Biography

Arlene Golonka

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A native Chicagoan of Polish descent, veteran character actress Arlene Golonka seemed destined for acting from the start, having been named after silver screen actress Arline Judge, and her childhood was dominated by singing and acting classes. She headed to New York at the age of 19 and began a career on Broadway and in films made in New York City, generally playing bubble-headed or eccentric blondes, often prostitutes.

She relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1960s. There, while continuing to play small roles on the big screen, she established one of the strongest resumes in television of any character actress, appearing in dozens of programs over the following three decades, often repeatedly on the same program and sometimes playing different characters. Her TV appearances included such legendary programs as The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), All in the Family (1971), and M*A*S*H (1972). She may have been best-known for her recurring role as "Millie" on Mayberry R.F.D. (1968).
- IMDb mini biography by: Larry-115/Robert Sieger

Although not Jewish herself, Golonka appeared on the 1965 comedy album 'You Don't Have To Be Jewish', which became a hit. Unavailable to record its follow-up, 'When You're In Love The Whole World Is Jewish', she recommended her (also non-Jewish) roommate -- Valerie Harper. This was Harper's first Jewish character; her most notable was Rhoda Morgenstern (on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and Rhoda (1974)).
Daughter of Elinor (Wroblewski) and Frank C. Golonka.
The word "golonka" is Polish for "pigs' foot" or "hamhock".
Despite being best known for her girl-next-door role as "Millie" on "The Andy Griffith Show" and its spin-off "Mayberry RFD", Golonka actually played a wide range of characters that included more wholesome roles, bimbos, and klutzes.
Played the role of 'Candy Starr' (one of Randle McMurphy's sex worker girlfriends) in the original Broadway production of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" (1963-64). Compared to Florence "Fiddle" Viracola (the actress that originated the part in the pre-Broadway world premiere) and Marya Small (the actress that played the part in the award winning film), Golonka's portrayal is the closest to Ken Kesey's description of the character of Candy (most notably that she is a pretty, kind-hearted blonde).

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