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Stories

Betty Lynn Turned Down New Role On ‘The Andy Griffith Show’

by Lauren Novak

Published November 12, 2021

Betty Lynn turned down expanded role in The Andy Griffith Show

Betty Lynn was best known as Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show. She was the most beloved girlfriend of Barney Fife. When Don Knotts (Barney) left the show, Betty Lynn was going to follow. The producers didn’t want her to leave so they offered her a new role.

They were going to give the character Thelma Lou a hairdressing salon and give her character more of a chance to be known with Barney. However, Betty ended up turning it down and left the show anyway. She said, “I didn’t think Thelma Lou made much sense” without Barney.

Related:

  1. Ron Howard Shares Tribute To Late ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Co-Star Betty Lynn
  2. The Time ‘Andy Griffith Show’ Star Betty Lynn Appeared On ‘Little House On The Prairie’

Betty Lynn could have stayed on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ after Don Knotts left

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

It turns out her leaving may have had to do with a situation she had with the producers several years before that. When she became a series regular, she asked for a raise. They turned her down and threatened that they could replace her.

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

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Betty Lynn, Don Knotts, Aneta Corseaut, Andy Griffith, Season 5
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Betty Lynn, Don Knotts, Aneta Corsaut, Andy Griffith, Season 5, 1964-1965 / Everett Collection

Betty said, “I told Don about it, and he said ‘They wouldn’t have done that. They wouldn’t have let you go.'” Even so, it made her afraid to ask for a raise again and she ended up moving on to other opportunities.

ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, in the Season 5 episode, 'Barney's Physical,' September 28, 1964
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, in the Season 5 episode, ‘Barney’s Physical,’ September 28, 1964 / Everett Collection

Betty wasn’t too thrilled about her last episode on the show either. Years ago during a reunion panel, she shared, “More people ask me that, it’s like I set out to do the most terrible thing in the whole world was to hurt Barney Fife. I was hurt, that was my last show! And I really, I was shocked when I got the script. I had no idea. I read this and I thought, what?’”

ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, in the Season 5 episode, 'Barney's Physical,' September 28, 1964
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Don Knotts, Betty Lynn, in the Season 5 episode, ‘Barney’s Physical,’ September 28, 1964 / Everett Collection

She added, “I was kinda sad … A lot of people I run into through the years mention that show in particular. They say, ‘How could you have done that?’ I say, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know how I did it.’ I didn’t feel happy about it.”

RELATED: Betty Lynn Had A Secret Crush On Andy Griffith While Working Together

Next up: Some Fans Still Think Debra Messing Should Have Been Cast As Lucille Ball In New Film
Previous article: Some Fans Still Think Debra Messing Should Have Been Cast As Lucille Ball In New Film
Next Post: Michael Learned From ‘The Waltons’ Talks About Her Strange Name

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