When she walked onto the Andy Griffith Show set in the 1960s, Jean Carson's career was in high gear. It was just another job. When she joined the show, she had no way of knowing the series would be watched by generations of viewers long after production ceased. Even more surprising, she said, is the show's cultlike status.
Cable channels continue offering reruns, and fan clubs are commonplace.
Carson's involvement was limited to three episodes. But as Daphne, the raspy-voiced flirt with sparkling eyes, she became part of a legend. Her delivery of the line continues to spark cheers from fans who gather when cast members reunite. In town for a Charleston High School reunion, Carson recalls a career spanning nearly six decades. When she leaves Charleston next week, she'll head for Tennessee and a performance by several of the series' cast members.