Here’s Why Andy Griffith Fired Betty Lynn From ‘Matlock’
As a kid, when I used to watch reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, one of my favorite characters was Barney Fife’s girlfriend Thelma Lou, played by Betty Lynn. Betty and Andy Griffith had a great working relationship on The Andy Griffith Show; fans loved the way that Thelma Lou and Sheriff Andy interacted, and their friendship carried over into real life. So, when Andy decided to bring Betty onto Matlock playing his secretary, Sarah, it seemed like a natural fit — but conflicts around Betty’s lack of screen time actually caused the two actors to feud for over 20 years.
At the time, Betty credited Andy with helping to develop her character on the show. In a 1986 article that appeared in the Spokane Review, she said: “Andy has written a few little scenes for me, very funny. I hope they’re kept in.”
Viacom Productions Inc./courtesy Everett Collection
As Betty began to settle into her new role, she began to ask Andy for a little more screen time. She wanted her character to have a more prominent role in the show and become a regular cast member.
This put Andy and the producers in a difficult position, as they didn’t want to upset the balance of the show or make it seem like they were playing favorites. Ultimately, they made the tough decision to let Betty go. While this decision was personally hard for Andy, it was also, understandably, very hard for Betty. After all, she had just returned to acting after a long break and was super excited to be back in the spotlight.
“They let me go as soon as they could,” Lynn said in a 2016 interview with the Charlotte News & Observer. “I was upset with him because he wouldn’t listen.”
Despite their longstanding friendship, the tension between the two of them lasted for years. In fact, they didn’t speak to each other for two decades.
It wasn’t until years later that Andy made the first move to mend their relationship. He called Betty up and asked her for some acting advice in 2008. And, just like that, the two old friends were finally able to bury the hatchet. They stayed in touch until Griffith’s 2012 death.
Betty Lynn is pictured at the top with Don Knotts. Everett Collection
During her later years, Betty settled in the town of Mount Airy, North Carolina, which was Andy’s boyhood home and the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry. She became a fixture in the community, making appearances at local events and becoming a beloved member of that town.
In a 2015 article about Betty’s return to rural life, journalist Emily Masters spoke with long-time Andy Griffith Show fan (and Floyd the Barber impersonator) Allen Newsome about Betty. Here’s what he said: “To meet her (Betty) in real life and to realize that she is just about a sweet as Thelma Lou was on TV, she’s really had a big impact.”
While the feud between her and Andy was a difficult chapter in their lives, it’s clear that they both had a deep affection for one another and that the friendship they had, both on and off screen, was truly special.
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