 Clayton played the first four seasons of "Lassie", from September 1954 to December 1957, as Ellen Miller, a war widow living on her father-in-law's farm with her preteen son, Jeff, and her late husband's cantankerous old father, Gramps (played by the Canadian-born George Cleveland).Clayton brought her extensive acting experience on Broadway to the "Lassie" series, portraying in her character Ellen the traits of a loving mother with a wide range of heartfelt emotions ranging from sorrow and tragedy to great comedic relief.There were only a few times in "Lassie" when Clayton exhibited her impressive singing talents, most notably in the episode "The Gypsys" (Season 2, Ep.