Howard McNear - Career

Career

McNear was born in Los Angeles, California to Luzetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNear. He worked as a theatical actor as early as 1930, and worked in radio from the late 1930s, distinguishing himself in the 1937–1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police as ace operator Clint Barlow. McNear could be effective in such authoritative roles, but he gravitated more toward character roles, often comic.

He enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps on November 17, 1942 during World War II.

He created the role of Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961). McNear was under contract to CBS for many years and was featured in many of the network's radio and TV programs. From 1955 to 1960 he appeared frequently, in various quirky roles, in the popular radio detective series Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. He guest starred in the Thanksgiving Day episode, November 26, 1959, of NBC's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. He appeared in three different guest-starring roles on the popular series Peter Gunn (1958-61).

In the television sitcom Leave It to Beaver, McNear made an appearance as a barber named Andy, a role which proved prophetic.

McNear was best known for his performances as the vague, chatty barber Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show. In that role, McNear replaced actor Walter Baldwin, who was deemed too elderly for the part. McNear later said that he didn't replace anyone, but was playing Floyd Lawson, Jr. During the third season, McNear suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to walk though his speech remained intact. Griffith, who realized how much the Floyd character added to the show's dynamic, urged that he return to the role if possible. McNear resumed the role (after being off the show for almost a year and a half), with the production crew accommodating his disability. In his appearances on the show before the stroke, he is seen standing and working in his barber shop (and also walking freely). After the stroke, he is usually seen seated (in his barber chair or a park bench, etc.). The stagehands constructed a stand for him, which allowed him to stand and appear to be working, usually to comb hair (one-handed, of course). There was an episode (after the stroke) where the sequence of camera shots made it appear that his character did indeed take some steps. His last appearance on the show was in the episode "Goober's Contest", which wrapped up the 1966-1967 season. In that final show, Floyd is seen visiting Goober's gas station in a sleek Mercury convertible that is driven to and from that scene by a double.