In the character of school teacher Helen Crump, Sheriff Andy Taylor found a new love. This endeared the character to so many fans of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
One factor that made this school teacher so popular was the performance by actress Aneta Corsaut. According to IMDb, the actress made her first appearance in the show in 1963. This was the third season episode titled, “Andy Discovers America.” It was the first time Crump and Sheriff Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) met. Obviously, it wasn’t the last.
Corsaut made more than 60 appearances as the character during “The Andy Griffith Show.” The series remained on the air from 1960 through 1968.
Sadly, Aneta Corsaut did not have a very long life. She actually passed away only a few days after her 62nd birthday. She was born on Nov. 3, 1933, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She passed away on Nov. 6, 1995, in Studio City, California. She reportedly died from cancer.
‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Actress Aneta Corsaut Acted Alongside Andy Griffith After the Show Came to An End
Thanks to “The Andy Griffith Show’s” spinoff, “Mayberry, R.F.D.” fans got to see Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut share the small screen two more times as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Helen Crump once again. In fact, in this spinoff series, the two actually get married.
The wedding took place in the aptly-titled 1968 episode “Andy and Helen Get Married.” Corsaut also appeared in the 1986 television movie “Return to Mayberry.”
The two actors worked together almost two decades later in another popular Andy Griffith-led series. This, of course, was “Matlock.”
Corsaut played three different characters in seven episodes of the popular drama from 1987 through 1992. First, she played Ida Stillman in the 1987 episode, “The Network.” Next, she appeared as Sarah Richards in the 1990 episode, “The Mother.”
In her remaining five episodes on “Matlock,” she played Judge Cynthia Justin during 1991 and 1992.
The acting career of Aneta Corsaut also extended beyond the Andy Griffith universe – even though her role as Helen Crump is probably her most famous work. However, there were others.
For example, she had a lead role in the classic horror film, “The Blob.” She played the character of Jane Martin in the 1958 film. This movie also Steve McQueen. Aneta Corsaut also had an uncredited role in the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy, “Blazing Saddles.”
However, most of her roles came on television. Some of her television work included roles in such series as “The Gertrude Berg Show” during 1961 and 1962, “Bonanza” in 1963, “The Real McCoys” in 1963, “Gunsmoke” in 1965 and 1967, “House Calls” from 1979 through 1981, and “Days of Our Lives” in 1984.
