Howard McNear Biography

Howard McNair. Howard McNair was born in Los Angeles, California to Lazetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNair. McNair worked in radio from the late 1930s, distinguishing himself in the 1938-1940 radio serial, Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police, as ace operator Clint Barlow. McNair could be effective in such authoritative roles, but he gravitated more towards character

roles, often comic. He created the role of Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gun Smoke from 1952 through 1961. McNair was under contract to CBS for many years and was featured in many of the network's radio and TV programs. From 1955 to 1960 he appeared frequently in various quirky roles in the popular radio detective series Yours Truly Johnny Dollar.

the TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver, McNair made it appearance as the barber named Andy, a role which proved prophetic. McNair was best known for his performances as the vague chatty barber Floyd Lawson on the Andy Griffith Show.

During production McNair suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to walk. He continued in the role however with the production crew accommodating his disability. In the early episodes of the show he has seen standing and working at his barbershop.

his stroke he is usually seen seated either in his barber chair or in a park bench, etc. The stage hands constructed a stand for him which allowed him to stand and appear to be working, usually to comb hair, one handed of course. McNair died in the San Fernando Valley from the effects of a stroke. After his passing in 1969 Howard McNair was interred in the Los Angeles National

Cemetery, a former U.S. Veterans Administration Cemetery in Los Angeles. Some materials for this bio are extracted from Wikipedia. For the all-time radio researchers group, I'm Sue, your announcer.