Howard McNear Played Edgy Movie & TV Roles Before 'Floyd the Barber' on 'The Andy Griffith Show'

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Beloved character actor Howard McNear, who died in 1969 from complications of a stroke, is best remembered for his performance as Floyd Lawson, a.k.a., Floyd the Barber on The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968).

But before he found fame with that part, he appeared in several TV guest spots in very different roles. Those include three performances on director Blake Edwards' half-hour stylized crime-drama, Peter Gunn (ABC, 1958-1961), starring Craig Stevens.

In "The Missing Night Watchman" (6-26-59), Gunn is hired by McNear's Charles Quimby, a meek antiques store owner to track down a consignment of rare jewelry, before the arrogant collector discovers the items are missing.

In "A Tender Touch" (12-26-60), McNear plays Horatio Smeddler, an eccentric bank employee who executes a plan to force his employer to ignite a pension plan. He steals money from the vault and won't return it until they consent to terms. But a mobster reads all about it in the news and decides to kidnap him and take his money.

In the episode, "A Slight Touch of Homicide" (4-11-60), McNear is cast as Barnaby, when Gunn is hired by the local Syndicate Boss (who once put out a contract on him) to pinpoint who is killing members of the Mob. Gunn only agrees to take the job to avoid a gang war, which could end up spilling innocent blood in the process. Come to find it, Barnaby is the killer, and he used explosives to carry out his deadly plan.

Before Peter Gunn

Howard McNear enjoyed a versatile career even before Peter Gunn. From 1952 to 1961, he created the role of physician Charles "Doc" Adams on CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (before Milburn Stone's Emmy-winning performance in the TV adaption.

Before and during that Gunsmoke radio run, McNear appeared in several other CBS radio shows including the detective series Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (from 1955 to 1960), and anthology programs like Escape and Suspense.

On the Big Screen and Beyond

Then, in 1953, Howard McNear made his motion picture debut in an uncredited role in Escape From Fort Bravo.

Three years later, he guest starred in “The Pest Hole,” a first-season episode of the TV edition of Gunsmoke.

In a 1958 episode of Leave it to Beaver, McNear played a barber named "Andy," who gave Wally (played by Tony Dow) his first shave.

Throughout his vibrant career, McNear would make over 100 movie and TV guest appearances, playing very non-Floyd-the-Barber roles.

In 1959, for example, he was in the film, Anatomy of a Murder, as Dr. Dompierre, who testified about collecting evidence of a rape.

A versatile actor indeed.