When most of us think of The Andy Griffith Show, we immediately think of familiar faces like Andy Taylor and Barney Fife. Then there’s Floyd the barber, Otis the resident drunkard, Thelma Lou, Aunt Bea, and the rest of the cast that made Mayberry so special. They’re all part of one of the most iconic television series of all time.
But among all those familiar names, there’s something that’s often overlooked: The Andy Griffith Show was a launching pad for many future Hollywood stars. It’s amazing to look back at the list of people who appeared on the show early in their careers – people who went on to become legends on both the small and big screens.
Here are 10 examples of people who passed through Mayberry on their way to great careers:
Jack Nicholson: Appeared in two episodes in the mid-1960s, before breaking out as the lead in Easy Rider (1969).
Gavin MacLeod: Before becoming a household name on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat, he had two small roles on the show.
Rob Reiner: Before he became famous as Michael Stivic on All In The Family, Rob appeared in an episode of Andy Griffith, along with shows like Batman, That Girl, Room 222, Gomer Pyle and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Buddy Ebsen: Before he became synonymous with Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Ebsen came to Mayberry as a con man – and Andy didn’t let him off the hook.
Lee Van Cleef: This cowboy villain appeared in the show’s final black-and-white episode as “Skip.”
George Kennedy: Before becoming a Hollywood fixture with over 100 films, including Cool Hand Luke, he played a state detective who assisted Andy and Barney in one episode.
Howard Hesseman: Before he was DJ Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, he appeared in two episodes, once under the stage name Don Sturdy.
Alan Hale Jr.: Before he was the “Captain” on Gilligan’s Island, he made an impression as Jeff Pruitt, a country bumpkin who had a crush on Thelma Lou.
Bob Denver: Just before he was cast as the lead on Gilligan’s Island, CBS “tested” him in an episode of Andy Griffith.
Barbara Eden: Before she captivated America in I Dream of Jeannie, Eden played a manicurist who opens a salon in Floyd’s barbershop in the 1961 episode of “The Manicurist.”
