poll:
Ellie Walker (Elinor Donahue)
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Ellie was Andy’s first serious love interest on the show, and she made quite an impression when she moved to Mayberry to work as the town’s pharmacist. Played by Elinor Donahue, Ellie was smart, independent and confident in a way that felt refreshing for early ’60s television. Her relationship with Andy was sweet and hopeful, and fans expected her to become a regular.
Donahue, already familiar to audiences from Father Knows Best, appeared in the first season but left after just 12 episodes. Though she was intended to be a long-term romantic lead, Donahue later shared that she never felt fully comfortable in the role and asked to be released from her contract after developing some health problems.
Peggy McMillan (Joanna Moore)
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Nurse Peggy came along in the third season and brought a different kind of energy to Andy’s life. Stylish and sophisticated, Peggy was played by Joanna Moore and appeared in four episodes. Her scenes with Andy showed the sheriff’s flirtier side, and she seemed like someone who might truly match his maturity and thoughtfulness.
Offscreen, Moore had a busy Hollywood career and was briefly married to actor Ryan O’Neal, with whom she had daughter Tatum O’Neal. Fans still speculate why Andy and Peggy’s relationship fizzled so quickly, but no onscreen explanation was ever given.
Helen Crump (Aneta Corsaut)
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Of all Andy’s romantic pairings, Helen was the one that lasted. Introduced as Opie’s schoolteacher in the show’s third season, Helen was sharp, no-nonsense and caring, qualities that complemented Andy’s calm and easygoing personality. The two had their ups and downs, but eventually married in the first episode of the spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D.
Aneta Corsaut, who portrayed Helen, had a strong working relationship with Griffith and stayed with the show through its final seasons. She and Griffith also shared a real-life friendship that lasted beyond their TV years — in fact, numerous people speculated that they had had an affair in real life. Corsaut returned as Helen for reunion specials and was warmly remembered by fans as the woman who finally won Andy Taylor’s heart.
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