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

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — Betty Lynn, who was champion known arsenic Barney Fife's sweetheart Thelma Lou connected “The Andy Griffith Show,” has died astatine the property of 95.

The Andy Griffith Museum said successful a connection that she died Saturday aft a “brief illness.”

Lynn appeared connected the fashionable TV amusement from 1961 until 1966. She besides appeared successful respective films, including “Mother Is a Freshman,” “Father Was a Fullback,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Payment connected Demand,” and “June Bride.”

Later, she was a mainstay astatine the yearly Mayberry Days festival successful Mount Airy, North Carolina, wherever she resided successful her aboriginal years.

Lynn provided amusement arsenic a portion of the USO during World War II. She moved to New York successful the precocious 1940s and began an acting vocation successful movie and television.

She is survived by respective cousins.

Director Ron Howard, who became a prima arsenic Opie connected the “The Andy Griffith Show,” paid his respects to Lynn connected Twitter connected Sunday.

“RIP Betty Lynn. She played Thelma Lou connected #TAGS & brightened each country she was successful & each shooting time she was connected set. I saw her past a fewer years agone wherever she inactive lit up the country with her positivity. It was large to person known and worked with her. She genuinely was 95yrs young,” helium wrote.