The Hollywood Life of Aneta Corsaut ('The Andy Griffith Show'): 3 Decades After Her Tragic Death

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Introducing Aneta

Actress Anea Corsaut left an indelible impression as little Ronny Howard's TV teacher and Andy Griffith's on-screen girlfriend-turned-wife on The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968). However, she died too young, from cancer at only 62 years old in 1995. Here's a brief look back at her life and career.

Before Mayberry

Aneta Louise Corsaut was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on November 3, 1933. She majored in theatre arts at Northwestern University and studied acting with Lee Strasberg, considered by some to be the father of modern method acting in America.

Corsaut left college in her junior year to pursue acting. In 1955, she made guest appearances on TV anthology shows like Producer Showcase and Robert Montgomery Presents.

Three years later, the actress made her big-screen debut in the now-classic horror movie, The Blob, where she played opposite Steve McQueen.

Then Came Crump

After Elinor Donahue portrayed Ellie, the first TV sweetheart opposite Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show, Aneta Corsaut played Helen Crump. Ms. Crump was a spirited schoolteacher, whose students included little Opie Taylor, Andy's small-screen son.

One of Corsaut's most memorable Griffith episodes was "Barney and the Cave Rescue," which originally aired on January 6, 1964. Here, Helen and Andy get trapped in and then escape from a cave. But the manic Deputy Barney Fife, played by Don Knotts, thinks the couple is still trapped and organizes a town-wide effort to save them.

Unable to disappoint Barney, Helen and Andy go back into the cave and pretend to be trapped to save Barney a massive embarrassment among the residents of Mayberry.

Not only does this episode present a significant amount of air-time for Cousaut and Helen, but it's one of the few times that the audience has a chance to see the teacher's home.

Beyond the Basic Andy Show

Corsaut remained on the series until its demise in 1968 and reprised Helen Crump on the Mayberry R.F.D. spin-off, as well as the 1985 TV-movie, Return to Mayberry. Corsaut also appeared in a subsequent Andy Griffith Show Reunion documentary that aired in 1993.

Corsaut's other TV performances may be seen on shows like Matlock (Griffith's other hit series, which today is being rebooted with a female lead in Kathy Bates), Medical Center, The Blue Knight, and General Hospital. She also made appearances in movies like A Rage to Live (1965), Blazing Saddles, and several more.

In the end...

In her later years, Aneta Corsaut gave a brave fight against cancer, which ultimately and tragically took her life on November 6, 1995.

However, Corsaut will forever be remembered by the millions of classic TV fans and dedicated followers of The Andy Griffith Show.