The Andy Griffith Show is a classic TV show that everyone loves to this day. Yet it did come to an end and the cast went to find other work. What did they do? We love Andy, Barney, Opie, and the rest of the gang. Let’s take a look at what they did after the show ended its run on CBS. And we’ll start with the star of the show himself, Andy Griffith.
‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Cast Goes On To Find Other Work
His original show ends in 1968 but The Andy Griffith Show star did appear as Andy Taylor on the spinoff show Mayberry RFD. Griffith branched out to other TV projects in the 1970s that included Headmaster, The New Andy Griffith Show, Centennial, and others. But in 1986, he would come back to play Andy Taylor again in Return to Mayberry for a TV movie. That year also saw Griffith start playing lawyer Ben Matlock on Matlock. He would be busy with the series that ran for nine seasons.
Ron Howard, who played Opie Taylor, would find himself playing Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. The role happens to be tailor-made for him after a turn in the movie American Graffiti. Still, his passion was for working behind the camera. His first film as a director was Grand Theft Auto in 1977, a movie in which Howard also acted. From that point on to today, Howard is one of the movie world’s most impressive directors and producers. We get more from Looper.
Don Knotts Turns To Making Movies; Frances Bavier Retires
Don Knotts is still well-loved as Deputy Barney Fife, the one-bullet-owning lawman from Mayberry. Yet he did leave The Andy Griffith Show after five seasons. Universal Studios would be one of his homes for making movies. Among them were The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, The Reluctant Astronaut, and The Shakiest Gun in the West.
Frances Bavier lovingly played Aunt Bee, doting over Opie and Andy while keeping the house clean. She also cooked some good food, too. But Bavier just would act a little more on Mayberry RFD and appear in the 1970s flick Benji. Bavier was approached by Griffith and Howard to appear in Return to Mayberry but she declined. She just retired to North Carolina and didn’t take part in other work.
What about Jim Nabors? Heck, he went over to appear in the spinoff Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. That was on CBS for five seasons and would keep him on TV through the 1960s and beyond. In the 1970s, Nabors had his own variety show and hosted specials, too. You could catch him on shows like The Carol Burnett Show to The Hollywood Squares at different times.
