Andy Griffith was "hanging around" this female costar every other day

"They were trying to really keep it on the down low and they didn't think anybody knew— but everybody knew."

Poor Jim Fritzell was one of the writers on The Andy Griffith Show and was dating Aneta Corsaut when she auditioned for the role of Helen Crump. According to Daniel de Visé's Andy and Don, when Corsaut secured the role, she began splitting her free time between Fritzell and one of the most famous sitcom stars of all time.

Andy Griffith started spending more and more time in the writers' room. While he was surely invested in the show's scripts, his presence may have also been motivated by one of the show's newest guest stars.

In Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show, de Visé quotes Aneta Corsaut's brother, who would drive down to The Andy Griffith Show set from Monterey Bay.

According to Jesse Corsaut, Andy "was coming over every other day and hanging around with her in the late afternoon."

"He'd come in, have a drink, and just sit around and chitchat." Aneta Corsaut's brother described Griffith as acting "exactly the way he appeared on the screen, except that he wasn't silly." 

Aneta didn't break things off with her writer boyfriend Jim Fritzell, though. According to Jesse Corsaut, "She kept them both going." 

Things weren't quite as lowkey as Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut would've preferred it, though. Bridget Sweeney, daughter of director Bob Sweeney, admitted that the liaison was a well-known secret.

"They were trying to really keep it on the down low and they didn't think anybody knew— but everybody knew."

Watch The Andy Griffith Show on MeTV!

Weeknights at 8 & 8:30, Sundays at 12 & 6 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

30 Comments

SandyDority 7 months ago
I never like the character (Helen Crump) she always seemed like a bit*h!!! I don't understand why Andy had an affair with her. He had a pretty wife& child. I'll bet his wife was so hurt😢
MrsPhilHarris 8 months ago
He was a married man and she already had a boyfriend? Neither one had scruples.
Bapa1 MrsPhilHarris 8 months ago
No scruples, but plenty of pickles.
MadMadMadWorld Bapa1 8 months ago
Nasty, briny, sour old pickles!
SandyDority MrsPhilHarris 7 months ago
I agree with you. I felt sick the first time I heard about this,,
Coldnorth Bapa1 7 months ago
And the best part, the pickles could also start camp fires with the kerosene
ncadams27 8 months ago
As soon as I read the title of this story I knew it wasn’t about Frances Bavier.
raddad ncadams27 8 months ago
Don’t forget Juanita.
Coldnorth raddad 7 months ago
I always thought Juanita was really one of the fun girls. The one with the funny voice
Runeshaper 8 months ago
Sounds complicated and could have been super messy, but interesting.
JHP 8 months ago
"They were trying to really keep it on the down low and they didn't think anybody knew— but everybody knew."

like father - like young son (and opie even gave Frump nylons)..hmm?
Coldnorth JHP 7 months ago
What a last name. It fits her character so well. Was she that cranky in real life?
FrankensteinLover 8 months ago
Andy was a ladies man, and he's got forever stories with them. He would be the first to tell you don't ever think he was like the man from the show.
JHP FrankensteinLover 8 months ago
I can't believe a man that couldn't dance worth a sheet was a ladies man..

and Gomer ...well....
FrankensteinLover JHP 8 months ago
Lol Gome let loose.
JHP FrankensteinLover 8 months ago
sure did - him and his not-porous socks were cutting a rug that would shame dancing with the has-beens

the music was a bit dubious tho - where were darlings or bluegrass music? (sounded like big-band stuff) - would have liked to see BIG BARN or ANGE dance to that - hahahahah
JHP FrankensteinLover 8 months ago
ahhh yes andy - the combination of hugh hefner and glen campbell all rolled into one
FrankensteinLover JHP 8 months ago
Yes would have loved to have seen Barney with those facial expressions dancing like that with the fun girls. Oh Bernie you're a scream
McGillahooala 8 months ago
I have heard that Andy Griffith was a horrible husband and father. He’s admitted as much. It’s sad that we have to hear about it anywhere but especially in a MeTV story. I don’t know that I come here to read about some of the lurid sexcapades of the actors that portrayed beloved characters from my childhood. Maybe this should be saved for the tabloids.
JHP McGillahooala 8 months ago
it is really telling in "barney and the choir" when they were at someone's house (trying to practice good ol' 14a) and try to duke Barn and he showed up anyway - and Ange sat next to a very pretty blonde with Mrs TAAALA in the scene

Ange was a womanizer and his best Budd was also
McGillahooala 8 months ago
This comment has been removed.
JHP daDoctah 8 months ago
yeah they were all pure as the driven snow

I think Hugh Beaumont invented the hot-tub:)
Bapa1 8 months ago
When I saw the title of this article, I just assumed it was Aunt Bea.
cperrynaples Bapa1 8 months ago
No, but I am shocked about Aneta Corsaut! Most of the stories I've read said that Andy didn't get along with her at all!
JHP cperrynaples 8 months ago
even the devil abhorred her

but I guess Miss (cant grade a student worth a darn) Frump liked Ange more than Cary Grant after all
bobpar12 cperrynaples 8 months ago
You are confusing Aneta with Elinor Donahue who had no chemistry with Griffith
Bapa1 cperrynaples 8 months ago
Apparently they 'got along' pretty well. She even did a Matlock.
bobpar12 8 months ago
This comment has been removed.
Coldnorth JHP 7 months ago
Thanks for the chuckle. I can always depend on your wit to make my day better
JHP Bapa1 7 months ago
she probably did matlock,,,oops I said that wrong
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?