What season did Floyd have the stroke? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

chopperguy · 06-30-2007, 01:04 AM

I didn't realize Howard Mcnear had a stroke until I was older and read articles about the show. As a kid, I just thought that was Floyd. The producers did a fantastic job making him a part of the show, and a BIG part of it, without making it too obvious of what happened. I'm sure many adults at the time realized this, but not many youngsters! And credit to Mr. Mcnear for continuing onward. I don't mean to sound crude, but I believe his post-stroke Floyd is more remembered than is pre-stroke Floyd. I don't know why, but there's something endearing about him after the stroke. It just makes him "Floyd", and we can't help but love him. Despite his stubborness.

elvisjohnny · 02-26-2008, 04:17 PM

Howard McNear seemed to be able to walk after the stroke, but very slowly. In the fifth season episode "Barney's Physical," Floyd is seen taking a few steps in the courthouse "party" scenes. In the sixth season episode, "Aunt Bee on TV," he is also seen taking several steps in the Taylor's kitchen. In that same episode, in the crowd scene, after Andy says "the sunglasses fooled us!," Helen takes Floyd's arm and actually helps him walk faster over to the rest of the group (they make it look like Helen and Floyd just happen to be walking side by side, but after looking closely, she is helping him along).
This is why they never showed Howard McNear walk for more than a few steps after his stroke, because if he did, it would be apparent that he couldn't walk very fast. As time went on, maybe he couldn't walk at all, but he was seen walking in those particular episodes after his stroke.

The Great One · 02-26-2008, 06:26 PM

Very interesting information is being said here. I didn't know about any of this before. Are there any books that you know of that talk about this topic in more detail?

tdr · 03-04-2008, 06:01 PM

I have the book by Richard Michael Kelly, originally published in 1981, but I think my edition is 1987. I haven't read it for quite some time, but that book does go into detail about Howard NcNear's stroke, how he was forced to leave the show for a year and a half, and how he came back to 'solve a problem in a script,' in which Floyd's presence would be the missing piece, but I'm not sure if the book even explains that part; just that Andy called Howard's home, his wife answered the phone and said it would be a "godsend" for him to get back into the show. Then it explains that they built the hidden stands which would show him standing, that his walking would have to be just implied by scene context, et al, and he became a big part of many episodes for another couple of years. At some time he had a secnd stroke, but I don't think the book specifically says it was before he left for good and it's said in the show that he finally went to live in Mt. Pilot. But it does contain interviews from Andy Griffith and Jack Dodson about filming his last scene, and how it was extremely frustrating to him and very sad to his fellow actors, who could tell he was fading. Dodson says getting through that last scene was the hardest thing he has ever had to do as an actor; and apparently he meant emotionally, as well the number of directions and takes for a short, simple scene.

The book also tells about his funeral; how there were many performers who knew him who got up and shared their memories, including Hal Smith ['Otis'] and there were "more laughs than tears." I trust that pleased Mr. McNear.

TMC · 04-23-2024, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Be Right Back!

I might be in the minority here, but I think Howard McNear was better as Floyd the Barber after the stroke. His voice and inflections, rapid delivery followed by long, drawn out words, really suited his character and made him seem more of a "character."

While I agree with other posters who have mentioned his last episode as sad (and it was...you could tell he was struggling), for most of the time after the stroke he was, IMO, wonderful and still my favorite character on the show.

Here's the one trait Howard McNear had in common with Floyd the Barber

The actor and his character may not have been so different!

SarahBellum · 04-24-2024, 10:06 AM

I wonder if it would have been better if they made it known on the show that Floyd had a stroke instead of trying to hide his condition in various ways?

rusty spike · 04-24-2024, 02:59 PM

I'm sure McNear wouldn't have wanted pity or sympathy.

TMC · 05-23-2025, 02:12 AM

Howard McNear recovered from a stroke to return to Mayberry

Not even health complications kept Floyd away for long.

02-26-2008, 04:17 PM	#17
elvisjohnny Member First Time Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 1	Howard McNear did actually walk after his stroke Howard McNear seemed to be able to walk after the stroke, but very slowly. In the fifth season episode "Barney's Physical," Floyd is seen taking a few steps in the courthouse "party" scenes. In the sixth season episode, "Aunt Bee on TV," he is also seen taking several steps in the Taylor's kitchen. In that same episode, in the crowd scene, after Andy says "the sunglasses fooled us!," Helen takes Floyd's arm and actually helps him walk faster over to the rest of the group (they make it look like Helen and Floyd just happen to be walking side by side, but after looking closely, she is helping him along). This is why they never showed Howard McNear walk for more than a few steps after his stroke, because if he did, it would be apparent that he couldn't walk very fast. As time went on, maybe he couldn't walk at all, but he was seen walking in those particular episodes after his stroke.

02-26-2008, 06:26 PM	#18
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	Very interesting information is being said here. I didn't know about any of this before. Are there any books that you know of that talk about this topic in more detail?
	__________________ .

06-30-2007, 01:04 AM	#16
chopperguy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 06, 2007 Location: Mid-Atlantic Posts: 38	I didn't realize Howard Mcnear had a stroke until I was older and read articles about the show. As a kid, I just thought that was Floyd. The producers did a fantastic job making him a part of the show, and a BIG part of it, without making it too obvious of what happened. I'm sure many adults at the time realized this, but not many youngsters! And credit to Mr. Mcnear for continuing onward. I don't mean to sound crude, but I believe his post-stroke Floyd is more remembered than is pre-stroke Floyd. I don't know why, but there's something endearing about him after the stroke. It just makes him "Floyd", and we can't help but love him. Despite his stubborness.

03-04-2008, 06:01 PM	#19
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I have the book by Richard Michael Kelly, originally published in 1981, but I think my edition is 1987. I haven't read it for quite some time, but that book does go into detail about Howard NcNear's stroke, how he was forced to leave the show for a year and a half, and how he came back to 'solve a problem in a script,' in which Floyd's presence would be the missing piece, but I'm not sure if the book even explains that part; just that Andy called Howard's home, his wife answered the phone and said it would be a "godsend" for him to get back into the show. Then it explains that they built the hidden stands which would show him standing, that his walking would have to be just implied by scene context, et al, and he became a big part of many episodes for another couple of years. At some time he had a secnd stroke, but I don't think the book specifically says it was before he left for good and it's said in the show that he finally went to live in Mt. Pilot. But it does contain interviews from Andy Griffith and Jack Dodson about filming his last scene, and how it was extremely frustrating to him and very sad to his fellow actors, who could tell he was fading. Dodson says getting through that last scene was the hardest thing he has ever had to do as an actor; and apparently he meant emotionally, as well the number of directions and takes for a short, simple scene. The book also tells about his funeral; how there were many performers who knew him who got up and shared their memories, including Hal Smith ['Otis'] and there were "more laughs than tears." I trust that pleased Mr. McNear.

04-24-2024, 10:06 AM	#21
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	I wonder if it would have been better if they made it known on the show that Floyd had a stroke instead of trying to hide his condition in various ways?

04-24-2024, 02:59 PM	#22
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I'm sure McNear wouldn't have wanted pity or sympathy.

05-23-2025, 02:12 AM	#23
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,493	Howard McNear recovered from a stroke to return to Mayberry Not even health complications kept Floyd away for long.