Howard McNear.html



Howard McNear
Born	Howard Terbell McNear January 27, 1905(1905-01-27) Los Angeles, California, United States
Died	January 3, 1969 (aged 63) San Fernando Valley, California, United States

Howard T. McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. McNear is best remembered as Floyd Lawson, the barber in The Andy Griffith Show.

Biography

Career

McNear was born in Los Angeles, California to Luzetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNear.¹

McNear worked in radio from the late 1930s, distinguishing himself in the 1938-1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police as ace operator Clint Barlow.² McNear could be effective in such authoritative roles, but he gravitated more toward character roles, often comic. He created the role of Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952-1961)³. McNear was under contract to CBS for many years and was featured in many of the network's radio and TV programs. From 1955 to 1960 he appeared frequently, in various quirky roles, in the popular radio detective series Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.⁴ In the TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver, McNear made an appearance as a barber named Andy, a role which proved prophetic.⁵

McNear was best known for his performances as the vague, chatty barber Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show. McNear replaced another actor in the role, who was deemed too elderly for the part. McNear later said that he didn't replace anyone, but was playing Floyd Lawson Jr. During production McNear suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to walk though his speech remained intact. Griffith, who realized how much the Floyd character added to the show's dynamic, urged that he return to the role if possible. McNear continued in the role (after being off the show for almost a year and a half), however, with the production crew accommodating his disability. In early episodes, he is seen standing and working in his barber shop. After the stroke, he is usually seen seated (in his barber chair or a park bench, etc.). The stagehands constructed a stand for him, which allowed him to stand and appear to be working, usually to comb hair (one-handed, of course).⁶ His last appearance on the show was in 1967.

Death

McNear died in the San Fernando Valley from the effects of a stroke. After his passing in 1969, Howard McNear was interred in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a former U.S. Veterans Administration cemetery in Los Angeles.⁷

Tribute

In two episodes of the comedy sketch program Second City Television, actor Eugene Levy played McNear's Floyd the Barber. His first appearance as Floyd the Barber was in a parody of The Godfather, in the opening scene as Amerigo Bonasera, in which he asks the Don to hurt Opie for breaking his barber pole. The last line delivered by Floyd is "Ohh, and would you kill Howard Sprague for me?", referring to Howard Sprague, a character from the Andy Griffith Show. His other appearance was in a parody of the Andy Griffith Show, called The Merv Griffith Show, in which he is in his barber shop cutting hair and at a surprise party for Gomer.

Filmography

Television

Voice

• NBC Comics (1950)
• The Flintstones (3 episodes, 1960-1962)

Footnotes

External links

• Howard McNear at the Internet Movie Database
• Howard McNear at TV.com
• Howard McNear at Find A Grave