R.I.P. Elizabeth MacRae, Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. and Gunsmoke actor

She played love interests to Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, and Ken Curtis. She was 88 years old.

Everett Collection

Elizabeth MacRae, celebrated actor of both film and television, has passed away at the age of 88.

MacRae appeared in various television programs and often portrayed the love interest of characters. Notably, the actor played April Clomley, girlfriend of Festus Haggen in Gunsmoke, as well as Lou-Ann Poovie on The Andy Griffith Show spinoff, Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.

MacRae spoke to The Kingston Daily Freeman and said that she was delighted with her roles, as they often served as a female counterpart for popular male characters on television.

"They decided that I'm sort of a female Gomer," she said of Lou-Ann Poovie. "This is very funny to me because, in five episodes of Gunsmoke, I played a girl named April Clomley. The Gunsmoke people kept inviting me back, they said because they decided I was sort of a female Festus."

In film, MacRae lent her voice to the Don Knotts-led movie, The Incredible Mr. Limpet. The actor provided the voice for the character Ladyfish, whom Knott's Henry Limpet falls for after his transformation into a fish. However, MacRae is perhaps best known as Meredith in the critically acclaimed film, The Conversation. MacRae acted opposite Gene Hackman, and the film was later nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

As a well-known beauty, while MacRae was appreciated in her more dramatic roles on shows like General Hospital, she also excelled in more comedic roles on television. Of her Gomer Pyle role Lou-Ann, MacRae called the character "glamorous but not chic."

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

23 Comments

SheriHeffner 5 months ago
I always liked her. I'm sorry to hear ahe passed away.Rest in Peace Elizabeth.
jorel262 5 months ago
She also played Betty Parker on a color episode of TAGS. "Howard volunteers to be a boy's 'Big Brother' but gets distracted by his pretty older sister."
mcharris 5 months ago
In the last decade of her career, Ms. McRae played the character Mrs. Jean Marlowe in the internationally distributed New Zealand TV series “The Brokenwood Mysteries” (from season 2 to 7).
PierreKhoury 6 months ago
A true Southern Belle!! She'll be missed!
Runeshaper 6 months ago
R.I.P. Elizabeth MacRae. She made a lot of contributions to the world of entertainment (-:
15inchBlackandWhite 6 months ago
Pretty lady. Lord was it painful to hear her sing though. R.I.P.
FLETCH 6 months ago
Very funny and very attractive.

RIP
tootsieg 6 months ago
Very sad. Good night Lou-Ann. Rest In Peace.
LalaLucy 6 months ago
She was such a bubbly, fun actress. Enjoyed her on Gomer. Prayers to all mourning her loss.
jacko3 6 months ago
Ms. Elizabeth MacRae was a classy actress ... always enjoyed and appreciated her parts and roles especially in comedic programs.

Hard to believe so many years have gone by ... May GOD Bless her Soul and Life - Amen ~ Alleluia!
TomBoughan 6 months ago
I remember Lou-Ann started out as Sgt. Carter's date, but, much to Sgt. Carter's chagrin, she ended up with Gomer.
Jimboyc 6 months ago
Sorry to hear that. RIP Liz. She always brightened any role she was in. Loved her Southern delivery. Perfect on Gomer Pyle. She made me smile.
MrsPhilHarris 6 months ago
I can’t believe she was 88. I love her Lou-Ann Poovie character. I wish METV would bring back Gomer Pyle USMC for a while.
timothys71 MrsPhilHarris 6 months ago
Instead of a full hour of The Andy Griffith Show, maybe they could show one episode of that program followed by one episode of Gomer Pyle?
MrsPhilHarris timothys71 6 months ago
That’s a great idea!
Peter_Falk_Fan 6 months ago
I always enjoyed watching Elizabeth MacRae on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.". May she R.I.P. Now I'm interested in seeing the movie "The Conversation".
kmarsh12 Peter_Falk_Fan 6 months ago
She plays a somewhat different character, proving she could really act.
Sway 6 months ago
RIP Elizabeth MacRae 🕊️
Also RIP Dabney Coleman who passed on 5/16/24. 🕊️
cperrynaples Sway 6 months ago
I mentioned Coleman several weeks ago! He should have gotten a tribute!
Sway 6 months ago
This comment has been removed.
Runeshaper BorisK 6 months ago
That's cool!
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?