Retired Elinor Donahue Enjoys 31 Years of Marriage after Raising 4 Sons, One of Whom Became a Priest

Elinor Donahue began her Hollywood career in the early 1940s. She was a voice actor in some radio shows for the first six years until she finally found immense fame in the hit series “Father Knows Best.”

The series started on radio in 1949, but by 1954 it had aired on television. It ran for six seasons, totaling 203 episodes. This was the series that made Donahue a household name.

By the time “Father Knows Best” ended, Donahue had made a name for herself that allowed her to pivot from her role in the series to that of a guest star on “The Young and The Restless” for many seasons.

During her time on “Father Knows Best,” Donahue also starred in “Crossroads” and “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” Her schedule became so hectic that she needed more time to watch the show.

Donahue also starred in “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Star Trek,” and “Mork and Mindy.” Throughout her career, she has appeared in over 70 TV shows and movies. Yet she still found time for family.

Who Are Donahue’s Children?

While starring in “Father Knows Best,” Donahue was married to her first husband, Richard Smith. They married in 1955 and welcomed a son named Brian a year later before their marriage ended in 1961.

Donahue married her second husband, Harry Ackerman, in 1962. They were married until 1991 and welcomed three sons named Peter, James, and Christopher. Donahue is now married to Lou Genevrino, but the couple has never had children.

Donahue’s first son, Brian, followed in his mother’s acting footsteps for a few years working in the casting department of the film “The First Time.” However, Donahue revealed in 1987 that Brian had decided to work as a caterer.

Peter, Donahue’s second child, also worked in the entertainment industry for a while before choosing a different career. Peter worked on “Gidget’s Summer Reunion,” “The New Gidget,” and in music video production, working with Madonna and Aerosmith. However, he left Hollywood to become an ordained priest in 2007.

James and Christopher are the only two children of Donahue’s that remained in their Hollywood careers. James is an entertainment executive, and Christopher is an actor and producer who worked on “Marbles with Thoreau” and “Making Change.”

Who Is Donahue’s Third Husband?

Donahue met her first husband, Smith while working on “Father Knows Best.” Smith was one of the sound producers on the show. Talking about how Smith proposed, Donahue recalled:

“We had gone to see a movie, and he whispered, ‘I love you, and I’d like to marry you,’ in my ear. And I said, ‘OK.'”

Sadly, the couple’s marriage didn’t last; by 1961, they had parted ways. The year after she split from Smith, she married Harry Ackerman. Ackerman was a producer and worked with her on some shows.

Initially, she found it a little daunting to be in his presence, but after a while, the pair started a romance. They were married until Ackerman tragically died from pulmonary failure in 1991. He was 78.

Before his death, Ackerman and Donahue were happily married, and he even adopted her eldest son from her previous marriage before the couple welcomed three sons of their own into their family. The couple was married for almost 30 years before Ackerman tragically passed away.

After her first two marriages failed, Donahue married Lou Genevrino in 1992. Genevrino was a Broadway dancer who appeared in the 1984 short film “Quest.” In 1992, he worked in the TV series “Homefront.” and a miniseries called “Sinatra” the same year.

Although they have not welcomed any children together, theirs is Donahue’s longest-lasting marriage, and the pair have become grandparents.