What was Opie's full name? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lil Ole Ruthie · 09-13-2005, 09:13 PM

Surely Opie was not the "real" name of Andy's son! Was it ever explained what Opie's full name was? Was Opie a nickname? Was Opie short for something else - Oedipus? Just joking! This is just one of those little things that gets stuck in your brain, and you just gotta know!

Americansportzfan · 09-14-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil Ole Ruthie

Surely Opie was not the "real" name of Andy's son! Was it ever explained what Opie's full name was? Was Opie a nickname? Was Opie short for something else - Oedipus? Just joking! This is just one of those little things that gets stuck in your brain, and you just gotta know!

We were only ever given "Opie Taylor." No other explanation was given on screen. There may be more information in one of the TAGS related books.

caladon · 09-14-2005, 03:06 PM

Apparently, Opie is a real name. I found this reference in the FAQ's section of the The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club site

Q. What was the origin of the name Opie? Was it short for something?
A. Jim Clark once told me that Opie Taylor was most likely named for Opie Cates, a prominent bandleader of the '40s or '50s whom Andy Griffith and Sheldon Leonard both admired. I have never figured out if Mr. Cates' name was short for something else, or if it was really "O.P." Opie Taylor did spell his name O-P-I-E. It can be seen on the love note he wrote to Miss Crump in "Opie Loves Helen", and on the board he burned his name into in "Barney's Sidecar." --Paul Mulik(paulmulik@getonthe.net)

09-13-2005, 09:13 PM	#1
Lil Ole Ruthie Lil Ole Ruthie First Time Poster Join Date: Sep 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1	What was Opie's full name? Surely Opie was not the "real" name of Andy's son! Was it ever explained what Opie's full name was? Was Opie a nickname? Was Opie short for something else - Oedipus? Just joking! This is just one of those little things that gets stuck in your brain, and you just gotta know!

09-14-2005, 03:06 PM	#3
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Apparently, Opie is a real name. I found this reference in the FAQ's section of the The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club site Q. What was the origin of the name Opie? Was it short for something? A. Jim Clark once told me that Opie Taylor was most likely named for Opie Cates, a prominent bandleader of the '40s or '50s whom Andy Griffith and Sheldon Leonard both admired. I have never figured out if Mr. Cates' name was short for something else, or if it was really "O.P." Opie Taylor did spell his name O-P-I-E. It can be seen on the love note he wrote to Miss Crump in "Opie Loves Helen", and on the board he burned his name into in "Barney's Sidecar." --Paul Mulik(paulmulik@getonthe.net)
	Last edited by caladon; 09-14-2005 at 03:25 PM.