# Arlene Golonka

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American actress (1936–2021)

Arlene Golonka Golonka on Mayberry R.F.D. in 1969 Born Arlene Leanore Golonka (1936-01-23)January 23, 1936 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Died May 31, 2021(2021-05-31) (aged 85) West Hollywood, California, U.S. Occupation Actress Years active 1958–2005 Known for The Andy Griffith Show Mayberry R.F.D. Speed Buggy Spouses Christopher Michael Haenel (m. 19??; div. 19??) Mike Longo ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1967)​ Larry Delaney ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1977)​

**Arlene Leanore Golonka** (January 23, 1936 – May 31, 2021) was an American actress. She is known for playing Millie Hutchins on the television comedy *[The Andy Griffith Show](/source/The_Andy_Griffith_Show)* and Millie Swanson on *[Mayberry R.F.D.](/source/Mayberry_R.F.D.)*, and often portrayed bubbly, eccentric blondes in supporting character roles on stage, film, and television.

## Early years

Golonka was born in Chicago on January 23, 1936, the daughter of Elinor (née Wroblewski) and Frank Golonka, of Polish descent,[1][2][3] She worked as a waitress and began her acting career in her early teens, going professional in a [summer-stock](/source/Summer_stock) troupe.[4][3]

## Career

A life member of [The Actors Studio](/source/The_Actors_Studio),[5] she appeared in her first major production, *The Night Circus*, with [Ben Gazzara](/source/Ben_Gazzara),[4] at the [Shubert Theater](/source/Shubert_Theatre_(New_Haven)) in [New Haven](/source/New_Haven%2C_Connecticut), Connecticut on November 17, 1958. After a week-long trial run, the play moved to [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) on December 2, 1958, but closed after only seven performances.[6]

Despite that setback, she continued working in other plays such as *[Take Me Along](/source/Take_Me_Along)* with [Jackie Gleason](/source/Jackie_Gleason), [Walter Pidgeon](/source/Walter_Pidgeon) and [Robert Morse](/source/Robert_Morse) (448 performances from late 1959 to late 1960), [Neil Simon](/source/Neil_Simon)'s first Broadway play, *[Come Blow Your Horn](/source/Come_Blow_Your_Horn)*, which ran 677 performances from February 1961 until October 1962, and *[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest](/source/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo's_Nest_(play))*, starring [Kirk Douglas](/source/Kirk_Douglas), from November 1963 until January 1964. Golonka appeared in two other Broadway plays from 1965 to 1966, and took supporting roles in films produced in the New York City area.[6]

Golonka also recorded a comedy album, *[You Don't Have to Be Jewish](/source/You_Don't_Have_to_Be_Jewish)* on June 14, 1964.[3][7] When the time came to record its sequel, *When You're in Love the Whole World Is Jewish*, she was unavailable, but encouraged her roommate, aspiring actress [Valerie Harper](/source/Valerie_Harper), to audition to take her place.[8]

In 1967, Golonka moved to Los Angeles to try her hand at television. She made numerous TV appearances on such series as *[Car 54, Where Are You?](/source/Car_54%2C_Where_Are_You%3F)*; *[Get Smart](/source/Get_Smart)*; *[Barnaby Jones](/source/Barnaby_Jones)*; *[The Flying Nun](/source/The_Flying_Nun)*; *[I Spy](/source/I_Spy_(1965_TV_series))*; *[That Girl](/source/That_Girl)*; *[The Mary Tyler Moore Show](/source/The_Mary_Tyler_Moore_Show)*; *[M*A*S*H](/source/M*A*S*H_(TV_series))*; *[All in the Family](/source/All_in_the_Family)*; *[Cannon](/source/Cannon_(TV_series))*; *[Maude](/source/Maude_(TV_series))*; *[The Andy Griffith Show](/source/The_Andy_Griffith_Show)*; *[Mayberry R.F.D.](/source/Mayberry_R.F.D.)*; *[Alice](/source/Alice_(American_TV_series))*; *[The Rockford Files](/source/The_Rockford_Files)*; *[The Streets of San Francisco](/source/The_Streets_of_San_Francisco)*; *[One Day at a Time](/source/One_Day_at_a_Time_(1975_TV_series))*; *[The San Pedro Beach Bums](/source/The_San_Pedro_Beach_Bums)*; *[Taxi](/source/Taxi_(TV_series))*; *[$weepstake$](/source/Sweepstakes_(TV_series))*; *[Murder, She Wrote](/source/Murder%2C_She_Wrote)*; *[The King of Queens](/source/The_King_of_Queens)*; *[Valerie](/source/Valerie_(TV_series))*; *[Sunset Beat](/source/Sunset_Beat)*; and *[Matlock](/source/Matlock_(1986_TV_series))*; among others.[9]

In 1992, Golonka appeared as Sally Nash in the 13th episode "Fool for Love" in season 5 of the television series *[In the Heat of the Night](/source/In_the_Heat_of_the_Night_(TV_series))* with [Carroll O'Connor](/source/Carroll_O'Connor). In this episode she played the other woman to a philandering Dr. Vance Talbot (played by actor [Robert Ginty](/source/Robert_Ginty)) who tries to frame her for the murder of his wife before murdering Nash as well. Golonka was a regular on the animated cartoon *[Speed Buggy](/source/Speed_Buggy)*, providing the voice of "Debbie", and had a recurring role on the short-lived TV series *[Joe & Valerie](/source/Joe_%26_Valerie)*. She performed voices in other animated series including *[The New Yogi Bear Show](/source/The_New_Yogi_Bear_Show)*, *[Capitol Critters](/source/Capitol_Critters)*, *[Yogi's Treasure Hunt](/source/Yogi's_Treasure_Hunt)*, and *[The New Scooby-Doo Movies](/source/The_New_Scooby-Doo_Movies)*.

Golonka had supporting roles in some 30 films, including *[Harvey Middleman, Fireman](/source/Harvey_Middleman%2C_Fireman)* (1965), *[Penelope](/source/Penelope_(1966_film))* (1966), *[The Busy Body](/source/The_Busy_Body_(film))* (1967), *[Welcome to Hard Times](/source/Welcome_to_Hard_Times_(film))* (1967), *[Hang 'Em High](/source/Hang_'Em_High)* (1968), *[The Elevator](/source/The_Elevator_(1974_film))* (1974), *[Airport '77](/source/Airport_'77)* (1977), *[The In-Laws](/source/The_In-Laws_(1979_film))* (1979), *[Love At First Bite](/source/Love_At_First_Bite)* (1980), *[The Last Married Couple in America](/source/The_Last_Married_Couple_in_America)* (1980), *[My Tutor](/source/My_Tutor)* (1983), *[The End of Innocence](/source/The_End_of_Innocence_(film))* (1990), and *[A Family Affair](/source/A_Family_Affair_(2001_film))* (2001).

Golonka performed in a number of productions for the West Coast Jewish Theatre.[10][11]

## Personal life

Golonka was married and divorced three times. Her first husband was Christopher Michael Haenel.[12] In 1962, she married jazz pianist and composer [Mike Longo](/source/Mike_Longo), and they divorced in 1967.[3] She wed actor Larry Delaney, who appeared with her in one episode of *[Mayberry R.F.D.](/source/Mayberry_R.F.D.)*,[4] in 1969, and they divorced in 1977.[3]

## Death

Golonka died due to complications from [Alzheimer's disease](/source/Alzheimer's_disease) in [West Hollywood](/source/West_Hollywood%2C_California), California on May 31, 2021, at age 85.[13][14]

## Filmography

- 1963: *[Car 54, Where Are You?](/source/Car_54%2C_Where_Are_You%3F)* as Laverne Montaine, Season 2, Episode 16

- 1963: *[Love with the Proper Stranger](/source/Love_with_the_Proper_Stranger)* as Marge (uncredited)

- 1964: *[Diary of a Bachelor](/source/Diary_of_a_Bachelor)* as Lois

- 1965: *[Harvey Middleman, Fireman](/source/Harvey_Middleman%2C_Fireman)* as Harriet

- 1966: *[Penelope](/source/Penelope_(1966_film))* as Honeysuckle Rose

- 1967: *[The Busy Body](/source/The_Busy_Body_(film))* as Bobbi Brody

- 1967: *[Welcome to Hard Times](/source/Welcome_to_Hard_Times_(film))* as Mae

- 1967: *[The Flying Nun](/source/The_Flying_Nun)* as Dottie, Season 1, Episode 3

- 1967: *[The Big Valley](/source/The_Big_Valley)* as Gail Miller, Season 3, Episode 10–11

- 1967: *[The Andy Griffith Show](/source/The_Andy_Griffith_Show)* as Millie Hutchins (2 episodes)

- 1967–1968: *[That Girl](/source/That_Girl)* (3 episodes)

- 1968: *[Get Smart](/source/Get_Smart)* as Zelda, Season 3, Episode 16–17

- 1968: *[I Spy](/source/I_Spy_(1965_TV_series))* as Melanie, Season 3, Episode 26

- 1968: *[Hang 'Em High](/source/Hang_'Em_High)* as Jennifer

- 1968–1971: *[Mayberry R.F.D.](/source/Mayberry_R.F.D.)* as Millie Hutchins-Swanson (49 episodes)

- 1971–1974: *[The Mary Tyler Moore Show](/source/The_Mary_Tyler_Moore_Show)* (2 episodes)

- 1972: *[M*A*S*H](/source/M*A*S*H_(TV_series))* as Lt. Edwina “Eddie” Ferguson, [Season 1, Episode 13](/source/Edwina_(M*A*S*H))

- 1972: *[The Rookies](/source/The_Rookies)* as Store Clerk

- 1973: *[Speed Buggy](/source/Speed_Buggy)* as Debbie (voice)

- 1973–1975: *[Barnaby Jones](/source/Barnaby_Jones)* (2 episodes)

- 1973: *[All in the Family](/source/All_in_the_Family)* as Tina, Season 3, Episode 16

- 1973: *[Cannon](/source/Cannon_(TV_series))* as Melissa "BJ" Franklin, Season 2, Episode 15

- 1974–1975: *[Maude](/source/Maude_(TV_series))* (2 episodes)

- 1974: *[The Elevator](/source/The_Elevator_(1974_film))* as Wendy Thompson

- 1974: *[Police Woman](/source/Police_Woman_(TV_series))* as Carolee English, Season 1, Episode 12

- 1975: *[The Secret Night Caller](/source/The_Secret_Night_Caller)* as Charlotte

- 1975–1976: *[The Streets of San Francisco](/source/The_Streets_of_San_Francisco)* (2 episodes)

- 1977: *[Airport '77](/source/Airport_'77)* as Mrs. Jane Stern

- 1977: *[Alice](/source/Alice_(American_TV_series))* as Shirley Bartlett, Season 1, Episode 19

- 1978: *[One Day at a Time](/source/One_Day_at_a_Time_(1975_TV_series))* as Joyce Emerson, Season 4, Episode 3

- 1978: *[Taxi](/source/Taxi_(TV_series))* as Sheila, Season 1, Episode 7

- 1979: *[The In-Laws](/source/The_In-Laws_(1979_film))* as Jean Ricardo

- 1979–1982: *[The Love Boat](/source/The_Love_Boat)* (2 episodes)

- 1979–1982: *[Fantasy Island](/source/Fantasy_Island)* (3 episodes)

- 1980: *[The Last Married Couple in America](/source/The_Last_Married_Couple_in_America)* as Sally Cooper

- 1981: *Longshot* as Evelyn Gripp

- 1981: *Separate Ways* as Annie Donahue

- 1982–1983: *[Gimme a Break!](/source/Gimme_a_Break!)* as Maxine (2 episodes)

- 1983: *[Simon & Simon](/source/Simon_%26_Simon)* as Joyce Allreed, Season 3, Episode 5

- 1983: *[Benson](/source/Benson_(TV_series))* as Betty Braxton, Season 5, Episode 11

- 1983: *[My Tutor](/source/My_Tutor)* as Mrs. Chrystal

- 1986: *Foxtrap* as Emily

- 1986: *[Detective School Dropouts](/source/Detective_School_Dropouts)* (uncredited)

- 1986–1990: *[Murder, She Wrote](/source/Murder%2C_She_Wrote)* (2 episodes)

- 1987: *[Valerie](/source/Valerie_(TV_series))* as Darlene Franklin, Season 2, Episode 22

- 1987: *Survival Game* as Barbara Hawkins

- 1988–1990: *[Growing Pains](/source/Growing_Pains)* (2 episodes)

- 1989: *[Dr. Alien](/source/Dr._Alien)* as Mom

- 1989: *Trained to Kill* as Martha Cooper

- 1990: *The Gumshoe Kid* as Gracie Sherman

- 1990: *[The End of Innocence](/source/The_End_of_Innocence_(film))* as Claire

- 1991–1993: *[Matlock](/source/Matlock_(1986_TV_series))* (2 episodes)

- 1992: *[In The Heat of The Night](/source/In_the_Heat_of_the_Night_(TV_series))* as Sally Nash, Season 5, Episode 13

- 1993: *[Amore!](/source/Amore!)* as Acting Coach

- 1995: *Cops n Roberts*

- 1997: *[Leather Jacket Love Story](/source/Leather_Jacket_Love_Story)* as Mom

- 2001: *[A Family Affair](/source/A_Family_Affair_(2001_film))* as Leah Rosen

- 2005: *[The King of Queens](/source/The_King_of_Queens)* as Annette, Season 8, Episode 7

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Harper, Valerie (January 15, 2013). [*I, Rhoda*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7_7xWszDkHwC&dq=%22Arlene+was+an+adorable+Polish-%E2%80%8BAmerican+blonde+from+Chicago.%22&pg=PA46). Simon and Schuster. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4516-9948-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4516-9948-7). Retrieved June 2, 2021 – via Google Books.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sign In"](https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL9S-SVT6). *[FamilySearch](/source/FamilySearch)*. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ci_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ci_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ci_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ci_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ci_3-4) "Arlene Golonka, 85". *[Classic Images](/source/Classic_Images)* (553): 43. September 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-r_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-r_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-r_4-2) Lewis, Dan (October 5, 1969). ["She Had To Be Better"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36242767/arlene_golonka/). *The Record*. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. 140. Retrieved September 22, 2019 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". [*A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio*](https://archive.org/details/playersplacestor00garf). New York: MacMillan. p. [278](https://archive.org/details/playersplacestor00garf/page/278). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-02-542650-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-02-542650-4).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ibdb_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ibdb_6-1) ["Arlene Golonka profile"](http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=86192). *IBDb*. accessed April 27, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-digital.library.upenn/W-012(b)_7-0)** ["Album W-012(b) : Bob Booker & George Foster Present You Don't Have To Be Jewish"](https://digital.library.upenn.edu/webbin/freedman/lookupalbum?hr=&catlg=W-012(b)). *Freedman Catalogue*. digital.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved December 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-outsider/lived-with-valerie-harper_8-0)** Molseed, Megan (October 12, 2021). ["'The Andy Griffith Show' Star Lived with Valerie Harper, Put 'Rhoda' Actor on Fast Track to Success"](https://outsider.com/entertainment/the-andy-griffith-show-star-lived-with-valerie-harper-put-rhoda-actor-on-fast-track-to-success). *Outsider*. Retrieved December 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Terrace, Vincent. *Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007*. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. 2008). p. 1469.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["L.A. Jewish Theatre to Digest Fugumetunachai at Dec. 12 Reading"](https://playbill.com/article/la-jewish-theatre-to-digest-fugumetunachai-at-dec-12-reading-com-85725). *playbill*. Retrieved December 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Productions"](https://wcjt.org/productions-2/). *WCJT.org*. Retrieved December 30, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Christopher Michael Haenel"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210326230620/https://obituaries.desertsun.com/obituaries/thedesertsun/obituary.aspx?n=christopher-michael-haenel&pid=181437868&fhid=17371). *[The Desert Sun](/source/The_Desert_Sun)*. Palm Springs, Calif. September 18, 2016. Archived from [the original](https://obituaries.desertsun.com/obituaries/thedesertsun/obituary.aspx?n=christopher-michael-haenel&pid=181437868&fhid=17371) on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021 – via [Legacy.com](/source/Legacy.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Shanfeld, Ethan (June 1, 2021). ["Arlene Golonka, 'Mayberry R.F.D.' and Sitcom Veteran, Dies at 85"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210602003947/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/arlene-golonka-mayberry-r-f-192301035.html?guccounter=1). *[Yahoo!](/source/Yahoo!)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/arlene-golonka-mayberry-r-f-192301035.html) on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Barnes, Mike (June 1, 2021). ["Arlene Golonka, Actress on Broadway and 'Mayberry R.F.D.,' Dies at 85"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/arlene-golonka-dead-mayberry-rfd-1234961215/). *[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)*. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

## External links

- [Arlene Golonka](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0326626/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Arlene Golonka](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/86192) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [Arlene Golonka](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/-/3030031455/) at *[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)*

- [Arlene Golonka](https://www.discogs.com/artist/1658741-Arlene-Golonka) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

- [Facebook memorial page (official)](https://www.facebook.com/arlene.golonka)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arlene Golonka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Golonka) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Golonka?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.