Howard McNear
From his most popular role as barber, Floyd Lawson, on The Andy Griffith Show to the character, Doc Charles Adams, that he created on CBS Radio’s Gunsmoke – Howard Turbell McNear put everything he had into his roles, whether a voice on the radio or a character on television or in the movies.
McNear’s birthplace is Los Angeles, California and he was born on January 27, 1905 to Franklin McNear and Luzetta Spencer. He began working in radio in the late 1930s and became extremely popular as ace operator, Clint Barlow, on the 1938 – 1940 radio serial, Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police.
During World War II, McNear served as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps and re-started his career in radio. He was featured in many radio shows, including The Adventures of Bill Lance – a detective drama starring John McIntire as Lance. McNear played the part of Ulysses Higgins, a friend and assistant to Lance.
The Cinnamon Bear, a children’s seasonal fantasy radio show, which premiered in 1937 featured Howard as Samuel the Seal. In the 1940’s, McNear appeared along with Parley Baer and William Conrad as part of the cast of The Count of Monte Cristo, an adventure-drama based on the story of Edmond Dantes who was falsely imprisoned for the charge of treason.
Howard McNear had a prolific career on radio and appeared in support roles in so many series from the Golden Age of Radio including, Suspense, Lux Radio Theater, Escape, CBS Radio Workshop, Family Theater, Let George Do It, Casebook of Gregory Hood, Adventures of Masie, Fort Laramie, Wild Bill Hickok and Richard Diamond, Private Detective.
While McNear was under contract with CBS, he took frequent character roles in the radio series Yours Truly Johnny Dollarand appeared in one TV episode of Leave It to Beaver, where he appeared as a barber named “Andy” – prophetically paving the way for his future mustached “barber” role on TV in The Andy Griffith Show.
During his stint on The Andy Griffith Show, McNear suffered a stroke, which left his speech hampered, and he didn’t think he would be able to do the show anymore. Griffith, however, realized how important McNear’s character was to the show and urged him to continue. McNear was off the show for about a year and a half, with the show working around his speech impairment. McNear’s final appearance on the show was the end of the 1966 – 1967 season. The show was called “Goober’s Contest.”
Among his many films, McNear played Dr. Dompierre in Anatomy of a Murder, and was featured in Irma La Douce, Kiss Me Stupid and The Fortune Cookie – all Billy Wilder movies.
Howard McNear passed away on January 3, 1969 from the effects of his stroke in the San Fernando Valley. He’s interred in the Los Angeles National Cemetery and was survived by his wife, Helen and his son, Christopher.
Happy listening my friends,
