Whatever Happened To Aneta Corsaut, Helen Crump From ‘The Andy Griffith Show’?
Many fans know and love Aneta Corsaut as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show, but her career didn’t end in Mayberry. After the series wrapped, she went on to appear in other television shows, reunited with Andy Griffith on Matlock and even reprised her role as Helen in reunion specials. Though she never married and kept her personal life private, Corsaut remained active in acting until her untimely death in 1995.
Corsaut was born on November 3, 1933, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She studied acting at Northwestern University but left before graduating to pursue her career. By the late 1950s, she was working steadily in Hollywood, with one of her earliest roles being in the cult-classic horror film The Blob, in which she starred alongside young Steve McQueen. That part gave her an audience, but it wasn’t until The Andy Griffith Show in 1963 that she found her big break as Helen Crump.
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Her chemistry with Andy Griffith gave the show a sense of balance, especially as their romance deepened throughout the later seasons. Fans were delighted when Helen and Andy married in the first episode of the spinoff series Mayberry R.F.D., making their relationship official.
After her time in Mayberry, Corsaut continued acting, often returning to familiar roles. She reprised her role as Helen Crump in later reunion movies, such as Return to Mayberry, and also appeared on shows including Adam-12, Emergency! and House Calls. Perhaps her other most memorable role came in the 1980s when she joined the cast of Matlock, once again working alongside Griffith.
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While she had success in acting, Corsaut kept much of her personal life private. She never married but friends and colleagues remembered her as thoughtful and deeply dedicated to her work. There were rumors about Corsaut and Griffith engaging in an affair while working together but it was never proven. She also co-authored a book called The Mystery Reader’s Quiz Book.
Sadly, Corsaut’s life was cut short when she died of cancer on November 6, 1995, just three days after her 62nd birthday. She was laid to rest at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.
Where to Watch The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is available to stream on multiple platforms, including Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video and Peacock. Episodes also continue to air regularly on MeTV.
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Classic TV Shows of the ’50s & ’60s
September 2020
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