what happened to ellie walker on the andy griffith show
"Elinor ""Ellie"" Walker"
After twelve appearances in the first season , Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the audience . It has long been rumored , however , that Ellie abandoned her Uncle 's pharmacy and Andy Taylor to run away with Jim Lindsey and become a groupie of Bobby Fleet and his Band with a Beat . The last appearance of Ellie Walker strangely coincided with the episode where Jim Lindsey returned to Mayberry after becoming a famous guitarist with Bobby Fleet 's band . At the end of `` The Guitar Player Returns '' ( 15 May 1961 ) , Jim Lindsey reunites with Bobby Fleet to tour with his band , and neither Ellie , nor Jim , is ever seen again . Of course , the good people of Mayberry would never speak about such a scandal , and thus no explanation could be offered for Ellie 's sudden departure . Over the years Donahue offered multiple explanations for her departure from the show . In one she believed that she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on - screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave . Griffith later admitted that it was his own fault because he had a hard time showing affection on - screen , and as a result , the relationship did n't appear real or believable . However , Griffith 's character showed no such problems with the arrival of the Helen Crump character in the 1964 season . A more credible story that Donahue relayed was that she was undergoing personal problems during her year on the show and simply lacked confidence in the quality of her performance . She asked the producers to release her from her contract , which they did . Donahue also admitted that she was a little hurt that they agreed so readily . 
After twelve appearances in the first season , Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the audience . It has long been rumored , however , that Ellie abandoned her Uncle 's pharmacy and Andy Taylor to run away with Jim Lindsey and become a groupie of Bobby Fleet and his Band with a Beat . The last appearance of Ellie Walker strangely coincided with the episode where Jim Lindsey returned to Mayberry after becoming a famous guitarist with Bobby Fleet 's band . At the end of `` The Guitar Player Returns '' ( 15 May 1961 ) , Jim Lindsey reunites with Bobby Fleet to tour with his band , and neither Ellie , nor Jim , is ever seen again . Of course , the good people of Mayberry would never speak about such a scandal , and thus no explanation could be offered for Ellie 's sudden departure . Over the years Donahue offered multiple explanations for her departure from the show . In one she believed that she and Griffith lacked the chemistry to make their on - screen romantic relationship credible and she decided to leave . Griffith later admitted that it was his own fault because he had a hard time showing affection on - screen , and as a result , the relationship did n't appear real or believable . However , Griffith 's character showed no such problems with the arrival of the Helen Crump character in the 1964 season . A more credible story that Donahue relayed was that she was undergoing personal problems during her year on the show and simply lacked confidence in the quality of her performance . She asked the producers to release her from her contract , which they did . Donahue also admitted that she was a little hurt that they agreed so readily .
After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the audience. Over the years Donahue offered multiple explanations for her departure from the show.  A more credible story that Donahue relayed was that she was undergoing personal problems during her year on the show and simply lacked confidence in the quality of her performance. She asked the producers to release her from her contract, which they did.
After twelve appearances in the first season , Ellie disappeared with no explanation offered the audience . Over the years Donahue offered multiple explanations for her departure from the show . A more credible story that Donahue relayed was that she was undergoing personal problems during her year on the show and simply lacked confidence in the quality of her performance . She asked the producers to release her from her contract , which they did .