<P> Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, Corsaut was the daughter of Jesse Harrison and Opal J. (née Swarens) Corsaut . She majored in drama at Northwestern University and studied acting with Lee Strasberg . During her junior year, Corsaut dropped out to pursue a career in acting, although during the run of The Andy Griffith Show, Corsaut took courses at UCLA with plans to earn her degree . </P> <P> She began her acting career in New York City in the mid-1950s . In 1958, Corsaut and Steve McQueen made their film debuts in the independent cult horror film, The Blob . </P> <P> Corsaut first appeared on the long - running Griffith show in 1963 as schoolteacher Helen Crump, who later became the Mayberry sheriff's wife on the first episode of the spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. . Corsaut also had a continuing role as policeman Bumper Morgan's pawn - shop - owner friend on the series The Blue Knight and as Irma Howell in the short - lived series Mrs. G. Goes to College . In the TV series Adam - 12, Corsaut portrayed Officer Pete Malloy's girlfriend, Judy . She had a supporting role as Head Nurse Bradley in the 1980s sitcom House Calls, and also appeared in several episodes of Matlock with star Andy Griffith . In addition, Corsaut played the role of nurse Jesse Brewer in 1977 on the long - running ABC soap opera General Hospital when long - time portrayer Emily McLaughlin was too ill to work . </P> <P> She returned to the role of Helen Crump in the reunion shows Return to Mayberry in 1986 and The Andy Griffith Show Reunion in 1993 . </P>

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