Arlene Golonka, a veteran actor known for her roles as Millie Hutchins on The Andy Griffith Show and Millie Swanson on Mayberry R.F.D., passed away on Memorial Day (May 31) at age 85.
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The news was confirmed on social media by literary agent Cary Kozlov.
Sad to announce the passing of my dear friend, Arlene Golonka. A beautiful and kind human being and talented actress. You will never be forgotten ?? #arlenegolonka pic.twitter.com/Y0pZELVsTO
— Cary Kozlov (@ckscriberep) May 31, 2021
Arlene Leanore Golonka (born Jan. 23, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois) began her career in such Broadway plays as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, alongside Kirk Douglas. During her on-stage career, Golonka studied under Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg.
Golonka took part in a comedy ensemble's well-received album, 1965's You Don't Have to Be Jewish. When she couldn't make it to record its follow-up, she sent along her roommate: a promising actor named Valerie Harper.
Her career took off after relocating to from New York City to Los Angeles in 1967 to pursue television roles. The sitcoms, crime dramas and other TV series to cast her include Car 54, Where Are You?, Get Smart, Barnaby Jones, The Flying Nun, I Spy, That Girl, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, Rhoda, All in the Family, Cannon, Maude, Alice, The Rockford Files, One Day at a Time, Murder, She Wrote, Love, American Style, The King of Queens, Growing Pains and Matlock.
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She also worked as a voice actor, providing the voice of Debbie in Speed Buggy and lending her talent to The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
Her IMDb filmography lists Love With the Proper Stranger (1963) Diary of a Bachelor (1964), Harvey Middleman, Fireman (1965), Penelope (1966), The Busy Body (1967), Welcome to Hard Times (1967), Hang 'Em High (1968), The Elevator (1974), Airport '77 (1977), The In-Laws (1979), Love At First Bite (1980), The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Longshot (1981), Separate Ways (1981), My Tutor (1983), Foxtrap (1986), Dr. Alien (1988), The End of Innocence (1990), The Gumshoe Kid (1990), Leather Jacket Love Story (1997) and A Family Affair (2001).
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