• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • ABOUT US
  • MEDIA
  • PRIVACY
  • TERMS
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS
do you remember

DoYouRemember?

The Home of Nostalgia

  • Celebrity News
    • Family
    • Obituaries
    • Life Behind the Fame
    • ICONS
    • Celebrity Feuds
  • Entertainment
    • Cast
    • Showbiz Rewind
    • Music
    • Beauty & fashion
  • STORIES
  • Celebrity Buzz!?
  • Sitcoms
    • Bewitched
    • Little Rascals
    • The Partridge Family
    • I Dream of Jeannie
    • All in the Family
    • MASH
    • Happy Days
    • Cheers
  • Celebrity Collections
  • SHOP DYR
    • DYR Book

Stories

Ron Howard Shares Tribute To Late ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Co-Star Betty Lynn

by Lauren Novak

Published October 19, 2021

Ron Howard pays tribute to the late Betty Lynn

95-year-old Betty Lynn recently passed away. After a short illness, she passed away at her retirement home in Mount Airy, North Carolina. It seems her work on The Andy Griffith Show was very close to her heart because Mount Airy was the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry on the show. She also worked with The Andy Griffith Museum there.

Now, former co-stars and friends are paying tribute to Betty after the news of her death. Ron Howard, who played young Opie Taylor on the show, shared a message on social media. Betty played Thelma Lou on the show.

Related:

  1. ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Star Betty Lynn Ignored Advice From Bette Davis To Be “More Selfish”
  2. The Time ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Star Betty Lynn Appeared On ‘Little House On The Prairie’

Ron Howard shares tribute to the late Betty Lynn

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, 1960-68
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, 1960-68 / Everett Collection

Ron wrote, “RIP Betty. She had such a positive spirit & energy. She and our mom were good pals on the set.” Ron’s mother was actress Jean Speegle Howard. He added in another post, “RIP Betty Lynn. She played Thelma Lou on #TAGS & brightened every scene she was in & every shooting day she was on set. I saw her last a few years ago where she still lit up the room with her positivity. It was great to have known and worked with her. She truly was 95yrs young.” RIP Betty!

RELATED: Betty Lynn, ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Actress, Dies At Age 95

RETURN TO MAYBERRY cast
RETURN TO MAYBERRY, front from left: Betty Lynn, Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, rear from left: Jim Nabors, George Lindsey, Aneta Corsaut, Jack Dodson, Hal Smith, Richard Lineback, 1986. ph: ©Viacom/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ron is now one of the only remaining cast members of The Andy Griffith Show still alive. While he grew up acting, he now mainly focuses on directing. Ron is also known for Happy Days and he recently shared his pick for a new Richie Cunningham if the show ever made a comeback.

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Ron Howard, (ca. early 1960s), 1960-68
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Ron Howard, (ca. early 1960s), 1960-68 / Everett Collection

He said, “There’s this kid, his career is really taking off so who knows, but let’s just say I think Jack Dylan Grazer would be great. That is Brian Grazer – my partner at Imagine Entertainment – his nephew. But nepotism aside, I think he’d be great.”

He added, “He’d be a cooler, hipper Richie Cunningham. If he was willing to take the job.”

Next up: Elizabeth Hurley Reveals Bikini Body Secrets To Keep Avoiding Plastic Surgery
Previous article: Elizabeth Hurley Reveals Bikini Body Secrets To Keep Avoiding Plastic Surgery
Next Post: ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Star Betty Lynn Ignored Advice From Bette Davis To Be “More Selfish”

Primary Sidebar

© 2025 DoYouRemember? Inc.

  • about us
  • media
  • privacy
  • terms
  • DMCA
  • CONTACT US
  • AUTHORS