Authenticity is Everything
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, appeared in only five episodes. Morris also appeared in another episode as a television repairman. His voice was on two different episodes. The Bass character was so electric that people assumed he was on many more.
Of the 249 episodes (250 if you count the Pilot, which I do), Andy Griffith was the only actor to appear 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 Mayberry character reached the 100-show mark. George Lindsey, Howard McNear, and Aneta Corsaut were the only ones to appear in at least 50 episodes. Hope Summers, Jack Dodson, and Hal Smith each made over 30 appearances. Betty Lynn appeared in 26 episodes, and Jim Nabors in 23. All others had fewer than 20 episodes, including "Emmett Clark," "Ellie Walker," and "Warren Ferguson," as well as "The Darlings," all of which 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 entitled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith," which aired on February 15, 1960. This show introduced the world to Mayberry, North Carolina, and the widower Sheriff Andy Taylor, as well as his son Opie. Francis Bavier also appeared in this episode, but not as "Aunt Bee." She was "Henrietta Perkins." Others in that episode that would later appear 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, Hayden Rork, 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! Richard Crenna, although never appearing on camera, directed eight episodes of TAGS.
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 multiple episodes of the show.
My list only includes the announcer, Colin Male, for his one appearance on-screen 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, or other similar roles, but not a cast member. The announcer was not integral to any storyline.
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. Several unknown extras are featured in various group scenes throughout the show, including Barney's return and the class reunion episode. 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 valuable because they bring an air of authenticity to Mayberry, being a real town, not a set, even though it was.
The names below, marked with **, have exemplars shown herein. The following is a list of cast members who appear in 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 appeared in at least 13 episodes, but was credited only in two, like Jacobs.
The number of episodes listed below refers to on-screen appearances 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 in which he did not appear. I have only used the 141 that he was seen on-screen. Ron Howard is more complicated, since, technically, he and Andy appear in all the episodes in the opening credits. Howard is credited with 243 episodes but only appears on screen in 202. He is credited only in 41 episodes,
The ones in bold face are those that exemplars are requested.
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.
Tags: Andy, Bavier, Don, Frances, Griffith, Howard, Jack, Ken, Knotts, Lynch, More…
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on
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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."
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Thank you very much I appreciate it. I thought I would be further along than I am. Hope to eventually get about half of everyone who was on at least one episode.
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Permalink Reply by Frank Johnson on
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Scott, I remember from the past exchanges in the site you we’re working on this project.
Do you know how many you now have? I wish I had some to add to the total. However I basically have the main actors/actresses signatures.
Best of luck going forward on it.Frank
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Our small town where I live is in the beginning of a fundraiser for new park slides, swings and other fun things for the kiddos to enjoy.
I am donating some of my signed items and other memorabilia as well as sports collectibles to the cause. They are having silent auctions thru the summer. My grandsons ages 2 and 7 enjoy going now, and my three daughters enjoyed the same park growing up.
I couldn't think of a better time or place to put it all to use. I am keeping a few things for the grandsons to do with what they choose.
I had my enjoyment out of all of it, now it is time for others to enjoy it. And hopefully more people will watch and enjoy TAGS. This country could sure learn valuable lessons from it.
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What a wonderful gesture on your part Frank. I remember watching TAGS when it was on primetime then also the repeats that were syndicated. I think what made the show so great is that Andy was great father, but not a perfect one. Andy learned a lot too through the eyes of Opie like the cannon episode. I was lucky I grew up in the country, but the nearest town was very much like Mayberry in the rural Appalachians of northern Pennsylvania. I suppose a lot of towns were in the 1960s. I think that is why I related to it so much. You are so lucky to have the grandchildren so close that is a true blessing. Have always appreciated your help and support over the years with this project.
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Frank so great to hear from you, my friend. I have not counted up in a while, but I think it is around 275 individuals or so. I have slowed down my collecting considerably. I would like to get to 300 that is roughly half of those who were on the show. Of course, there are so many "extras" that are unnamed people would be hard pressed to get those. I would love to get Mary Lansing (Emmett's wife) I have only seen a couple of hers that I thought authentic. I am glad I started when I did since I doubt today, I would be able to afford it. I hope from time-to-time people will enjoy looking at the autographs of their favorites.
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A. PAUL SMITH (1929-2006) his wavy hair and rubber face was a familiar sight in television and movies. His biggest movie role was in the 1957 Elvis Presley movie Loving You where he was number six in the credits. Smith was in 15 episodes of No Time for Sergeants a show that ironically was beaten by The Andy Griffith Show. Smith was on two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He rose to supporting cast on The Doris Day Show and the superhero spoof Mr. Terrific. Smith appeared on many shows such as Batman, Little House on the Prairie, The Dukes of Hazard and many more. He never rose to starring roles despite be an excellent performer especially in comic roles. Tall and thin he was usually a policeman on an incredible nine episodes of Bewitched. He was great at the confused double take look. Originally billed as Paul Smith in later roles he is billed as "A. Paul Smith" to avoid confusion with actor Paul L. Smith. Smith's autograph is scarce. This is a John Verzi in-person card from 1981, just before his retirement from on-screen performances.
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ROSS ELLIOTT (1917-1999) best known for his work on I Love Lucy as the director of the commercial for Vitameatavegamin. He also appeared three times as Ricky's agent. He played Freddie the director on The Jack Benny Program. Elliott was a regular in the western The Virginian playing Sheriff Abbott. He did two episodes of Gunsmoke and three of Bonanza. In his early years he was part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theater and was in the 1938 radio play War of the Worlds. In movies he was in the 1950s horror films Tarantula, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, Indestructible Man, Monster on Campus and The Crawling Hand. Elliott was everywhere on television appearing in episodes of Wonder Woman, The Waltons, The Six Million Dollar Man, Phyllis, Columbo, Mission Impossible, The Wild, Wild West, Th Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and Little House on the Prairie. He was in two episodes of The Twilight Zone and one of Gomer Pyle, U. S. M.C. Elliott appeared in two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. The following is a John Verzi in-person index card.
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Great information as always Scott.
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Thank you so much Frank I appreciate that.
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BETTY LYNN (1925-2021) was one of the last of the "regulars" from The Andy Griffith Show. She appeared in every season from the first through the sixth in 26 episodes as Thelma Lou, the girlfriend of Barney Fife. Like several prominent TAGS alums, she was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
She began her career in the 1948 Clifton Webb comedy film, Sitting Pretty. She was reunited with Webb for the 1950 comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen," which also featured TAGS Alumni Edgar Buchanan and Walter Baldwin. Other films, mainly in the same genre, followed over the years. She also found steady work in television on shows such as Wagon Train, Lawman, Tales of Wells Fargo, Family Affair (in four episodes as Miss Lee), and My Three Sons, in which she appeared in seven episodes. She appeared in three (plus one credit-only) episodes of Andy Griffith's last television series, Matlock. In 1986, she reprised her role as Thelma Lou in the movie Return to Mayberry. In that, she finally became Mrs. Bernard P. Fife. In later years, after her California house was burglarized twice, she moved to Andy Griffith's hometown of Mt. Airey, North Carolina. Ironically, she was robbed after moving there. She loved her new life and loved the attention of her fans. While her modern autographs are plentiful, vintage material such as this in-person autograph was obtained by Lee Gold.
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