Aneta Louise Corsaut (November 3, 1933 – November 6, 1995) was an American actress and writer. She is best known for playing Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show (1963–1968).
Early life and career
Born in Hutchinson, Kansas,[1] Corsaut was the daughter of Jesse Harrison and Opal J. (née Swarens) Corsaut. She majored in drama at Northwestern University and studied acting with Lee Strasberg.[2] During her junior year, Corsaut dropped out to pursue a career in acting, although during the run of The Andy Griffith Show, Corsaut took courses at UCLA with plans to earn her degree.[3]
She began her acting career in New York in the mid-1950s.[4] In 1958, Corsaut and Steve McQueen made their film debuts in the independent cult horror film, The Blob.[5]
Corsaut first appeared on the long-running Griffith show in 1963 as schoolteacher Helen Crump, who later became the Mayberry sheriff's wife on the first episode of the spinoff Mayberry R.F.D.
Corsaut played "Nurse Morgan" in the Leonard Nimoy COLUMBO episode "A Stitch In Time." Corsaut also had a continuing role as policeman Bumper Morgan's pawn shop owner friend on the series The Blue Knight and as Irma Howell in the short-lived series Mrs. G. Goes to College. [4] In the TV series Adam-12, Corsaut portrayed Officer Pete Malloy's girlfriend, Judy. She had a supporting role as Head Nurse Bradley in the 1980s sitcom House Calls, and also appeared in several episodes of Matlock with star Andy Griffith.[6] In addition, Corsaut played the role of nurse Jesse Brewer in 1977 on the long-running ABC soap opera General Hospital when long-time portrayer Emily McLaughlin was too ill to work.[7]
She returned to the role of Helen Crump in two reunion shows, Return to Mayberry in 1986 and The Andy Griffith Show Reunion in 1993.[4]
As a writer, she co-authored The Mystery Reader's Quiz Book.[4][8]
Death
On November 6, 1995, Corsaut died of cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, just three days after her 62nd birthday.[1][4] She is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[9]
References
1. Lentz, Harris M. (1995). Obituaries in the Performing Arts. McFarland and Company. p. 42. ISBN 0-786-40253-9.
2. Kaplan (1986). Variety: Who's Who In Show Business. Taylor and Francis. p. 95.
3. Witbeck, Charles (May 29, 1967). "One More Year For Andy Griffith". Toledo Blade. p. 31.
4. "Aneta Corsaut; Helen Crump on 'Andy Griffith Show'". latimes.com. November 10, 1995.
5. Murdico, Suzanne J. (2004). Meet the Blob. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 22.
6. Murdico 2004 p.23
7. Reed, Jon-Michael (February 3, 1977). "Actress Does a 'Double' Take". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 9A.
8. Corsaut, Aneta; Singer, Muff; Wagner, Robert, The Mystery Reader's Quiz Book, M Evans and Co (December 1981), 0871313510
9. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland and Company Incorporated. p. 202. ISBN 0-786-40983-5.
This grave site is horrible!! She would be devastated to see how close it is to a sprinkler system and curb.
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