Howard McNear

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Howard McNear (top right) in 1952 with Gunsmoke cast members (clockwise) Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis and William Conrad

Howard T. McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor.

McNear was born in Los Angeles, California to Luzetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNear.^[1] He died in the San Fernando Valley from the effects of a stroke.

He was best known for his performance as Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show. The role was played through the years to adapt to his initial stroke. In early episodes, he is seen standing and working in his barber shop. After he was unable to walk, he was always seen sitting in his barber chair when the action took place in his shop.

In an episode of the American sitcom, Leave It to Beaver, Howard McNear made one appearance as a barber named Andy, a character practically the same as Floyd.

He also portrayed Doc Charles Adams on CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952-1961) as well as International Secret Police ace operator Clint Barlow in the 1938-1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police.

On his passing in 1969, Howard McNear was interred in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a former U.S. Veterans Administration cemetery in Los Angeles.

[edit] Filmography

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The Fortune Cookie (1966) .... Mr. Cimoli
Love and Kisses (1965) .... Mr. Frisby
My Blood Runs Cold (1965) .... Henry
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) .... Mr. Pettibone
Fun in Acapulco (1963) (uncredited) .... Dr John Stevers
The Wheeler Dealers (1963) .... Mr. Wilson
Irma la Douce (1963) .... Concierge
Follow That Dream (1962) .... George (Vice President & loan officer at bank)
Bachelor Flat (1962) .... Dr. Dylan Bowman
The Errand Boy (1961) .... Dexter Sneak
Blue Hawaii (1961) .... Mr. Chapman
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) .... Congressman Parker
The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) .... Gen. Williams
Maverick (1961) TV Series Episode: "Dodge City or Bust"
The Andy Griffith Show (1960) TV Series .... Floyd Lawson (1960-1962, 1964-1967)

Hocus-Pocus & Frisby - Twilight Zone Episode - friend of character played by Andy Devine

The Big Circus (1959) .... Mr. Lomax
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) .... Dr. Dompierre
Good Day for a Hanging (1959) .... Olson
The Real McCoys-The Gift (1958) .... R. Daggett
Bell Book and Candle (1958) .... Andy White, Shep's Co-Publisher
Leave It to Beaver (1957) TV Series .... Andy The Barber (1957-1960)
Public Pigeon No. One (1957) .... Warden
Affair in Reno (1957) .... James T. James
The Brothers (1956) TV Series .... Capt. Sam Box (1956-1957)
Bundle of Joy (1956) .... Mr. Appleby
You Can't Run Away from It (1956) .... Second proprietor
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) TV Series .... Cuspert Jansen (1955-1958)
Drums Across the River (1954) .... John Stilwell
The Long, Long Trailer (1954) (uncredited) .... Joe Hittaway
Escape from Fort Bravo (1954) (uncredited) .... Watson
Ranger of Cherokee Strip (1949) bad guy