why did some other actor play him in his first appearance? After Howard McNear left the show did they ever say what became of Floyd?

Yes. Dunno the name and too lazy to look, but an even older man played the role once in the pilot or soon thereafter.

he wasn't in the pilot, his first appearance was in the 6th or 7th episode.

If IMDb is correct, Walter Baldwin who originated the role of Floyd appeared in episode #12, "Stranger in Town" and Howard McNear took over with #13, "Mayberry Goes Hollywood." Oddly enough, that episode aired on Mr. Baldwin's birthday (Jan 2, 1961) He died on Jan 27, 1977 on what would've been Mr. McNear's 72nd birthday. Howard died on Jan 3rd, 1969, one day after Mr. Baldwin's 80th birthday.

If IMDb is correct, Walter Baldwin who originated the role of Floyd appeared in episode #12, "Stranger in Town" and Howard McNear took over with #13, "Mayberry Goes Hollywood." Oddly enough, that episode aired on Mr. Baldwin's birthday (Jan 2, 1961) He died on Jan 27, 1977 on what would've been Mr. McNear's 72nd birthday. Howard died on Jan 3rd, 1969, one day after Mr. Baldwin's 80th birthday.
well, since IMDB says it, I don't know how much of that's true.

well, since IMDB says it, I don't know how much of that's true.

Wiki seems to be in agreement with IMDb so unless someone can link to another source that disputes any of it then I'll assume their info is correct.

According to the credits of Stranger in Town Walter Baldwin originally played Floyd. The reason they brought in Howard McNear was due to the producers thinking a younger actor would be better than an older one (Ironic when you considered that Baldwin outlive McNear) Personally I think the producers made a right choice.

I do too.

I read once that the older man is actually Floyd Sr., Floyd's father.

I read once that the older man is actually Floyd Sr., Floyd's father.

Howard McNear actually said his Floyd's real name was Floyd Lawson Jr.

According to the credits of Stranger in Town Walter Baldwin originally played Floyd. The reason they brought in Howard McNear was due to the producers thinking a younger actor would be better than an older one (Ironic when you considered that Baldwin outlive McNear) Personally I think the producers made a right choice.

Howard McNear is Floyd, anyone else in that role is just unthinkable (to me).

I mentally retcon when I see the different "Floyd" in that one episode, and just tell myself this was the barber just before Floyd arrived, like we have to do over in the Star Trek universe before Bones McCoy shows up (there was like one or two episodes with a different, older doctor on the Enterprise early on).

Anyone ever checked out Howard McNear in the original Gunsmoke radio series, I think he played a tough Doc Adams there, or was he Chester? I'll need to look that up again.

According to the credits of Stranger in Town Walter Baldwin originally played Floyd. The reason they brought in Howard McNear was due to the producers thinking a younger actor would be better than an older one (Ironic when you considered that Baldwin outlive McNear) Personally I think the producers made a right choice.

Walter Baldwin, the alternate universe Floyd.

🙂

I read once that the older man is actually Floyd Sr., Floyd's father.

That's interesting.

Now I wonder what Floyd's Boston connection is?

His nephew Warren Ferguson says he's from Boston.