Betty Lynn, Thelma Lou on 'The Andy Griffith Show,' has died

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. – Betty Lynn, the movie and tv histrion who was champion known for her relation arsenic Barney Fife's sweetheart Thelma Lou connected “The Andy Griffith Show,” has died. She was 95.

Lynn died peacefully Saturday aft a little illness, The Andy Griffith Museum successful Mount Airy, North Carolina, announced successful a statement.

Lynn appeared arsenic Thelma Lou connected the amusement from 1961 until 1966. She reprised her relation successful the made-for-TV movie “Return to Mayberry,” successful which Thelma Lou and Barney got married.

Born Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn connected August 29, 1926 successful Kansas City, Missouri, Lynn began studying creation and acting astatine a young age. In 1944, she started performing arsenic a portion of USO Camp Shows.

Lynn took her talents overseas, performing successful the USO for servicemembers during World War II. She was “thought to beryllium the lone American pistillate to person traveled the unsafe Burma Road during the war,” according to the museum’s statement.

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She moved to New York successful the precocious 1940s and began acting successful film, and later, television. Her vocation spanned decades, but fans came to cognize her champion for her relation successful “The Andy Griffith Show.”

In her aboriginal years, Lynn participated successful reunions with chap formed members and assorted Mayberry-themed festivals.

Director and histrion Ron Howard, who played Sheriff Andy Taylor's son, Opie, paid tribute to Lynn successful a tweet Sunday saying she “brightened each country she was successful & each shooting time she was connected set.”

Lynn moved from Hollywood to Mount Airy successful 2007 pursuing a bid of break-ins astatine her home. She expressed her emotion for the metropolis to The Associated Press successful 2015.

“I deliberation God’s blessed me,” Lynn said astatine the time. “He brought maine to a saccharine town, fantastic people, and conscionable said, ‘Now, that’s for you Betty.’”

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Lynn had been moving connected an autobiography earlier her death, which is present expected to beryllium released posthumously, the depository stated.

Lynn is survived by respective cousins. A memorial work volition instrumentality spot successful Culver City, California. Details are to beryllium released astatine a aboriginal date.

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