Elinor Donahue’s Remarkable 60-Year Career: How She Became a Hollywood Staple

Elinor Donahue is famous for her role on the popular TV show “Father Knows Best,” but her career didn’t stop there. She continued to work on screen and in other areas after the show ended.

Now at 86 years old, Elinor Donahue recently appeared as a guest on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.”

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On “Father Knows Best,” Elinor Donahue played Betty ‘Princess’ Anderson, a key character in the show about a happy middle-class family in the Midwest.

The show began as a radio program in 1949 and aired every Thursday until 1954. After that, CBS brought it to TV, keeping only Robert Young, who played the father, Jim Anderson.

During her six years on the popular show, which was among the top ten TV shows in America, Elinor also appeared on “Crossroads” and “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” Her busy schedule was so demanding that she admitted she didn’t have time to watch her own show.

Elinor Donahue, who was born in Tacoma in 1937, worked hard on “Father Knows Best.” By the time she got home at night, she would have dinner and then prepare for the next day’s lines. This busy schedule meant she never had time to watch the show.

As a teenager, Elinor’s acting career took off, and she became the main provider for her family. She appeared in movies like *Love is Better than Ever* with Elizabeth Taylor and *Girls Town*.

Since Elinor was still a child, she needed an adult with her on set. With her father not around and her mother working full-time, her mom Doris had to quit her job to be with her.

After “Father Knows Best,” Elinor appeared on other popular shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Star Trek,” and “Mork & Mindy.”

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Elinor Donahue, now 86, has appeared in over 70 TV shows and movies like *Winter Wonderland* and *Pretty Woman*.

At 19, she married her first husband, hoping it would make her feel like a grown-up. She admitted to Emmy TV Legends that she felt like a teenager at that age, saying, “I was like a 13-year-old 19.” She felt she hadn’t grown up properly and thought that marriage and having a baby would help her mature.

The person she married was Richard Smith, a sound man from “Father Knows Best.” Elinor decided to marry him because she thought it was her chance to become an adult.

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Elinor Donahue shared a funny story about how she got engaged. She said that after a movie date, her first husband, Richard Smith, whispered in her ear, “I love you and I’d like to marry you.” She laughed and replied, “Okay.”

Elinor had her first son, Brian, with Richard. They were married for six years before divorcing in 1961.

In 1962, she married TV producer Harry Ackerman, who was 20 years older than her. They had three sons together and were happily married for almost 30 years until he passed away in 1991.

The following year, Elinor married her third husband, Lou Genevrino, a contractor. She has been retired from acting for the past decade.

Despite never planning to be on screen, Elinor Donahue has had a remarkable and successful career. She has appeared in more than 70 TV shows and movies like *Winter Wonderland* and *Pretty Woman*. Her role as Betty Anderson on *Father Knows Best* made her a household name, and she has continued to impress audiences with her work in shows like *The Andy Griffith Show*, *Star Trek*, and *Mork & Mindy*.

Share this with all the *Father Knows Best* fans you know to celebrate her impressive achievements and enduring impact on television!

Boy Stuns Prom in Red Ballgown and Lipstick – Teachers Can’t Hold Back the Tears

A boy named Korben dreamed of wearing a ball gown to prom from a young age. Four years later, his parents made that dream come true. When Korben showed up in his red ball gown and lipstick, his teachers and classmates were moved to tears.

Prom is a special event marking the end of high school, and everyone wants it to be memorable. Korben, who is 16, had an unforgettable night thanks to his supportive mom. She shared pictures of his prom outfit on Twitter, and her post quickly went viral. Many celebrities and fans liked and shared it, celebrating Korben’s unique and heartfelt choice.

Korben’s mom, Nina Green, shared that her son had always loved wearing dresses. As a teenager, he even performed as the “sassy” drag queen Miss Frou Frou. But for prom night, Korben had a new idea.

He wanted to attend prom as himself, but in a dress. This way, he could show off his feminine side while being true to who he is. Nina explained:

“He wanted to be himself, combining his masculine and feminine sides. He planned to wear a tuxedo on top and a dress on the bottom, inspired by Billy Porter.”

When Korben arrived at his school prom, wearing his unique outfit, everyone went wild with excitement. His classmates and teachers at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston, Norfolk, cheered loudly for him.

Nina Green shared that many teachers were emotional as they watched Korben step out of the car. They were moved by his bravery and confidence. Nina said, “As soon as he got out of the car, everyone started cheering, and I was crying. Some of the teachers were crying too because he was being true to himself.”

Korben had asked to wear a dress to his prom when he was just 12, and his parents made sure to remember his request. When prom night arrived, they helped him get ready just the way he wanted and supported him both in person and online.

Korben looked fantastic in his ball gown, which had a flowing skirt, a sparkly jacket, a bow tie, and a matching small bag. Nina, his mom, took lots of photos of him before he left for prom and shared them on Twitter to show her support.

Nina Green was thrilled to share Korben’s prom look on Twitter and tagged Billy Porter and Michelle Visage from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to get their opinions. Michelle Visage responded with excitement, saying, “Ohhhhhhhh yes! You are an amazing, beautiful mom and your child is a STAR.”

Michelle wasn’t the only one impressed. The tweet quickly went viral, with many people praising Korben’s fabulous prom outfit and expressing how happy they were for him.

Since Nina Green’s post about Korben’s prom outfit was shared, it has received over 4,000 retweets, more than 8,000 comments, and over 110,000 likes from celebrities and everyday people alike. One admirer commented:

“Looks fabulous! I absolutely love the gown/tux combo. I hope my son is still as confident and comfortable with himself at that age. Never lose your sparkle.”

Kirk Wills, who implied they made the dress, added, “I couldn’t be more proud of Korben; he rocked the look without a doubt. It was an honor to make this subtle look for his big night and see him rock his entrance.”

Although there were some negative comments, many people defended Korben. One fan responded, “Some people should have listened to their parents or grandparents: ‘If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.’ If he wants to wear a dress, then that’s his choice, and his choice only. He’s not harming anyone.”

Korben’s mother, Nina, later shared her gratitude in a post, admitting she hadn’t expected such a positive response when she first shared the pictures. She wrote:

“The support and positivity have been overwhelming and have completely overshadowed the few negative comments, which we ignore. It’s his life, and I’m letting him live it.”

Korben realized how important it was to have the courage to be himself. He said, “It sends a message—you can be who you want to be.”

The following day, Nina and Korben attended Pride in London. There, a fan approached them, recognizing Korben as the boy in the red dress and telling him he was “amazing.”

These moments became unforgettable memories for Korben as he moved on to the next chapter in his life. Through this experience, Korben’s parents demonstrated the importance of allowing children to be themselves without imposing their own beliefs.

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