(The Andy Griffith Show)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
The Andy Griffith Show: Who is still alive?
Thelma Lou turned 90 years old on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016.
Well, Betty Lynn, who played Barney Fife's girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, turned 90.
The show ended almost 50 years ago, and in recent years the number of surviving cast members has dwindled (Andy Griffith himself died in 2012). We put together a list of some of the show's surviving actors -- some who were regulars, some who had brief but memorable roles.
The following slides feature some of the notable characters that showed up in Mayberry. Roughly, they're in order beginning with the most appearances on the show.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Ron Howard (Opie Taylor)
You know how those child stars always turn out, right?
Opie, of course, played the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith). Since starring in Happy Days, Howard has directed a few movies you might have seen.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Did she ever find out about Juanita down at the diner? Lynn – who played Deputy Barney Fife’s girlfriend for much of the series, now lives in Mount Airy, N.C., Andy Griffith’s hometown and the inspiration behind Mayberry.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle)
Nabors temporarily replaced Howard McNear (Floyd “the Barber” Lawson) after McNear’s stroke during the third season. It’s hard to believe Gomer was on TAGS for only two seasons before landing his spinoff, Gomer Pyle USMC.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker)
The “lady druggist” with the toothy smile was Andy’s love interest during the first season. (Before that, she had played the eldest daughter on “Father Knows Best.”)
Jack Burns (right) played Deputy Warren Ferguson. (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Jack Burns (Warren Ferguson)
Replacing Don Knotts’ Barney Fife as Mayberry’s deputy was the comedy equivalent of replacing Bear Bryant as Alabama’s football coach. And even more short-lived.
Ron Howard (far left) and his real-life brother, Clint, on the set of The Andy Griffith Show.
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Other kids on the show
Many actors who played children are still around. They include Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), Sheldon Collins (Arnold Bailey), Dennis Rush (Howie Pruitt), Ronda Jeter (Karen Burgess), David Bailey (Trey Bowden), John Reilly (Billy), Ronnie Dapo (Arnold Winkler) and Ron Howard’s real-life brother, Clint Howard, who played the peanut-butter-sandwich-chomping Leon.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
The Darlings
Denver Pyle (Briscoe) and Doug Dillard (Doug) have passed away.
Not so for Maggie Peterson (Charlene), Rodney Dillard (Rodney), Mitch Jayne (Mitch) and Dean Webb (Dean).
Doug, Rodney, Mitch and Dean formed The Dillards, a real-life bluegrass band.
Ken Berry had the lead role on Mayberry R.F.D. as Sam Jones. (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Ken Berry (Sam Jones)
More commonly associated with Mayberry R.F.D., he showed up at the end of TAGS to establish his character.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Josie Lloyd (Josephine/Juanita Pike; Lydia Crosswaithe)
Lloyd played Mayor Pike’s tone-deaf, awkward daughter. Later she appeared as the monotone Lydia, who had no chemistry with Andy: “I don’t mind the clarinet or the saxophone, but I hate the guitar.”
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Rance Howard (various)
Ron Howard’s real-life paw played a number of very small roles. In one, he played the governor’s chauffer receiving a parking ticket from ever-conscientious Deputy Barney Fife.
Bernard Fox is, as Ernest T. Bass might say, "an Englishter." (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Bernard Fox (Malcolm Merriweather)
Malcolm wasn't “from around here,” and Fox moved back to London, but he’s still with us in the larger sense.
Arlene Golonka later starred on Mayberry R.F.D. as Millie became Sam Jones' girlfriend. (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Arlene Golonka (Millie Hutchins/Swanson)
Millie almost married Howard Sprague.
A fate we’d wish on nobody.
Ike Morgan | @ikemorgan
Jack Nicholson
He was in only two episodes, and he played different characters. But he’s Jack Nicholson, so we couldn’t leave him off.
Also, he’s still alive.
On one episode he played one-half of a young couple that had lost their baby, and on another he played an innocent man on trial for burglary.
"I ain't never been jabbed, and I ain't fixing to be," Rafe told Nurse Mary.
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Julie Adams (Mary Simpson)
She was in only one episode, but the nurse managed to turn Andy’s head and give a tetanus shot to Rafe Hollister, the farmer/moonshiner with the itchy trigger finger.
Andy Griffith and Barbara Eden. (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
Barbara Eden (Ellen Brown)
Before she was Jeannie, Barbara Eden spent one episode as Ellen Brown, who spoke fast and was a manicurist -- "I do nails" -- and had an ex-fiance named Pierre.
Don Knotts (right) earned five Emmy awards for his work on The Andy Griffith Show. (Everett Collection)
Ike Morgan | imorgan@al.com
More 'Andy'
Do you know what these southern phrases from The Andy Griffith Show mean?
Ron Howard remembers George Lindsey fondly
"Real-life Floyd the Barber" dies in Mount Airy, N.C.
Andy Griffith made Alabamians Jim Nabors, George Lindsey famous
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