# Howard McNear

Howard Terbell McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American stage, screen, and radio character actor. McNear is best remembered as the original voice of Doc Adams in the radio version of Gunsmoke and as Floyd Lawson (Floyd the Barber) on The Andy Griffith Show (1961–1967).

## Career

McNear studied at the Oatman School of Theater and later joined a stock company in San Diego. McNear also worked in radio from the late 1930s, including in the 1937–1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police as ace operator Clint Barlow. McNear could be effective in such authoritative roles, but he gravitated more toward character roles, often comic.
He enlisted as a private in the United States Army Air Corps on November 17, 1942, during World War II.
He created the role of Doc Charles Adams on CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961). Before and during the run, he was featured in many other CBS radio programs, such as frequent roles on the popular radio detective series Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar between 1955 and 1960. Other radio credits included appearances on the anthologies Escape and Suspense.
McNear made his film debut in an uncredited role in the 1953 film Escape from Fort Bravo. In 1956, he appeared in the episode "The Pest Hole" (S1E24) in the TV version of Gunsmoke. In a 1958 episode of Leave it to Beaver, McNear made a TV appearance as a barber named "Andy", who gave Wally his first shave. Over the course of his career, he would appear in over one hundred film and television guest spots. In 1959, McNear portrayed Dr. Dompierre in the film Anatomy of a Murder, who testified about collecting evidence of a rape. In a 1960 episode of Peter Gunn, titled "A Slight Touch of Homicide", McNear used the mannerisms he later developed as Floyd the barber to play Barnaby, a vigilante chemist who killed 15 mobsters with explosives.
In 1961, McNear was cast as the vague, chatty barber Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show. In 1963, he suffered a stroke that rendered most of the left side of his body paralyzed. He left the series for nearly a year and a half to recover. Andy Griffith asked McNear to return to the series. McNear agreed despite being unable to walk or stand, and the production crew accommodated him accordingly. Floyd was subsequently seen onscreen either seated or standing with support. Many scenes were shot with him sitting on a bench outside the barber shop, as opposed to trimming hair as before. In most of his post-stroke scenes, McNear's left hand would be holding a newspaper or resting in his lap, while he moved his right arm and hand as he spoke his lines. In a 1964 episode, "Otis Sues the County", McNear's character is heard, but not seen, walking into the courthouse; the next scene shows Floyd already seated in a chair.
In the seventh season finale of The Andy Griffith Show, "Goober's Contest", in which Floyd Lawson makes his final appearance, McNear is speaking from his parked car but an obvious double is shot from the back while driving the car away. According to Jack Dodson, who played Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show, McNear began having difficulty remembering his lines and became anxious and frustrated during his last season. He left the series after the seventh season in 1967; the series would only remain for another year and Lawson's barber shop and position in the show was loosely replaced by Emmett Clark, a repairman with a fix-it shop (located where the barbershop used to be) played by Paul Hartman (who continued the role in Mayberry R.F.D.). In the eighth season episode, "Goober the Executive," Andy addresses the replacement by saying "Floyd decides he's got enough money and wants to retire, Emmett moves right in."
Earlier in 1961, McNear was uncredited in the animated title role of the AT&T instructional film, Mr. Digit and the Battle of Bubbling Brook, who taught Ethel (Peg Lynch) of Ethel and Albert about the advantages of all-number calling. Alan Bunce, who played Albert, also reprised his role in that video.
In 1962 he made a guest appearance on The Twilight Zone in the episode "Hocus Pocus and Frisby". In 1964, McNear also took a role on Gunsmoke, playing Dodge City's general store owner in "Aunt Thede" (S10E13).

## Death

On January 3, 1969, McNear died at San Fernando Valley Veterans Hospital in California at the age of 63 of complications from pneumonia caused by a stroke. He was survived by his wife Helen and his son Christopher.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1953 | Escape from Fort Bravo | Watson | Uncredited |
| 1953 | The Long, Long Trailer | Joe Hittaway | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Drums Across the River | Stilwell | |
| 1956 | You Can't Run Away from It | Vernon, Second proprietor | |
| 1956 | Bundle of Joy | Mr. Appleby | |
| 1957 | Affair in Reno | James T. James | |
| 1957 | Public Pigeon No. One | Warden | |
| 1957 | The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown | John Myers | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Bell, Book and Candle | Andy White, Shep's Co-Publisher | |
| 1959 | Good Day for a Hanging | Olson | |
| 1959 | Anatomy of a Murder | Dr. Dompierre | |
| 1959 | The Big Circus | Mr. Lomax | |
| 1959 | It Started with a Kiss | Emile | Uncredited |
| 1959 | -30- | Editor | Alternative title: Deadline Midnight |
| 1960 | Heller in Pink Tights | Photographer of dead gunmen | |
| 1960 | The Last Time I Saw Archie | General Williams | |
| 1960 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Congressman Llewellyn Parker | |
| 1961 | Blue Hawaii | Mr. Chapman | |
| 1960 | The Errand Boy | Dexter Sneak | |
| 1962 | Bachelor Flat | Dr. Dylan Bowman | |
| 1962 | Follow That Dream | George | |
| 1963 | Irma la Douce | Concierge | |
| 1963 | The Wheeler Dealers | Mr. Wilson | Alternative title: Separate Beds |
| 1963 | Fun in Acapulco | Dr. John Stevers | Uncredited |
| 1964 | Kiss Me, Stupid | Mr. Pettibone | |
| 1965 | My Blood Runs Cold | Henry | |
| 1965 | Love and Kisses | Mr. Frisby | |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie | Mr. Cimoli | Alternative title: Meet Whiplash Willie |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | NBC Comics | Minor role | Voice, Unknown episodes |
| 1952-1955 | Four Star Playhouse | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1953–1958 | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | Mr. Jansen | 7 episodes |
| 1954 | Dragnet | | Episode: "The Big Threat" |
| 1954 | Topper | Judge | Episode: "County Fair" |
| 1955 | Waterfront | Mike Baxter | Episode: "The Rivals" |
| 1955 | Willy | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1955-1958 | The Millionaire | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1955-1959 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | Chevron Hall of Stars | Teeples | Episode: "The Bequest" |
| 1956 | The George Gobel Show | Sketch Actor | Episode #2.18 |
| 1956 | It's a Great Life | Mr. Johnson | Episode: "The Charity Drive" |
| 1956 | Screen Directors Playhouse | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | Lassie | Professor Scott | Episode: "Bone" |
| 1956 | I Love Lucy | Mr. Crawford | Episode: "Little Ricky Gets Stage Fright" |
| 1956-1957 | The Brothers | Captain Sam Box | 2 episodes |
| 1956-1964 | Gunsmoke | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| 1956-1957 | December Bride | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1957 | Private Secretary | Eye Doctor | Episode: "Thy Name Is Sands" |
| 1957 | Cavalcade of America | Phil | Episode: "The Last Signer" |
| 1957 | The Ford Television Theatre | Dave Carter | Episode: "The Idea Man" |
| 1957 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie | Colonel | Episode: "Country Cousin" |
| 1957 | The George Sanders Mystery Theater | Ben | Episode: "The Night I Died" |
| 1957 | Mr. Adams and Eve | Uncle Jeck | Episode: "Suspension" |
| 1957-1958 | The People's Choice | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1957-1961 | General Electric Theater | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1958 | The Thin Man | Mr. Dingle | Episode: "Unlucky Lucky Number" |
| 1958 | The Life of Riley | Mr. Bellflower | Episode: "Bowling Beauties" |
| 1958 | Playhouse 90 | Bertram | Episode: "No Time At All" |
| 1958 | Leave It to Beaver | Andy the Barber | Episode: "The Shave" |
| 1958-1959 | Bachelor Father | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1958-1962 | The Real McCoys | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1958-1959 | The Lineup | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1958-1960 | The Ann Sothern Show | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1958-1962 | The Jack Benny Program | Various roles | 7 episodes |
| 1959 | The Donna Reed Show | Wilbur Wilgus | 2 episodes |
| 1959 | M Squad | Carl Hoganson | Episode: "Murder in C-Sharp Minor" |
| 1959 | Alcoa Theatre | Harry | Episode:Tom, Dick, and Harry |
| 1959 | The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet | Mr. Folwer | Episode: "The Nelsons Decide to Move" |
| 1959 | Pony Express | Ralph Whitaker | Episode: "-The Good Samaritan" |
| 1959 | The Gale Storm Show | Parker | Episode: "Spanish Souvenir" |
| 1959-1960 | Peter Gunn | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1960 | Richard Diamond, Private Detective | Dr. Braun | Episode: "The Fine Art of Murder" |
| 1960 | Man with a Camera | George | Episode: "Hot Ice Cream" |
| 1960 | Goodyear Theatre | Kramer | Episode: "Marked Down for Connie" |
| 1960 | Happy | Mr. Williams | Episode: "The Wedding Anniversary" |
| 1960 | Tom, Dick and Harry | Owner | Television movie |
| 1960 | Outlaws | Conductor | Episode: "Thirty a Month" |
| 1960 | The Tab Hunter Show | Plumber | Episode: "The Matchmaker" |
| 1960 | Angel | Mr. Hopkins | Episode: "The Maid" |
| 1960 | Maverick | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1960 | Laramie | Waldo | Episode: "Duel at Parkison Town" |
| 1960 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mr. Pickett | Season 5 Episode 32: "One Grave Too Many" |
| 1960-1962 | The Flintstones | Doctor | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1961 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mr. Maxwell | Season 6 Episode 16: "A Crime for Mothers" |
| 1961 | Klondike | Augustus Brown | Episode: "The Golden Burro" |
| 1961 | Michael Shayne | Ralph Beale | Episode: "Murder at the Convention" |
| 1961 | Mister Ed | Harry Sweetzer | Episode: "Pine Lake Lodge" |
| 1961 | The Joey Bishop Show | | Episode: "Charity Begins at Home" |
| 1961 | The Tall Man | Cyrus Skinner | Episode: "A Tombstone for Billy" |
| 1961–1967 | The Andy Griffith Show | Floyd Lawson | 80 episodes, (incl. final appearance) |
| 1962 | Room for One More | Mr. Sommers | Episode: "The Anniversary" |
| 1962 | Pete and Gladys | Professor Sheboyan | Episode: "Follow That Skeleton" |
| 1962 | Thriller | Jack Passasstroy | Episode: "Cousin Tundifer" |
| 1962 | Frontier Circus | Judge Stuart | Episode: "Calamity Circus" |
| 1962 | Calvin and the Colonel | Ernie | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1962 | Margie | Selkirk | Episode: "Margie, the Gossip Columnist" |
| 1962 | Alcoa Premiere | Charles Bennett | Episode: "The Time of the Tonsils" |
| 1962 | The Wide Country | Agent Carmody | Episode: "Straitjacket for an Indian" |
| 1962 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1962 | The Twilight Zone | Mitchell | Episode: "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby" |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone | Bramhoff | Episode: "The Bard" |
| 1964 | Gunsmoke | Howard Rudd | Episode: "Aunt Thede" |
| 1965 | Harris Against the World | Clark | Episode: "Harris Against Anniversary Gifts" |
| 1965 | Honey West | Mr. Tweedy | Episode: "A Nice Little Till to Tap" |
| 1965 | Please Don't Eat the Daisies | Mr. Arnold | Episode: "The Leaning Tower of Ridgemont" |