Only 4 living main characters from "The Andy Griffith Show"

[News]

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Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)

Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

[R H Draney]

Post by News
Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)
Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r

[News]

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Post by R H Draney

Post by News
Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)
Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r

K. She wasn't just a guest star for a couple of episodes?

[Loki]

Post by News
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Post by R H Draney

Post by News
Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)
Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r

K. She wasn't just a guest star for a couple of episodes?

As I recall it, a stronger case could be made for Golonka than for
Jack Burns...

Also Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walkier) is still on this side of the turf.

RIP Andy.

[e***@gmail.com]

Post by Loki
As I recall it, a stronger case could be made for Golonka than for
Jack Burns...

Golonka, as far as what the IMDB says, wasn't really a full-time Mayberry regular until after the series shifted to "Mayberry, RFD."

[R H Draney]

Post by e***@gmail.com

Post by Loki
As I recall it, a stronger case could be made for Golonka than for
Jack Burns...

Golonka, as far as what the IMDB says, wasn't really a full-time Mayberry
regular until after the series shifted to "Mayberry, RFD."

Yeah, I think her character's last name even changed when Andy left the show....

Elinor Donohue was mentioned upthread...she definitely qualifies as a regular
for the relevant period....r

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Post by R H Draney

Post by e***@gmail.com

Post by Loki
As I recall it, a stronger case could be made for Golonka than for
Jack Burns...

Golonka, as far as what the IMDB says, wasn't really a full-time Mayberry
regular until after the series shifted to "Mayberry, RFD."

Yeah, I think her character's last name even changed when Andy left the show....
Elinor Donohue was mentioned upthread...she definitely qualifies as a regular
for the relevant period....r

For the first season, she would qualify.
I was counting the regulars for the entire run of the series.
Examples: Howard McNear (Floyd), Hal Smith (Otis), George Lindsey
(Goober), Jack Dodson (Howard), Paul Hartman (Emmett) Frances Bavier (Aunt
Bee), Hope Summers (Clara), Aneta Corsaut (Helen), Don Knotts (Barney),
Andy, etc.; all now on-topic and resting in eternal peace together for
eternity.
Even the production crew, theme composer, and main writers are dead:
Sheldon Leonard and Danny Thomas (exec. prod.), Aaron Ruben (prod.), Earle
Hagen (theme and whistler of "The Fishin' Hole") and Everett Sloane
(lyricist to the un-sung theme and actor in a TAGS ep.), Everett Greenbaum
and Jim Fritzell (writers).
We don't know the whereabouts of telephone operator 'Sarah' and diner
waitress 'Juanita'. <g>

[busgal]

Roland White is still active in Bluegrass but I think Eric White died a few weeks ago on Clarence White's birthday. (From our IBMA member)

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Post by Loki
As I recall it, a stronger case could be made for Golonka than for
Jack Burns...

Golonka, as far as what the IMDB says, wasn't really a full-time Mayberry
regular until after the series shifted to "Mayberry, RFD."

That's how I remembered her, so she was not a regular in TAGS.

[Scott Brady]

This post might be inappropriate. Click to display it.

[R H Draney]

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[Scott Brady]

Post by R H Draney

Post by Scott Brady
MAJOR RECURRING CHARACTERS
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling Wash), 6 episodes

Only five of those six were as Charlene...her last appearance was as a
completely different character in the episode "A Girl For Goober" (essentially a
remake of "A Girl For Gomer" from five seasons earlier, where the "girl" was
played by Mary Grace "Ralph Monroe" Canfield)....r

I'd just have soon have forgotten that (which I had). The character of
Darlene turned out to be a little more indelible than that of Doris.

I wonder if the producers assumed the audience wouldn't remember her
as Darlene, wouldn't recognize her, or wouldn't care.

[R H Draney]

Post by R H Draney

Post by R H Draney

Post by Scott Brady
MAJOR RECURRING CHARACTERS
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling Wash), 6 episodes

Only five of those six were as Charlene...her last appearance was as a
completely different character in the episode "A Girl For Goober" (essent=

ially a

Post by R H Draney
remake of "A Girl For Gomer" from five seasons earlier, where the "girl" =

was

Post by R H Draney
played by Mary Grace "Ralph Monroe" Canfield)....r

I'd just have soon have forgotten that (which I had). The character of
Darlene turned out to be a little more indelible than that of Doris.
I wonder if the producers assumed the audience wouldn't remember her
as Darlene, wouldn't recognize her, or wouldn't care.

Charlene, not Darlene...and she kind of grew on me over time....

I don't remember what interview special it was on, but Peterson went on record
some years later as saying they made Doris as different as they could from
Charlene because she wanted to lay the earlier character to rest...the "wouldn't
recognize" theory may not have been the intention, but it was definitely the
result....r

[Scott Brady]

Post by R H Draney

Post by R H Draney

Post by R H Draney

Post by Scott Brady
MAJOR RECURRING CHARACTERS
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling Wash), 6 episodes

Only five of those six were as Charlene...her last appearance was as a
completely different character in the episode "A Girl For Goober" (essent=

ially a

Post by R H Draney
remake of "A Girl For Gomer" from five seasons earlier, where the "girl" =

was

Post by R H Draney
played by Mary Grace "Ralph Monroe" Canfield)....r

I'd just have soon have forgotten that (which I had). The character of
Darlene turned out to be a little more indelible than that of Doris.
I wonder if the producers assumed the audience wouldn't remember her
as Darlene, wouldn't recognize her, or wouldn't care.

Charlene, not Darlene...and she kind of grew on me over time....
I don't remember what interview special it was on, but Peterson went on record
some years later as saying they made Doris as different as they could from
Charlene because she wanted to lay the earlier character to rest...the "wouldn't
recognize" theory may not have been the intention, but it was definitely the
result....r

Interesting; thanks.

The Darling episodes always made me cry.

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Post by R H Draney

Post by R H Draney

Post by R H Draney

Post by Scott Brady
MAJOR RECURRING CHARACTERS
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling Wash), 6 episodes

Only five of those six were as Charlene...her last appearance was as a
completely different character in the episode "A Girl For Goober" (essent=

ially a

Post by R H Draney
remake of "A Girl For Gomer" from five seasons earlier, where the "girl" =

was

Post by R H Draney
played by Mary Grace "Ralph Monroe" Canfield)....r

I'd just have soon have forgotten that (which I had). The character of
Darlene turned out to be a little more indelible than that of Doris.
I wonder if the producers assumed the audience wouldn't remember her
as Darlene, wouldn't recognize her, or wouldn't care.

Charlene, not Darlene...and she kind of grew on me over time....
I don't remember what interview special it was on, but Peterson went on record
some years later as saying they made Doris as different as they could from
Charlene because she wanted to lay the earlier character to rest...the "wouldn't
recognize" theory may not have been the intention, but it was definitely the
result....r

Interesting; thanks.

The Darling episodes always made me cry.

---

You'll have to fight it.

[Scott Brady]

Post by Scott Brady
REGULARS
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), 26 episodes
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle), 23 episodes
Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker), 12 episodes
Jack Burns (Deputy Warren Ferguson), 11 episodes

I think Ron Howard made a few appearances, as well. Although I'd have
categorized him not as a regular but as a principal.

[Scott Brady]

Post by Scott Brady

Post by R H Draney
Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r

REGULARS
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), 26 episodes
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle), 23 episodes
Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker), 12 episodes
Jack Burns (Deputy Warren Ferguson), 11 episodes
MAJOR RECURRING CHARACTERS
Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling Wash), 6 episodes
Ken Berry (Sam Jones), 4 episodes
Bernard Fox (Malcolm Merriweather) 3 episodes
Arlene Golonka (Millie Hutchins), 2 episodes
Buddy Foster (Mike Jones), 2 episodes
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Richard Keith (11 episodes as Johnny Paul Jason, 1 episode as Carter
French)
Sheldon Collins (Arnold Bailey), 9 episodes (4 as Sheldon Golomb, 1
uncredited)
MINOR CHARACTERS
Rodney Dillard (Rodney Darling), 7 episodes
Dean Webb (Dean Darling), 6 episodes
Clint Howard (4 episodes as Leon, 1 episode (uncredited) as Boy at
Church Social)
David A. Bailey (3 episodes as Trey Bowden, 1 episode as Fred Simpson)
Ronnie Dapo (2 episodes as Arnold Winkler, 1 episode as Pete)
James Best (Jim Lindsey), 2 episodes
UNKNOWN IF LIVING
Dennis Rush, 7 episodes as Howie Pruitt, 1 episode as Howie Williams
Ronda Jeter (Karen Burgess/Sharon McCall/Sharon Porter/Crowd Member/
Ethel), 8 episodes
Frank Warren (Art/Art Crowley, the Grocer), 5 episodes)
Joey Scott (Whitey Porter), 2 episodes
Billy Ray Latham (Banjo Player, 2 episodes
Leroy Mack (Guitar Player), 2 episodes
Eric White (Bass Player), 2 episodes
Roland White (Mandolin Player), 2 episodes
Renee Aubry (Choir Member), 2 episodes

[d***@gmail.com]

The school teacher

[marcus]

Post by d***@gmail.com
The school teacher

Do you mean Aneta Corsaut who played "Helen Crump"?

She died in the 1990s.

[n***@gmail.com]

Post by R H Draney

Post by News
Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)
Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r

[4***@gmail.com]

Post by R H Draney

Post by News
Living main actors from "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968)
Ron Howard (Opie)
Jim Nabors (Gomer)
Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou)
Jack Burns (Warren, very short duty as Deputy)

Depends how you define "main", but Arlene Golonka (Millie) is still with us....r
--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.

I see nothing mentioned about Lydia Crosswaith. She was fun to watch. Whatever happened to her?

[BeAStooge]

Still with us are...

Ron Howard
Jim Nabors (3rd - 4th seasons, plus of course GOMER PYLE USMC)
Elinor Donahue (1st season, 'Ellie Walker')
Jack Burns (6th season, 'Warren Ferguson')

Recurring players...
Betty Lynn ('Thelma Lou')
Maggie Peterson ('Charlene Darling')
Rodney Dillard ('The Darling Boys')
Dean Webb ('The Darling Boys')
Bernard Fox ('Malcolm Merriwether')
Keith "Little Ricky Ricardo" Thibodeaux ('Johnny Paul Jason')
Sheldon Golomb ('Arnold Bailey')
Margaret Kerry ('Bess Muggins', 'Helen Scobey')
James Best ('Jim Lindsey')
Sylvia Lewis (misc. characters in a few episodes; Desilu Studios choreographer behind-the-scenes on multiple eps)
Rance Howard (misc. characters)
Clint Howard ('Leon')

Recurring players & MAYBERRY RFD regulars...
Ken Berry ('Sam Jones')
Arlene Golonka ('Millie Swanson')
Buddy Foster ('Mike Jones')
Richard Steele ('Harold')

GOMER PYLE USMC regulars & recurring...
Ronnie Schell ('Duke Slater'); 2 eps of TAGS
Forrest Compton ('Col. Gray')
Elizabeth MacRae ('Lou Ann Poovie'); 1 ep of TAGS
William Christopher ('Lester Hummell'); 2 eps of TAGS