Margaret Ann Peterson was an American actress and singer. She was best known for playing Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show. She also played the character of Doris in the episode “A Girl for Goober” (1968).
According to a statement from a family relative who identified her as “Aunt Maggie,” Peterson died in her sleep, surrounded by family and friends, on May 15, 2022, aged 81. She had been in declining health following the death of her husband Gus in 2021.
The acting community is in mourning with the news that The Andy Griffith Show star has breathed her last. Her official Facebook page and the Andy Griffith Museum confirmed the information.
SAD FAREWELL
Maggie Peterson (seen here with the late Denver Pyle) has passed away. She is best remembered as Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show. Her passing yesterday at 81 has been announced by several personal friends on social media. “this’n makes me cry.” RIP pic.twitter.com/P2JEHavziw
The Andy Griffith Museum took to its social stages, including Facebook and Instagram, to express its heartfelt condolence. She will always be mortal in the memories despite not being physical around us.
Rest in Peace Maggie Peterson aka Charlene Darling from the Andy Griffith Show. Thanks for the years of entertainment! pic.twitter.com/DNhKyAAJdf
Maggie Peterson was born on January 10, 1941 and died in May 15, 2022 at the age of 81.
Maggie was the youngest of four children of Peterson. She was born to Arthur and Tressa Hill Peterson. Her father was a doctor and her mother a homemaker.
Maggie Peterson husband
Maggie Peterson met jazz musician Gus Mancuso in 1968 while she was singing for an opening act for Andy Griffith at a casino in Lake Tahoe as he played bass in a lounge act. The two spent a few years in Los Angeles before finally settling in Las Vegas. The two stayed together until Mancuso’s death in December 2021 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. The two were married for over 50 years.
Maggie Peterson’s Net Worth
The Andy Griffin Show actress Maggie Peterson’s net worth remains still under the audit. Notwithstanding that, she reportedly has a sizable fortune to her name.
She accumulated all of her fortunes primarily from her professional career as a singer and actress. The actress lived a quality life even during the last days amongst her family.
Maggie Peterson biography
Aside from The Andy Griffith Show, Peterson also appeared on other TV shows such as Love American Style, Green Acres, Gomer Pyle USMC, and The Odd Couple.
She appeared in an episode of Mayberry R.F.D. as Edna, a cafe waitress; in the 1986 film Return to Mayberry; as the innocent Rose Ellen in the 1969 film The Love God?, starring next to Don Knotts; and in the 1968 film Angel in My Pocket.
Peterson landed a role as Susie, the coffee shop waitress on The Bill Dana Show, another spin-off from The Danny Thomas Show, which aired from September 1963 to January 1965.
Peterson grew up in a musical family. While growing up in Colorado, she has said her earliest memories were of music. Peterson, her brother Jim and two of Jim’s friends formed a small group called the Ja-Da Quartet. They would ride around in the back of a pickup truck singing to people.
In 1954 at a Capitol Records convention, Dick Linke (manager of Andy Griffith and Jim Nabors) heard Peterson singing and was so impressed with her, he encouraged her to come to New York. So in 1958 after graduating high school Peterson and the group did just that.
They landed a number of stints on the Perry Como Show[citation needed] and the Pat Boone Show, and in 1959 they released their album “It’s the Most Happy Sound.”[citation needed] Soon after, the band broke up and went back home.
A short time later, Peterson joined another group, The Ernie Mariani Trio (later renamed Margaret Ann and the Ernie Mariani Trio).
The group traveled for several years and had stints in resort areas such as Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno, where Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were often seen in the audience while Peterson performed. It was while she was on tour that Maggie was discovered by The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben.
For The Andy Griffith Show, Peterson initially read for the role of Ellie Walker, a love interest for Sheriff Andy Taylor, but the role went to Elinor Donahue.
Soon after, she was selected to play the role of Charlene Darling. The only daughter of Briscoe Darling, she had a crush on Sheriff Taylor (“Pa, can’t I even just look at the pretty man?”). Peterson would later return to The Andy Griffith Show in its final season, in “A Girl For Goober,” as Doris who was the dating interest to Ken Berry’s character.
The Darlings, including Briscoe’s four boys (played by The Dillards bluegrass band), lived in the mountains and came to town on many occasions. When in town, they enjoyed playing music with Andy. One of Charlene’s favorite songs is “Salty Dog.” The ones that made her cry were “Slimy River Bottom,” “Boil that Cabbage Down”, and “Keep Your Money in Your Shoes and it Won’t Get Wet.”
Ernest T. Bass had his eyes on Charlene and believed he had courting rights because her marriage to Dud Wash had been performed by Sheriff Andy Taylor acting as a justice of the peace, not by a preacher. He tried to steal her away on the day they were to be remarried by a preacher.
Threatening the gathering with a high-powered rifle, he runs off with the fully veiled “bride.” While Charlene and Dud are hurriedly married by the preacher, Ernest T. discovers the person in the veil is really Barney Fife. Charlene and Dud had a daughter together, Andilina. They tried to betroth Andilina to Opie as it was customary in their family. Briscoe called off the engagement of Opie and Andilina when he discovered there was witchery in the Taylor family.
According to Jim Clark of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club, the three songs on which Charlene performed on the show can be found on the album Songs That Make Me Cry.
In 1968, while she was singing as an opening act for Andy Griffith at a casino in Lake Tahoe, Peterson met jazz musician Gus Mancuso who was playing bass in a lounge act. The two married and were together until his death.
The couple spent a number of years in Los Angeles, where Peterson worked doing commercials, until they decided to settle in Las Vegas where Peterson worked as a location scout for film and television.
In April 2008 The Darlings received a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame in Marshfield, Missouri. Peterson and Darlings/Dillards band members Dean Webb and Mitch Jayne were on hand representing The Darlings.
In May 2016 and also May 2019, Peterson appeared as a guest of honor at the Mayberry In The Midwest Festival in Danville, Indiana.