The Andy Griffith Show: Who is still alive?
(Editor’s note: This story was published in 2016. We have updated it at several points since, but anyone who died more recently may still show up among the surviving members of the cast)
Thelma Lou reportedly passed away Oct. 16, 2021.
That is, Betty Lynn, whom everybody knows as Barney Fife’s girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, passed away in October 2021, according to The Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, N.C.
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle), meanwhile, passed away Nov. 29, 2017.
The show ended almost 50 years ago, and in recent years the number of surviving cast members has dwindled (Andy Griffith himself died in 2012). We put together a list of some of the show’s surviving actors — some who were regulars, some who had brief but memorable roles.
The following slides feature some of the notable characters that showed up in Mayberry. Roughly, they’re in order beginning with the most appearances on the show.
Ron Howard (Opie Taylor)
You know how those child stars always turn out, right?
Opie, of course, played the son of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith). Since starring in Happy Days, Howard has directed a few movies you might have seen.
Elinor Donahue (Ellie Walker)
The “lady druggist” with the toothy smile was Andy’s love interest during the first season. (Before that, she had played the eldest daughter on “Father Knows Best.”)
Jack Burns (right) played Deputy Warren Ferguson. (Everett Collection)
Jack Burns (Warren Ferguson)
Replacing Don Knotts’ Barney Fife as Mayberry’s deputy was the comedy equivalent of replacing Bear Bryant as Alabama’s football coach. And even more short-lived.
Ron Howard (far left) and his real-life brother, Clint, on the set of The Andy Griffith Show.
Other kids on the show
Many actors who played children are still around. They include Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason), Sheldon Collins (Arnold Bailey), Dennis Rush (Howie Pruitt), Ronda Jeter (Karen Burgess), David Bailey (Trey Bowden), John Reilly (Billy), Ronnie Dapo (Arnold Winkler) and Ron Howard’s real-life brother, Clint Howard, who played the peanut-butter-sandwich-chomping Leon.
The Darlings
Denver Pyle (Briscoe) and Doug Dillard (Doug) have passed away.
Not so for Maggie Peterson (Charlene), Rodney Dillard (Rodney), Mitch Jayne (Mitch) and Dean Webb (Dean).
Doug, Rodney, Mitch and Dean formed The Dillards, a real-life bluegrass band.
Ken Berry had the lead role on Mayberry R.F.D. as Sam Jones. (Everett Collection)
Ken Berry (Sam Jones)
More commonly associated with Mayberry R.F.D., he showed up at the end of TAGS to establish his character.
Josie Lloyd (Josephine/Juanita Pike; Lydia Crosswaithe)
Lloyd played Mayor Pike’s tone-deaf, awkward daughter. Later she appeared as the monotone Lydia, who had no chemistry with Andy: “I don’t mind the clarinet or the saxophone, but I hate the guitar.”
Arlene Golonka later starred on Mayberry R.F.D. as Millie became Sam Jones’ girlfriend. (Everett Collection)
Arlene Golonka (Millie Hutchins/Swanson)
Millie almost married Howard Sprague.
A fate we’d wish on nobody.
Jack Nicholson
He was in only two episodes, and he played different characters. But he’s Jack Nicholson, so we couldn’t leave him off.
Also, he’s still alive.
On one episode he played one-half of a young couple that had lost their baby, and on another he played an innocent man on trial for burglary.
“I ain’t never been jabbed, and I ain’t fixing to be,” Rafe told Nurse Mary.
Julie Adams (Mary Simpson)
She was in only one episode, but the nurse managed to turn Andy’s head and give a tetanus shot to Rafe Hollister, the farmer/moonshiner with the itchy trigger finger.
Andy Griffith and Barbara Eden. (Everett Collection)
Barbara Eden (Ellen Brown)
Before she was Jeannie, Barbara Eden spent one episode as Ellen Brown, who spoke fast and was a manicurist — “I do nails” — and had an ex-fiance named Pierre.
Passed away
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle) 2017
Bernard Fox (Malcolm Merriweather) 2016
Andy Griffith (Andy Taylor) 2012
George Lindsey (Goober Pyle) 2012
Don Knotts (Barney Fife) 2006
Howard Morris (Ernest T. Bass) 2005
Norman Leavitt (Wally) 2005
Parley Baer (Mayor Stoner) 2002
Denver Pyle (Briscoe Darling) 1997
Joanna Moore (Peggy McMillan) 1997
Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crump) 1995
Hal Smith (Otis Campbell) 1994
Jack Dodson (Howard Sprague) 1994
Francis Bavier (Aunt Bee Taylor) 1989
Mary Lansing (Martha Clark) 1988
Hope Summers (Clara Edwards/Johnson, Bertha Edwards) 1979
Paul Hartman (Emmett Clark) 1973
Howard McNear (Floyd Lawson) 1969
Burt Mustin (Jud Fletcher, Jubal) 1977
Jack Prince (Rafe Hollister) 1971
Cheerio Meredith (Emma Brand) 1964
Dick Elliott (Mayor Pike) 1961
Don Knotts (right) earned five Emmy awards for his work on The Andy Griffith Show. (Everett Collection)
More ‘Andy’
Jim Nabors dies at 87
Do you know what these southern phrases from The Andy Griffith Show mean?
Ron Howard remembers George Lindsey fondly
“Real-life Floyd the Barber” dies in Mount Airy, N.C.
Andy Griffith made Alabamians Jim Nabors, George Lindsey famous
