Helen Crump

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Helen Crump was a fictional character on the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. She was Opie's school teacher and also later became Sheriff Andy Taylor's girlfriend (and eventually, his wife). She was played by Aneta Corsaut.

Helen Crump was originally from Kansas, and went to college in Kansas City where she studied to be a teacher. She was transplanted in Mayberry in the middle of Opie's fifth grade year. An independent, single woman who couldn't cook except for TV dinners, Helen Crump went against the stereotype of the typical female sitcom character of the time. She was a wise and thoughtful character with an occasionally fiery personality who regularly served as the voice of reason on the show, not only to Opie and his friends, but sometimes to Andy as well.

She first appeared in episode #86, "Andy Discovers America" as Opie's new school teacher. Opie took an instant dislike to her, referring to her as "Old Lady Crump". He complained to his father about her history homework, a subject which Andy admitted he struggled with too. After Andy gave him some advice which Opie misconstrued, she showed up at the courthouse to complain about his poor advice, and Andy was shocked to discover that "Old Lady Crump" was actually an attractive young woman. He promptly went about trying to set things right, which he did by renewing Opie's interest in history. She showed up again to thank him and Andy walked her home.

She was originally conceived as a one-shot character, but Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas liked the chemistry between Aneta Corsaut and Andy Griffith, so it was decided to make her a regular character. Her second appearance was in episode #92, "A Wife for Andy", where Barney Fife tries to set Andy up with several town's women, but Andy expressed an interest in dating Opie's teacher Miss Crump. Despite Barney's warning that she wouldn't make a good wife, (she couldn't cook, among other things), Andy sets out to court her. From then on Andy dated Helen exclusively, and she would remain Andy's girlfriend throughout the run of the show.

Opie grew to like her as a teacher as well, and in "Three Wishes for Opie" he made a wish that Miss Crump would remain his teacher in sixth grade. She confessed that she had just received a notice that she was being transferred to the sixth grade that day.

On the first episode of Mayberry R.F.D., Andy and Helen got married (giving CBS the highest ratings for a new TV series debut for the decade). After the couple had moved to Raliegh, they returned to Mayberry to have their newborn son Andrew Samuel Taylor christened.