Shocking Secrets About The Andy Griffith Show And The Stars’ Later Years
The Andy Griffith Show depicted a time in America when doors were left unlocked, neighbors helped each other out, and things just moved at a slower pace. However, real life was not so idyllic as producers of the show wanted the public to believe both on and off the set. Here are the biggest secrets that producers of the show didn't want you to know!
Secret Lovers
Andy Griffith and actress Aneta Corsaut played loved interests on The Andy Griffith Show, but not many people knew at the time that the two also played off screen! What else is shocking is that Andy Griffith, who was America's ultimate father figure, was also married at the time!
Apparently, Andy Griffith was a big ladies man during his day. Before he died, he had married three more times! Although he had multiple marriages, Griffith was always known to be a gentleman and his past lovers usually only said good things about him.
Camera Tricks
Actor Ron Howard played the lovable young Opie on the show and there is a secret about Howard in the opening credits that few people knew. At the time of filming the opening credits, Howard was only six years old and was not strong enough to throw the stone far into the lake.
Producers decided to hide a prop man behind a bush and have Howard pretend to throw a rock. The prop man would then throw a rock into the lake, making it look like Howard had done it. If you watch closely, you can notice a lag between Opie's throw and the splash in the lake.
Dinner For Three?
The cast and crew of The Andy Griffith Show were known to play tricks on each other both on and off screen. One of the little known pranks was when one of the cast had a crew member dress up as a waiter and go to Griffith's hotel room to deliver the famous star a surprise meal!
The person that was really surprised was the crew member, because when he busted into the room, he found Andy Griffith and Aneta Corsaut doing more than just reading lines! The two actors tried to keep this secret from the rest of the cast and crew, but by then, the cat was out of the bag!
Drama On Set
Andy Griffith and Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee Tayler on The Andy Griffith Show, were not the best of friends in real life and especially while filming the show. Andy Griffith was a big jokester and prankster on the set and Frances Bavier did not approve of it.
In the end, the two actors made peace. This happened right before Frances Bavier's death in 1989. Knowing the end was near, Bavier called Griffith on the phone and apologized to him for being difficult to work with and also apologizing for not making amends sooner.
Long Legacy
The Andy Griffith Show was one of the most popular television shows during its time period and also of all time! In fact, cast, creators, and producers decided to end television show while it was still at the top of the Nielsen’s Ratings, and not wait until after audience demand and dwindling popularity forced a show end.
There have only been three television shows in the history of American television to exit at the top of their games. The shows are all American favorites and all time classics that have stood the test of time: The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and Seinfeld. Also, The Andy Griffith Show's reruns have played on television now for over 50 years!
Close Call
The character of Barney Fife, played by the iconic actor Don Knotts, was actually supposed to be in only one episode. That's what producers and writers had originally thought. This is because on the first day of filming The Andy Griffith Show, Don Knotts showed up on set without having a firm offer of employment from the studio.
The character of Barney Fife quickly became an audience favorite and Don Knotts became a household name. In fact, Knotts' Barney Fife character is ranked number 9 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time list in 1999! Don Knotts went on to play other iconic characters like Mr. Furley on Three's Company.
More Than Just Opie
Ron Howard, who played the young and adorable son Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, did not fizzle out like many young stars once the show ended. In fact, he went on to starring roles in television shows like Happy Days and movies like American Graffiti.
Ron Howard has also received a plethora of awards for his work in television and film. This includes the National Medal of Arts, an induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013, and he also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard is a famous actress in her own right.
Pyle It On
The town of Mayberry’s lovable goofball character Gomer Pyle was played by actor Jim Nabors. The funny thing is that for all the popularity of this character, Gomer Pyle was only in 23 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show! The character made appearances on the show from 1962 to 1964.
After his character stopped appearing on The Andy Griffith Show ended, Jim Nabors was given a spin-off show by producers and television executives that was all about the character of Gomer Pyle. It was called Gomer Pyle: USMC, it lasted for five seasons, and did well in the ratings!
Nabors Comes Out!
In 2013, Jim Nabors publicly came out as gay and married his long-time partner of 38 years. He said, “I’m 82 and he’s in his 60s and so we’ve been together for 38 years and I’m not ashamed of people knowing, it’s just that it was such a personal thing, I didn’t tell anybody.”
This was not too shocking to Hollywood insiders and his close friends and family. However, many people who only knew Jim Nabors from his appearances on television and film were shocked that he was gay and that he had a partner for 38 years and managed to keep it a secret!
Floyd Leaves Forever
The Andy Griffith Show brought America a crew of famous characters that people still remember to this day. Floyd the barber was one of these characters and was played by Howard McNear for 80 episodes from 1961 to 1967. Towards the end of his appearances on the show, McNear began having health problems.
Howard McNear had to eventually leave the show when his health problems began to affect him while filming. Two years later, in 1969, he died of a stroke. The role of Floyd the barber was never recast with another actor filling the role as producers thought no one could fill McNear's shoes.
Friends Until The End
Andy Griffith and Don Knotts were lifelong friends as well as acting partners for decades in both film and television. Andy Griffith visited Don Knotts in the hospital right before his death in 2006. Griffith told People afterward, “I know that he could hear me, and we all believe that he could hear my voice".
Griffith spoke about his last words to Knotts: “I told him that I loved him, and I told him…I said ‘Jess [Don’s real first name], breathe. You’ve gotta make this, you’ve gotta pull through. Breathe.’ And you know, I saw his chest heave, and I said ‘That’s a boy. Keep breathing. Just keep breathing.’ And his shoulder moved, so I believe he heard my voice.”
Andy Does It Again!
Andy Griffith starred in many television shows and films after the series finale of The Andy Griffith Show in 1968, however, none of them made the huge cultural impact that The Andy Griffith Show did. Then came the television show Matlock! This television series centered around a high price defense lawyer became a hit!
Matlock lasted from 1986 to 1985 and was a top hit among the older generations. The television show was even nominated Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards during its run.
Health Scares
In 1983, Andy Griffith became ill with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which is a serious autoimmune disorder in which your immune system attacks the healthy nerve cells in your peripheral nervous system. This can cause numbness, weakness, and tingling. This disorder could possibly cause full and fateful paralysis.
Andy Griffith made a full recovery. However, the good health did not last and in 2000 Griffith underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery and again made a recovery. Sadly, in 2012, Andy Griffith died after a heart attack and was buried on his beloved Roanoke Island, in North Carolina.
Contract Disputes
When Andy Griffith originally agreed to make and star in The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith told fellow actor Don Knotts that he would only keep the show on the air for five years at the most. Because of this, both the actors decided to sign an original five-year contract.
Don Knotts eventually decided to sign a three-year contract with Universal Pictures after his five-year contract was over. However, Andy Griffith decided to keep The Andy Griffith Show on for a few more years, so Don Knotts was unable to continue his role on the show due to his new contract.
Family Relations
In the first few episodes of The Andy Griffith Show the characters of Andy and Barney were said to be cousins. This was meant to be a societal joke on how southern families hire family members for jobs in small towns, like in local government.
This "joke" was only referenced a few times before producers and writers decided to drop that backstory and change it to Andy and Barney being childhood friends who stayed friends all through growing up. This would account for their witty banter and playfulness on camera.
The Mysterious Case Of Mr. Schwamp
The at-home audience and big fans of The Andy Griffith Show are often presented with the character of Mr. Schwamp. This character appears in random episodes throughout the television series. Mr. Schwamp is characterized as a middle-aged man with dark hair that is an obvious toupee.
When Mr. Schwamp appears in an episode, he is usually sitting on a park bench or is a crowd member in bigger scenes that have many extras. The characters of Andy and Barney would spot him and say, "Hello, Mister Schwamp" and he would nod back and smile. The mystery is that nobody knows who actually played the character of Mr. Schwamp, even to this day! The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club even staged an April Fools' Day prank in 2012 claiming that the actor was a man named Patch S. Wimmers.
Anger Management
Andy Griffith was known to be a prankster and jokester on the set of The Andy Griffith Show. However, what most people don't know is that Griffith had a fiery temper. During the second season of the series while filming a scene, Andy Griffith got so upset that he punched a wall.
Andy Griffith not only broke the set wall, but also his hand! Griffith's hand had to be heavily bandaged in order to complete filming. To explain the injury and fit it into the show's plot, the producers and writers of the show decided to create a small episode back story where Andy injured his hand while capturing a criminal.
Bad Name
Actress Aneta Corsaut, who played Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show, was actually only supposed to appear in one episode. Because of this, writers decided to give her a horrible last name for fun. However, little did they know that Aneta Corsaut would give a great performance and a favorite of the producers!
Aneta Corsaut also became a quick favorite of star Andy Griffith, who soon became smitten with the young actress. The married Griffith would soon start an affair with Corsaut and also demanded her character become a series regular for the rest of the series!
From Sheriff To Southern Gospel Singer
Andy Griffith studied music, so it might not surprise many of his fans to learn that he was a southern gospel singer. He realized that he had a knack for gospel singing while testing his tonal abilities in several acting roles, most notably while starring in A Face in the Crowd.
He continued with his love of southern gospel singing for many years. It might be kind of difficult for some of his fans to picture Andy Griffith in long and flowing gospel robes.
Trademark Clothing
The character of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, played by Don Knotts, regularly appears on the show wearing a white straw fedora with a salt-and-pepper pattern coat and a red bow tie. A little-known fact is that Don Knotts loved that suit so much that he wore it in other appearances on screen.
Don Knotts wore the outfit in the hit 1966 film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, the 1967 film The Reluctant Astronaut, the 1964 film The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and the 1971 film How to Frame a Figg. This outfit became Don Knotts' trademark piece of clothing both on and off screen.
No Spark
Elinor Donahue, who played the character of Ellie Walker on The Andy Griffith Show, decided that she would end her stint as Andy Griffith's love interest on the show after only one season. Donahue played the role of the lover for 12 episodes from 1960 to 1961.
The reason Elinor Donahue gave for exiting what would be a huge television in the following years was that she did not feel any on screen chemistry with Andy Griffith. Donahue further stated that she even found it difficult and uncomfortable showing any affection while filming scenes.
Where Is Opie’s Mother?
During the entire Andy Griffith series, Opie’s mom is mentioned only one time during the series. Andy grows nostalgic in the episode "Wedding Bells for Aunt Bee” and tells Opie that he had loved the boy’s mother in a similar way that Aunt Bee and her beau loved each other. She’s not spoken of again, and no photos of her appear anywhere in the Taylor home.
When Andy appeared in the backdoor pilot episode from The Danny Thomas Show, viewers learn that Opie’s mother passed away when the child was just "the least little speck of a baby.”
Jim Nabors Passes Away
Jim Nabors, who played the beloved Gomer Pyle, passed away on November 30, 2017. He was 87 years old. His husband Stan Cadwallader was with him at the time. A family friend released the sad news, saying that Nabors died "after battling health issues for some time."
Nabors had received a liver transplant 20 years before his passing and his health had declined after that. "Everybody knows he was a wonderful man. And that's all we can say about him. He's going to be dearly missed," Cadwallader said in his statement.
Real-Life Besties
Many viewers didn’t know that the loving relationship exhibited by Don and Andy on The Andy Griffith Show came from their real-life friendship. Both of them grew up during the Great Depression and lived in poverty, Griffith in North Carolina and Knotts in West Virginia.
Their friendship began when they met as co-stars in the 1958 film adaptation of the Broadway play No Time for Sergeants—and it lasted for the rest of their lives. Andy was with Don at his bedside when Don passed away in 2006. Andy died six years later, at the age of 86.
A Real Jokester
As we've said, Andy was really into playing pranks on his co-stars. He targeted Don Knotts most of all. Don’s real first name was actually Jesse (which he hated) and Andy loved to tease him about it by calling him “Jess.” This was opposite to the dynamic of the show, however, of which Griffith has said, "By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny and I should play straight."
The cast pranked Andy right back, once stealing his shoes. He had to wear his big Sheriff boots home from the studio that day. The good-natured humor from the cast carried over into the tv episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, like in the "Runaway Kid" episode where Opie and his friends pranked Sheriff Taylor by moving his car in front of a fire hydrant, so he would get a ticket.
The Cast Had Favorite Episodes
Andy Griffith's favorite episode was season 3's “Barney's First Car,” in which Barney spends his life savings on an old car that doesn't end up working. Ronny Howard's favorite episode was "The Ball Game," which was penned by his father, Rance Howard, who had his hand in writing and acting in five of the episodes.
Don Knotts particularly loved “The Pickle Story,” which is one episode that many fans cite as their favorite. In it, Aunt Bee makes a huge batch of pickles so disgusting that Barney refers to them as "kerosene cucumbers." Due to a hilarious turn of events, Andy and Barney must consume eight quarts of the nasty pickles. The episode is chock full of laugh-out-loud moments, and it's quite clear that the men are honestly amused as they're filming it.
No Contract At First
Barney Fife’s character could have lasted just one episode, as Don Knotts was one of many actors who showed up on the first day of filming without a firm offer of employment. The character of Barney Fife was adored by fans and was ranked Ninth on TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time" list in 1999.
Luckily, producers were so impressed by the chemistry between Andy and Don that they wrote up an employment contract on the spot: first for one year, then later for an additional five years. Griffith was quoted saying, "The second episode was called 'Manhunt' and I knew by that episode that Don should be the comic and I should play straight for him. That made all the difference."
Galaxie: The Car That Kept Changing
The iconic squad car used by Andy and Barney on the show was a Ford Galaxie. A local Ford dealership provided the show with a free replacement Galaxie each time a new model came out. The dealer then took the old car back, repainted and sold it. He could have made a lot more money selling the cars as is!
Overall, there were ten different Galaxies that were used throughout the series' eight seasons. There are plenty of replicas out there today. The show was most likely sponsored by Ford Motor Company at the time, which is why the squad cars were always Ford Galaxie 500 sedans.
Aneta Corsaut Went to School While Acting
Helen Crump, portrayed by actress Aneta Corsaut, was Sheriff Andy Taylor's girlfriend on the show (and was also rumored to date Andy Griffith in real life). Corsaut was a student at Northwestern University, majoring in drama before she dropped out to pursue her acting career. While The Andy Griffith Show was filming, Corsaut continued her education at UCLA.
Aneta continued acting. She returned for two reunion shows, 1986’s Return to Mayberry and 1993’s The Andy Griffith Show Reunion. Aneta also made appearances on dozens of TV shows, such as Gunsmoke; Rich Man, Poor Man; and The Runaways. She died of cancer in 1995 and is buried in Hollywood.
Otis Knew What Was Good for Him
Otis, played by Hal Smith, was Mayberry's resident drunk. When Otis got intoxicated, he would meander into the jail and let himself into a cell. He'd then sleep off his drunkenness in the jail's comfy bed and let himself out in the morning.
After The Andy Griffith Show, Hal Smith had many voice-over roles for animated films and television shows, including playing the Owl in Winnie the Pooh, Uncle Tex in The Flintstones, and John Avery Whittaker in Adventures in Odyssey. After his wife Louise passed away in 1992, Smith's health quickly deteriorated. He died of a heart attack in 1994.
Gomer's Cousin Goober
George Lindsey played this bumbling cousin of Gomer Pyle, although he initially tried out for Gomer’s part. Goober was known on the show for the "Goober Dance" and his impressions of Cary Grant. He later acted in Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, and Hee Haw, among other shows.
George was a very generous man. Through the George Lindsey Celebrity Weekend and Golf Tournament, he raised over $1,000,000 over the span of 17 years for the Alabama Special Olympics. Sadly, he passed away in 2012, at the age of 83.
Aneta Corsaut In Matlock
Aneta Corsaut was best known for her role as Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show. But beyond her years spent on the show, Aneta had a prolific acting career. She appeared in seven episodes of Matlock as Judge Cynthia Justin, alongside her former co-star Andy Griffith
In his later years, Andy starred in a series of public service announcements promoting the benefits of the new health care reforms to seniors, his prime Matlock audience. Throughout his career, Griffith supported Democratic causes and candidates.
A Sad Time But An Important Legacy
In 1983, Andy became ill with Guillain-Barre Syndrome but made a full recovery. Later in 2000, he underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery. In 2012, he died after a heart attack and was buried on his beloved Roanoke Island, in North Carolina.
Andy Griffith received multiple awards over his lifetime, including an induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1991 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He remains one of the most beloved stars of his generation. There is even an Andy Griffith Museum in North Carolina that houses the world's largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia.
Frances Bavier's Personal Life
The actress who portrayed Aunt Bee was a somewhat mysterious individual off-screen. Born into a well-to-do family in New York City, Bavier led a sophisticated life and attended Columbia University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before eventually ending up on The Andy Griffith Show.
When she passed away, she had been living a very reclusive life alone with 14 cats. Although alone at the time of her passing, Frances Bavier was married in her earlier life. She was married in 1928 to Russell Carpenter, a military man, but the two split was five years later because of conflicting career ambitions.
Star Trek Visits Mayberry
When Star Trek first debuted, the show was so underfunded that the set of Mayberry was used to film several different scenes. You can see Mayberry in the episodes "Miri" and "City on the Edge of Forever."
You can actually see Floyd's Barber Shop in the background of scenes where Captain Kirk is walking with Edith Keeler. Also visible are the Mayberry Courthouse, Walkers Drugstore, and several other major landmarks.
What's In A Name?
The name "Opie" has a historical reference rooted in music. Opie Cates was a prominent bandleader and clarinet player in the 1930s and 1940s, during America's swing era. Andy Griffith and the show's producer, Sheldon Leonard, were big fans of Cates' music so they decided to honor him.
Ron Howard is now forever known as both Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham, which was his role on the classic show Happy Days.
Make Way For A Spinoff
The final episode was called "Mayberry R.F.D." and it aired on September 23, 1968. The episode set up the premise for a spin-off show called Mayberry R.F.D. (R.F.D. stands for Rural Free Delivery) that aired from 1968-1971.
In the last episode of The Andy Griffith Show, the audience was introduced to the main characters in the spinoff: a widowed farmer named Sam Jones (Ken Berry) and his young son Mike, played by Buddy Foster.
The Story Behind All Those Single Bullets
Barney was only allowed to carry a single bullet in his gun because Andy didn't trust him with a full barrel. Fans of the show apparently felt bad for his character because they sent Don Knotts bullets from all over the country.
On a positive note, if he wanted to hit the shooting range he never had to pay for his ammunition. On a less than positive note — Barney had a ton of bullets at his disposal.
Frozen In Time
If you pay close attention inside Floyd's barber shop you'll notice that the scene is stuck in time. The calendar on Floyd’s wall is stuck on February for the entire run of the show. We don’t know if this was an oversight by the show’s directors and producers, or if they chose that small detail for some reason.
In any case, it’s always February in Floyd’s barbershop. It’s almost like they knew the show would become a timeless classic.
Inspiration From Andy's Real-Life Father
At the very beginning of the show, as we watch Andy and Opie walking down the road together, we first see Opie throwing a rock and then Andy gives him a nod or shake of his head in acknowledgment.
Andy's own father was known to shake his head in the same manner. He used that gesture to tell his son "nice work" or "good job." He thought it was the perfect subtle tribute to his dad and it made for a touching moment with his fictional son.
