We are an eBay affiliate and may be compensated for clicks on links that result in purchases.

Actors and Actresses That Appeared on The Andy Griffith Show

One fascinating thing about the show is that some characters are so strong you think they were in scores of episodes, yet, in reality, they were in very few. Ernest T. Bass comes to mind. This character portrayed by Howard Morris was only on five episodes, although Morris appeared on one other as a television repairman. His voice was on two different episodes. The character was so strong people assumed he was on many more.

Of the 249 episodes (250 if you count the Pilot, which I do) filmed, only Andy himself appeared in all of them. Surprisingly, Ron Howard came in second with 202 (plus 41 credits only, plus the Pilot) appearances. Frances Bavier ("Aunt Bee") appeared on 175 (including the Pilot plus 13 credits only), while Don Knotts was on 142 (plus 21 credits only). Surprisingly, no other character reached the 100-show mark. George Lindsey, Howard McNear, and Aneta Corsaut were the only ones to appear in at least 50 episodes. Jack Dodson, Hope Summers, and Hal Smith made over 30 appearances. Betty Lynn made 26 and Jim Nabors 23 episodes. All others were fewer than 20 episodes, including "Emmett Clark," "Ellie Walker" and "Warren Ferguson." Even "Ernest T. Bass" and "The Darlings" made fewer than ten episodes. The writing, casting, and directing were so flawless that it makes you think they were on most of the episodes.

It all started as an episode of Make Room for Daddy with Danny Thomas in an episode entitled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith," which aired on February 15, 1960. This show introduced the world to Mayberry, North Carolina, widower Sheriff Andy Taylor, and his son Opie. Francis Bavier also appeared in this episode but not as "Aunt Bee." She was "Henrietta Perkins." Others later appearing on The Andy Griffith Show include Will Wright, Frank Cady, and Rance Howard. This pilot episode was the true beginning of the show.

During the shows run, many actors and actresses that went on to star in movies and television shows appeared, including Barbara Eden, Buddy Ebsen, Edgar Buchanan, Don Rickles, Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Frank Cady, Alvy Moore, Sid Melton, Mary Grace Canfield, Hank Patterson, Howard Hesseman (credited as Don Sturdy), James Best, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Gavin MacLeod, Julie Adams, Dabbs Greer, Rob Reiner, Denver Pyle, Bo Hopkins, Lee Van Cleef, Helen Kleeb, Mary Jackson, Dub Taylor, Richard Bull, Karl Swenson, Ellen Corby, Arte Johnson, Dick Haynes, Terri Garr, Elinor Donahue, Kent McCord, Ronnie Schell, George Nader and Casey Adams (aka Max Showalter). Even Jack Nicholson made two appearances on the show! Actors Howard Morris "Ernest T. Bass" and Richard Crenna directed eight TAGS episodes.

Barbara Griffith, Andy Griffith's first wife, appeared in one episode. Andy's father, Carl Lee Griffith, appears as "The man with the brown paper package" in the episode "The Farmer Takes a Wife." Ron Howard's father, Rance, and brother, Clint, appeared in some episodes.

My list only includes the announcer Colin Male for his appearance onscreen as a forest ranger on the show. Colin Male was the announcer for over 90 of the early episodes. I consider the announcer similar to a crew member, director, etc., but not a cast member. That is just my personal view, and others no doubt will disagree.

Over 600 actors appeared on the show, not counting "Dolly the Horse" or "Old Sam the Fish." Close to 500 had "credited" roles. Scores of "extras" would likely push the list up much higher. Many unknown extras are shown in various group scenes during the show, such as Barney returning and the class reunion show. There are also extras seen walking across the street in background shots or sitting on benches. Most of those people are unknown and difficult to identify because of the distance. They are important because they bring an air of authenticity to Mayberry being a real town not a set even though it was.

The names below with ** after them have exemplars shown herein. The following is a list of cast members on at least five episodes, excluding Colin Male. I thought about Thomas Jacobs and Joe Crehan since they were primarily extras, but I have left them on the list. Jacobs is listed with 72 episodes but credited in only two of those. Crehan was in at least 13 episodes, but like Jacobs credited only in two.

The number of episodes below are on screen only. For example, Don Knotts is credited with 162 episodes but was only seen in 141 of those. He was named in the credits of 21 episodes that he did not appear in. I have only used the 141 that he was actually seen. Ron Howard is more complicated since technically in the opening credits he and Andy appear in all the episodes. He is credited in 243 episodes but only appears on screen in 202. He is credits only in 41 episodes.

Andy Griffith "Andy Taylor" 249 episodes**(plus the Pilot)
Ron Howard "Opie Taylor" 202 **(plus the Pilot)
Frances Bavier "Aunt Bee Taylor" 175** (plus the Pilot)
Don Knotts "Barney Fife" 141**
George Lindsey "Goober Pyle" 86**
Howard McNear "Floyd Lawson" 80**
Tom Jacobs "Councilman" and "Mayberry Citizen" (72)**
Aneta Corsaut "Helen Crump" 66**
Jack Dodson "Howard Sprague" 38**
Hope Summers "Clara Edwards" 32**
Hal Smith "Otis Campbell" 32**
Betty Lynn "Thelma Lou" 26**
Jim Nabors "Gomer Pyle" 23**
Paul Hartman "Emmett Clark) 16**
Mary Lansing "Martha Clark" 15
Burt Mustin "Jud Fletcher & others" 14**
Robert McQuain "Joe Waters & others" 14
Richard Keith "Johnny Paul Jason" 13**
Joseph Crehan "Mayberry Citizen" 13**
Elinor Donahue "Ellie Walker" 12**
Jack Burns "Warren Ferguson" 11**
Dick Elliott "Mayor Pike" 11**
Joseph H. Hamilton "Mayberry Citizen" 11**
Sheldon Collins "Arnold Bailey" 9**
Roy Engel "Mayberry Citizen" 8**
Allan Melvin "Various Parts" 8**
Dennis Rush "Howie Pruitt" 8 **
Howard Morris "Ernest T. Bass" 8**
Rhonda Jeter "Karen Burgess & others" 8
Parley Baer "Mayor Stoner" 7**
Charles P. Thompson "Old Asa" later "Doc Roberts" 7**
William Keene "Rev. Tucker" 6 **
Jack Prince "Rafe Hollister" 6**
Janet Stewart (Bernice and others) 6
Forrest Lewis (Cy Hudgins; Mayberry Citizen) 6**
Joy Ellison (Effie Muggins and others) 6
Cheerio Meredith "Emma Brand" 6**
Norman Leavitt ("Wally" and others) 6**
Maggie Peterson Mancuso "Charlene Darling" 6**
Denver Pyle "Briscoe Darling" 6**
Doug Dillard (Darling brother) 6**
Rodney Dillard (Darling brother) 6**
Mitch Jayne (Darling brother) 6**
Dean Webb (Darling brother) 6**
Olan Soule (Choirmaster John Masters/hotel clerk) 5**
Jason Johnson (Mr. Weaver & others) 5
Frank Ferguson (Mr. Foley, Sam Lindsey, Wilbur Pine) 5**
Amzie Strickland (Myra Tucker & others) 5**
Sherwood Keith (Sam) 5 **
Warren Parker (County Fair Judge) 5
George Cisar [NOT the baseball player with the same name] (Cyrus Tankersley) 5
Frank Warren (Art Crowley the grocer) 5
Ruth Thom (Ella Carson) 5
Maudie Prickett (Aunt Nora and Mrs. Larch) 5**
Clint Howard (Leon) 5**
Sam Edwards (Tom Bedlow & others) 5**

These figures change as I find other episodes. To make these autographs a bit easier for people to see, I will make a list of the autographs in the reply section below. That way, if you are looking for a particular individual, you can scroll down to find them in this discussion. The autographs below are people who were on at least two episodes of the show. There is another discussion for those that appeared on only one show and another for "extras."1. Jack Dodson "Howard Sprague"
2. Hope Summers "Clara"
3. Sheldon Collins "Arnold"
4. Allan Melvin. Many roles.
5. James Best. "Jim Lindsey"
6. Joseph H. Hamilton. "Jase," "Choney," and "Chester Jones"
7. Mary Treen. "Rose" and "Clara Lindsey."
8. Jonathan Hole "Orville Monroe" in three episodes.
9. Richard Keith (aka Keith Thibodeaux)
10. Margaret Kerry
11. Ron Howard
12. Sam Edwards
13. Burt Mustin
14. Byron Foulger
15. Arthur Malet
16. Denver Pyle
17. Doug Dillard
18. Rodney Dillard
19. Mitch Jayne
20. Dean Webb
21. Maggie Peterson
22. Doodles Weaver (aka Red Marshall)
23. Joe Crehan
24. Parley Baer
25. Rance Howard
26. Emory Parnell
27. Joyce Jameson
28. Amzie Strickland
29. Jack Burns
30. Ken Lynch
31. Thomas "Tom" Jacobs
32. Chubby Johnson
33. Arthur Hunnicutt
34. Richard Poston
35. Jon Lormer
36. James McCallion
37. Richard Collier
38. Paul Hartman
39. Dennis Rush
40. Sherwood Keith
41. Tod Andrews (AKA Michael Ames)
42. Robert Emhardt
43. Sylvia Lewis
44. Howard McNear
45. Dick Elliott
46. Charles P. Thompson
47. Aneta Corsaut
48. William Keene
49. George Lindsey
50. Arlene Golonka
51. A. Paul Smith

Tags: Andy, Bavier, Don, Frances, Griffith, Howard, Jack, Ken, Knotts, Lynch, More…Nicholson, Ron

2 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 14, 2024 at 2:56pm

ROBERT EMHARDT (1914-1994) the large man who resembled Sydney Greenstreet was often cast as a villain or authority figure. He appeared more in television than movies although he did his share of those. He was in an episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and The Brady Bunch among many others. Emhardt did two TAGS episodes playing Malcolm Tucker in the 1963 episode "A Man in a Hurry" and a 1966 episode as Willard Foster in "The Foster Lady." His is a scarce autograph to find.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 15, 2024 at 10:37am

SYLVIA LEWIS (1931- ) began her career in mostly small uncredited roles as a dancer. She was in a Three Stooges short called Bedlam in Paradise (1955) she began getting credited roles in such shows as The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Bob Cummings Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Gomer Pyle: USMC, and the Jerry Lewis movie Hook, Line and Sinker (1969). She appeared on two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show playing Flossie in "Banjo Playing Deputy" in 1965, and as a dancer in "A Singer in Town" in 1966. This is an illustrated 3x5 sheet.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 18, 2024 at 2:20pm

HOWARD MCNEAR (1905-1969) with the exception of Don Knotts perhaps no other TAGS character is as beloved as Howard McNear aka Floyd Lawson the barber of Mayberry. McNear was part of the radio show Gunsmoke where he played "Doc Adams." He was a character actor who appeared in numerous movies and television shows in the 1950s and 1960s. One credited role was in the Jimmy Stewart comedy Bell, Book and Candle (1958). In 1959 he was in another Jimmy Stewart movie this time the classic Anatomy of a Murder playing Dr. Dompierre. His was among the very controversial scenes in the movie since both he and Jimmy Stewart use the word "sperm." Jimmy showing a pair of lady's panties was another shocking scene. McNear played his role in a serious and realistic fashion proving he was not just Floyd the Barber.

McNear certainly will first and foremost be remembered for bringing to life Floyd Lawson. When McNear suffered a debilitating stroke, it was Andy Griffith who refused to give up on him. Andy made sure that when McNear returned his scenes would be shot so he was either sitting or was filmed sitting on a specially built stool that could not be seen. He also often had something in his left hand. He was featured in his last entitled "Goober's Contest" episode that aired April 10, 1967. Floyd then retired and Emmett Clark (Paul Hartman) buys his barbershop and makes it into "Emmett's Fixit Shop." Less than two years later just before his 64th birthday McNear died on January 3, 1969.

Of the dozen major actors/actresses who appeared in at least 20 episodes (not counting announcer Colin Male or extra Tom Jacobs) on The Andy Griffith Show his is the rarest autograph. This is my McNear a pre-stroke example.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 22, 2024 at 11:36am

DICK ELLIOTT (1886-1961) appeared in 11 early episodes of The Andy Griffith Show as Mayor Pike. He began his acting career as a character actor in mostly bit-part roles starting in 1933. He established him so that by the late 1930s, he got some credited roles, including the Jimmy Stewart classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). He had a more prominent role as "Judge Crowthers" in the Barbara Stanwix classic A Christmas in Connecticut (1945). In 1946, he had a minor part as a man on a porch in Jimmy Stewart's It's a Wonderful Life. With the advent of television, Elliott found steady work as a doctor, businessman, judge, and mayor. He was in three episodes of The Adventures of Superman. Elliot worked on several television westerns before landing his signature role as Mayberry's Mayor Pike in 1960. There can be little doubt that, but for his death in 1961, he would have appeared on many more episodes of TAGS. His last appearance was in the episode "The Manicurist" with Barbara Eden, which aired in 1962 after his death. As a general rule, Mayor Pike is treated much kinder than his successor, Mayor Stoner (Parley Baer). Andy Griffith always hated the idea of a mayor and correctly argued that a sheriff was a county official and did not have to answer to a town mayor. Andy said it was the only major argument he and Sheldon Leonard ever had. Leonard believed that for a comedy to work, you needed a threat from an authority figure. In the end, Andy won.

As far as autographs are concerned material on Elliott is scarce though it does pop up. This is an autographed program from a play.

More exemplars may be seen here:

SCARCE DICK ELLIOTT AUTOGRAPH - Autograph Live (autographmagazine.com)

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 22, 2024 at 1:42pm

CHARLES P. THOMPSON (1891-1979) appeared as Old Asa the bank security guard in Mayberry. He is called "Asa" in four episodes and in two later ones he is "Dr. Roberts." He is just "Asa" in one episode, Asa Breeney/Breeny in three episodes and Asa Bascomb in one. That is one of the hazards of continuity when there are often different writers. Thompson was mainly a bit-part player in movies and television. His "Asa" character is certainly his most memorable. Like many of the minor characters in TAGS his signature is scarce. This is a link to the album page that Tim Henderson shared with the group.

Charles p Thompson aka Asa - Autograph Live (autographmagazine.com)

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 24, 2024 at 11:07am

Hi Scott,

I saw the old snapshot and thought of you.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on March 24, 2024 at 12:14pm

lol that is great one thanks Eric.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on April 22, 2024 at 5:11am

ANETA CORSAUT (1933-1995) best known for playing opposite Steve McQueen in THE BLOB (1958) and as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show appearing in 66 episodes. She also appeared as Judge Cynthia Justin on Andy Griffith's later series Matlock. She reprised her role of Helen for the RETURN TO MAYBERRY movie in 1986. Her autograph is elusive and highly sought after among collectors.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on June 9, 2024 at 5:07pm

WILLIAM KEENE (1915-1992) is perhaps best known for his two Twilight Zone appearances and many other television shows. He played Rev. Hobart Tucker/Rev. Martin in six episodes of The Andy Griffith Show reprising his role as the minister in six more episodes of Mayberry R. F. D. His last work was an episode of Little House on the Prairie. This is from Worthpoint from a John Verzi in-person index card.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on June 10, 2024 at 6:27am

GEORGE LINDSEY (1928-2012) was a character actor best known for his role of "Goober Pyle" a character he portrayed longer than any other TAGS actor. He appeared as a sadistic small-town deputy in the Twilight Zone episode entitled "I am the Night-Color Me Black." He did more dramatic roles in his early years including episodes of Gunsmoke. He was actually cast for the role of the simple gas station attendant on TAGS, but when Andy Griffith saw a young nightclub performer Jim Nabors, he was given the role. Lindsey was obviously disappointed but he got his chance to play Gomer's cousin Goober in the fourth season (1964) episode "Fun Girls."

Lindsey played his character Goober as a regular on TAGS, Mayberry R. F. D. and Hee Haw. He also appeared as the character in episodes of Gomer Pyle: U.S. M.C., The New Andy Griffith Show and a failed pilot Goober and the Trucker's Paradise. Lindsey reprised his role with other cast members for The Return to Mayberry movie.

This is a signed back of a polaroid photograph in 1970 while still playing Goober.

Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on June 24, 2024 at 7:08am

ARLENE GOLONKA (1936-2021) from 1959 until 2005 appeared predominately in television programs. Among the movies she made were Love with the Proper Stranger, Diary of a Bachelor, Penelope, Airport '77, Nightmare, and The Elevator. She lent her voice to several Scooby Doo movies. She played Peter Falk's wife in the comedy The In-laws in 1979. Golonka was in many television shows, including M*A*S*H, All in the Family, Maude, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, That Girl, One Day at a Time, The King of Queens, The Big Valley, and Get Smart, among others. She is perhaps best known for two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show playing Howard Sprague's love interest "Millie Hutchins." She got a more prominent role as Ken Berry's girlfriend, Mille Swanson, on Mayberry R. F. D. for 49 episodes. In one episode, she is called Millie Summers in a continuity error. This is a signed 8x10 to Alfred Lures in 1969, while still playing "Millie Swanson."