Early in her career, Riley performed on television in Fresno and in underwater ballet at a hotel. In 1963, Riley appeared as Amelia Pryor on
The Virginian in the episode "Run Away Home." Also in 1963 on
Wagon Train in the episode "The Davey Baxter Story". Winning the role over 300 competitors, Riley portrayed
Billie Jo Bradley on the first two seasons of the
CBS sitcom
Petticoat Junction (1963–1965). Riley left the series in 1965 to pursue movies. She also had a regular cast member role on the comedy variety series
Hee Haw (1969–1971). She played Lulu McQueen (a take-off on
Ginger Grant, played by
Tina Louise, from ''
Gilligan's Island) on the western sitcom Dusty's Trail'', which aired in 1973–74. In 2020, Riley released ''The Bolder Woman: It's About Time'' (), a book she wrote "to instruct women how they can still fulfill their dreams no matter how old they get." ==Partial filmography==