The Sole Speaking Role
There were a lot of African Americans who appeared on The Andy Griffith Show, but they were all extras who had non-speaking roles and were just in the background scenes. However, Rockne Tarkington interrupted that streak when he made an appearance in the episode called “Opie’s Piano Lesson.” His spoken lines made him the only black actor who had had a speaking role in the show’s entire run.
The Sole Speaking Role
The Solution To A Stroke
Howard McNear, the actor who played Floyd the Barber, unfortunately had a stroke while the series was still on air. Since he had some trouble standing after the stroke, the show’s creators thought of a creative solution. They had him sit in a barber chair, or sometimes used some props to make it seem as if he was standing. He can be seen leaning against something in other scenes, which was his way to keep his strength.
The Solution To A Stroke