Mayberry's Fake Floyd and the Interesting Story Behind it

What's the story behind The Andy Griffith Show using a fake Floyd the Barber? There's some interesting reasons why it was done and the circumstances that surrounded the airing of the episode A Date for Gomer.
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[@MrBrady505]

Andy Griffith should be required viewing for all youth today.

[@robertdiotalevi285]

Youts!

[@brianarbenz1329]

Along with Ernest T's reciting the four boundaries of the United States.

[@centerice]

The story about Howard McNear that always comes to my mind is one told my Andy Griffith and Don Knotts themselves in a later interview. They were talking about various cast members and when they came to Floyd the Barber, they said that Floyd was precisely Howard. They laughed and said that the Floyd you see in the program is actually the same persona exactly as Howard. They said that everyone else had to altar their own personality and demeanor in order to play their parts, but that the only person in the show who didn't have to change one single thing about themself was Howard. He did not behave or speak in any different way whatsoever, than his normal, everyday, self! They stated that the casting director knew the moment they saw and heard Howard play the part, that they were looking at "Floyd the Barber" and that he was absolutely perfect for the role, as himself!

[@michaelcase8574]

He was the same character in almost all his extensive radio roles. But was always able to do serious roles as well. A great actor!

[@anvil5113]

What a great cast . Howard McNear was excellent as Floyd the barber.

[@docadams7099]

Another tidbit is that Howard McNear was not the original Floyd the Barber. Walter Baldwin played Floyd for one episode and then the role was recast to Howard McNear. Also, in McNear's first episode, Floyd's last name evidently is Colby, not Lawson. So Howard McNear was not the first Floyd, but he was definitely the BEST!

[@scaldwell1982]

There was a fake Howard McNear in the "contest" episode several times. The one that sticks out is when Floyd drives away in a car. It is obviously not him. Also, there is a scene where he stands up in his shop and walks away. The person is obviously not him as well.

[@kevinpyne5808]

I remember the fake Floyd driving away from Goober's station!

[@Doug41160]

There's another episode where a fake Floyd was used, "The Case of the Punch in the Nose". When Barney returns to the courthouse with Goober with his siren on, you briefly see someone in a barber's smock and a customer standing in front of the fake Floyd for only a few seconds as Barney pulls up to the courthouse.

[@vincentanguoni8938]

Floyd is a memorable character for sure.

[@jamesbriskin1299]

There was another “fake Floyd”. In the first season episode “Stranger in town “ there was another actor playing Floyd the Barber. He was played by walter baldwin. Must have been hired before Howard McNair and did not workout.

[@bigvrocks2480]

hmmm. after all these years, I never suspected that 'Floyd' had any issues with his mobility. What a great sitcom...!

[@vernemartin145]

I heard that following Howard's stroke and recovery, Andy insisted he be written into most of the episodes, since Howard had a lot of medical expenses. If you follow the episodes upon his return, he is in most if them. You will also notice his right side hand/arm motions are exaggerated, since he had no mobility on his left side.

[@vernemartin145]

Kudos to Andy and his show for making allowances for a beloved cast member!

[@Kschieff]

Best tv show ever! Keep covering!

[@Doug41160]

I'm convinced that the fake Floyd in that scene was an extra you would see sporadically in group/crowd scenes on TAGS and always wearing glasses. Now if we could only find out his name?

[@johndoe-ln4oi]

It was Mr. Schwump's brother.

[@MrCJ-qz9dl]

​@@johndoe-ln4oiHahaha 😅

[@larryshaver3568]

i noticed that Howard was driving in a few episodes ,didn't his stroke prevent him from driving?

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

They were pretty tricky. I recall one scene where he pulls up to Goober's station. I'm guessing the crew pushed his car in and they only showed Howard and the front of the car.

[@tonypanzarella9387]

Howard McNear was "Doc" on the RADIO version of "Gunsmoke", and his character was much more memorable than that of Milburn Stone on television.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

Love this little clip of history! And I love this kind of mystery. But at the end of the day I have to ask myself, does it really matter who played fake Floyd? Not really. But I still am intrigued. Thanks for the video.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thanks! Same here, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter at all. But sometimes it's fun to take your mind of the world and try to figure out silly and random bits of trivia from shows we loved! 😂 One of my most enjoyable videos that I made was on Martin and Lewis when I found out that their 20 years of not talking to each other was completely untrue!

[@MWood-ry8uu]

@@TonyBoyOhBoy i watched that too. I was shocked too. Love it.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

@@TonyBoyOhBoy certain shows, like the AG show, did an incredible job of pulling the audience out of the real world and into the story world; Americans really needed that in the 1960s.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

@@MWood-ry8uu Yeah, even though they had long broken up when I was a kid, I always loved their films and I'd always hoped they'd reunite and make another film. Or at least patch things up. So I was also shocked to find that all the drama at the telethon wasn't really what we thought it was.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

@@TonyBoyOhBoy totally. Although I can greatly appreciate what they were willing to give the public, the reunion that so many people wanted, the reunion that the two of them were not willing to show the vast public for a long time.

[@johngranato2673]

Howard was not the first barber, btw

[@moviesgalore9947]

A different actor played Floyd in the first few episodes before they hired McNear for the part.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

That's What I would have thought too, but the creator of this video says that Mcnear was substituted because of his stroke.

[@barryfurman2063]

Another actor played Floyd only in Floyd's first appearance. In Floyd's second appearance, it was McNair.

[@patticooke]

@@barryfurman2063 Correct.

[@garypounder3592]

His name was Walter Baldwin, who had a long career in film, the stage and TV. Never heard why he was dumped; perhaps Floyd was envisioned as a one-time character, so Baldwin moved on and when the writers decided to use the character again, Howard McNear, the consummate Floyd, was available. Or maybe the producers decided Baldwin was wrong for the part and quickly re-cast McNear in the role. Another bit of little-known Mayberry casting news. George Lindsey auditioned for-and was initially offered the role of Gomer Pyle. Producer Aaron Reuben thought he was perfect, but Andy Griffith intervened. He had just caught Jim Nabors’ nightclub act in LA and said he should play Gomer. And since Griffith and his partner Richard Linke were majority owners of the show, they made the final casting decision. Lindsey eventually joined the cast as Goober, but there was always animosity between Lindsey and Jim Nabors.

[@steveludwig4200]

@@garypounder3592 Gomer (Nabors) was a PERFECT character. Goober was 100% unnecessary to the show and Lindsay always seemed like a silly assclown with no purpose. Possibly the worst "regular" character on the show.

[@MrCJ-qz9dl]

As a trivia buff, l noticed *all* these things as l FF or RW my DVD's time and time again. I saw Floyd walking after his stroke in season 6, episode 10-->"Aunt Bee on TV"; and season 7, episode 12-->"Only a Rose".

[@jeffwalker8101]

I have seen this man as an extra on the show. He was a short man and wore glasses. He played in several episodes as an exrta. I even saw him on the show All in the Family when Stretch Cunningham died and Archie gsve the eulogy.

[@yajy4501]

Fascinating. I think the tv drama that has stood the test of time better than any other is Twilight Zone and for comedies it’s The Andy Griffith Show. It’s surprising just how well it holds up to this day. Unfortunately people assume it’s glued to it’s time the way shows like Leave It to Beaver are but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s just as good now as when it came out.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I totally agree!

[@airmojo]

If Fake Floyd had a mustache, he would have looked more like Real Floyd... I also thought FF looked like Joseph Kearns... maybe it was his ghost !

[@steveludwig4200]

Walter Baldwin, who had a long career in film, the stage and TV. Never heard why he was dumped; perhaps Floyd was envisioned as a one-time character, so Baldwin moved on and when the writers decided to use the character again, Howard McNear, the consummate Floyd, was available. Or maybe the producers decided Baldwin was wrong for the part and quickly re-cast McNear in the role.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Very interesting! I did not know that! I'll need to read up on it.Thanks for sharing!

[@davidcouch6514]

At first sight I’m thinking Tommy Noonan. He later appeared in a Gomer Pyle and he also appeared in The Real McCoys about this time. Real McCoys was produced by Danny Thomas. I’m thinking if there was work probably a SAG would be priority over an extra, and the stage crew has its own union so I don’t know how that would work. Edit: And this Episode was directed by Richard Crenna Star of Real McCoys.

[@SL-vi4tk]

Fake Shemp, fake Floyd, fake Jan. Not a bad gig.

[@lamper2]

I feel like when I spend 2 hours watching a Dateline murder and the killer is STILL NOT TRIED YET!

[@kxd2591]

AG Show comes on M-F every week, every week, every year on my local statin at 6:30 following the local news. It just doesn't seem to get old. I mean, unless you count that show where Aunt Bee learns to fly.. That's "jump the shark" territory.

[@tomgrosemusic]

Frances Bavier was a pilot.

[@brianarbenz1329]

He was very likely the stand in. Shows would have a model who resembled and was the same size as the actor stand on their on their places for an upcoming scene to allow the lighting and camera angles to be set. This allowed the actors to change costumes during breaks.

[@jlovebirch]

Since McNear missed around 1 1/2 seasons, I'm surprised they only used a double for one episode.

[@hrearden6993]

In that still photo of McNair and Griffith in the barber shop at 4:09 into the video there are two men who can be seen through the window. Who were those men?

[@Ya_Saarallah]

I believe Walter Baldwin played Floyd in the first season or first few episodes.

[@roysmith4777]

I didn't realize till years later that there was a pre stroke Floyd and a post stroke Floyd but it's plain to see his speaking is totally different

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Same here. But once you know, then you notice how he was always shot in situations that hid his disability. I doubt if many (or any) other shows would have done that for someone.

[@byronbrewer33]

Great little vid. Keep them up!

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Thanks, will do!

[@darellpiper7227]

why not ask Ron Howard if he remembers?

[@rotunda57]

Good idea. Got his number?

[@robertdiotalevi285]

"Ohhh, well, you know, that was really, well, you know, interesting and ...."

[@trawlins396]

You should do an episode on Andys girlfriends and who was a fan favorite. For some reason I see a lot of people mention the pharmacy girl. I can't remember her name. My favorite was Peg the nurse. She had a beautiful singing voice and her and Andy harmonized so well together.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

On my list! Peg was my favorite too!

[@MarkCampbell-ly9ux]

ROY STUART PLAYED CPL BOYLE ON GOMER PYLE USMC BUT RICHARD SINATRA PLAYED CPL BOYLE ON ONE EPISODE ONLY OF GOMER PYLE USMC. SUPPLY SERGEANTS NEVER DIE IS THE GOMER PYLE USMC EPISODE WHERE RICHARD SINATRA PLAYED CPL BOYLE INSTEAD OF ROY STUART PLAYING CPL BOYLE.

[@RocketKirchner]

The greater mystery is who is Mr schump ?

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

Funny, periodically I'll do a search on him, seeing if they've finally identified him. One of the great Mayberry mysteries!🤣

[@johnbockelie3899]

Probably grabbed a stage hand to do that small part.

[@geraldmccarty8630]

Interesting i never realized

[@Zacdawac]

Sorry but there's no great mystery. This has been done many times on TV. When a per diem character, meaning one who isn't in the opening credits and doesn't get paid when he isn't there, doesn't have any dialogue but is seen in a scene, its generally a lot cheaper to bring in a lookalike extra to replace him than to pay the actual actor.

[@youredefeeted8136]

Not to be mean, but I always thought Floyd (McNear) was hilarious after his stroke!

[@MrCJ-qz9dl]

Me too.

[@mistervacation23]

Reminds me of Fake Shemp

[@brandimeeks2823]

Think that's when Floyd had a stroke

[@johnswackyworld]

Tommy Noonan

[@maxmcgloin]

Or was Floyd the Barber actually the lone gunman on the Grassy Gnoll, and this stroke an elaborate hoax to it cover-up?

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👍

[@catmanbluz]

do you have any info on the honeymooners?

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I haven't done any episodes on them, but it's funny I was thinking about that show the other day and how that might be another one to look into. Jackie Gleason was a pretty interesting guy.

[@merk9569]

@@TonyBoyOhBoy. Honeymooners wasn’t the wholesome, feel good show that Andy Griffith was but it’s a hoot. Loved all the characters. Never failed to deliver.

[@paulsto6516]

OOOOOOOO! Andy!

[@drbonesshow1]

There was another episode with two Floyds. Did you know that? I'll give you a hint: it was one of the color episodes.

[@TonyBoyOhBoy]

I Did Not Know That!

[@wernerchristen3128]

They had a double drive his car also another shot when he was in his shop and shot from the back Best show ever

[@drbonesshow1]

@@wernerchristen3128 One of the worst shows for body-doubles was Banacek. Probably because it was difficult to reproduce the Banacek hair with a wig. Banacek must have been the father of Lloyd Christmas (Dumb & Dumber). RIP George Peppard.

[@sumbeech1484]

Tom Poston maybe ??????

[@jonnyq680]

or Joe Flynn?

[@barryfurman2063]

Or maybe McNear? Luckily they used a clip from a previous episode

[@davidcouch6514]

@@jonnyq680 could be, good call.

[@momo_4563]

Like 🥰🥰🤗🤗🙏🙏

[@janepatterson6779]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@barryfurman2063]

It doesn't have to be a different person playing Floyd. Perhaps they took a clip from a previous show and used it.