Opie Taylor - Pals, Girlfriends, Jobs

Pals, Girlfriends, Jobs

Opie's best friend through the black-and-white run is Johnny Paul Jason; in color episodes, it is Arnold Bailey, who is the Doctor's son. He also has several other friends during his childhood including Howie Pruitt. In one episode, Opie's new friend Trey Bowden provokes Opie's jealousy when Andy takes a liking to Trey and invites him along on outings. Other new friends sometimes prove unworthy. One friend, for instance, encourages Opie to throw tantrums at home to get his way.

In another episode, Opie joins a secret club and is made keeper of the club's special candle. The club trespasses in a farmer's barn and, when the barn later burns to the ground, Opie is blamed. In the color episodes, Opie's best friend is a boy named Arnold Bailey but in one color episode, Opie hooks up with a boy that plays a mean trick on Goober. Both boys are taken to task by Andy for their mischief making. Opie is respectful and friendly to adults in Mayberry. He spends time at the filling station hanging out with Goober and the two often share their comic books.

Opie has several girlfriends including, in his boyhood, Karen Burgess (Ronda Jeter) and, in his teens, Mary Alice Carter (Morgan Brittany, credited as Suzanne Cupito). He also develops crushes on Barney Fife's sweetheart Thelma Lou and on his father's sweetheart Helen Crump.

On the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D., Helen and Andy marry and later on the series, Helen gives birth to Opie's half-brother, Andrew Samuel Taylor, Jr.

During his teens, Opie has a few jobs around Mayberry. He works in the drug store, and, in another episode, works as a delivery boy at the grocery store. He also plays in a rock band with his friends and has a paying gig at a teen party. In a later color episode, Opie makes college plans with dentistry as his career choice.