Q: Is Ron Howard the only surviving regular cast member of "The Andy Griffith Show?" When did the rest of them pass away?
—Lance DeLoach, Thomaston
A: Most of the regulars have died, but Howard (Opie), who turned 58 on March 1, Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle), who turned 82 on June 12, and Betty Lynn, (Thelma Lou), who will be 86 on Aug. 29, are still alive. Other living semi-regular cast members include Maggie Peterson Mancuso, who played Charlene Darling, and Eleanor Donahue, who played Ellie Walker, the "lady druggist" and Andy's girlfriend in the first season of the show. Griffith, who played the main character, Sheriff Andy Taylor, in the beloved sitcom, which ran from 1960-68, died on July 3. He was 86 years old.
Other cast members no longer living include:
- Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee), who died on Dec. 6, 1989
- Don Knotts (Barney Fife), who died on Feb. 24, 2006
- George Lindsey (Goober Pyle), who died May 6, 2012
- Howard McNear (Floyd Lawson), who died on Jan. 4, 1969
- Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crump), who died on Nov. 6, 1995
- Jack Dodson (Howard Sprague), who died on Sept. 16, 1994
- Harold "Hal" Smith (Otis Campbell), who died on Jan. 28, 1994
There were rumors regarding Nabors' health earlier this year. He canceled his annual trip to the Indianapolis 500, where he sang "Back Home Again in Indiana" from 1972 until 2011 (except 1987) because of health reasons. Nabors recorded the song this year, the Indianapolis Star reported.
Andy Johnston, for the AJC. Do you have a question about the news? Our researchers will try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include your name and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.
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