Generations of fans have continued tuning into The Andy Griffith Show in the 65 years since it began, attracted by its combination of regular characters like Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) and little Opie (Ron Howard, who would later go on to star in Happy Days); its perfect capturing of small-town life and the brilliant yet understated gentle humor of its scripts. But on top of all of that, another part of its charm comes from unexpected faces who have popped in for a visit and left their mark on Mayberry.
Over the years, the 1960 to 1968 series welcomed an impressive lineup of familiar names, many of them either already established or on the cusp of bigger stardom. Some were perfectly cast, blending right into the easygoing world of Mayberry, while others brought a bit of delightful contrast. They are the focus here as we look at 10 of the show’s most memorable guest stars, ranging from Buddy Ebsen (The Beverly Hillbillies) to Alan Hale, Jr. (Gilligan’s Island), Ellen Corby (The Waltons), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) and, perhaps most surprising of all, future Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson.
So, as Sheriff Andy Taylor himself might say, sit a spell and we’ll take a stroll down memory lane together. Just remember that in Mayberry, even the guests were like family.
1. Buddy Ebsen
Episode: “Opie’s Hobo Friend” (Season 2, Episode 6)
Airdate: November 13, 1961
Role: Buddy Ebsen portrays Dave Browne, a soft-spoken drifter who quickly charms young Opie with his laid-back outlook on life. Dave’s carefree philosophy—complete with tales of traveling the country without responsibilities—captivates the boy, leading him to question the more structured guidance he receives from Andy. What follows is a quiet but meaningful conflict, as Andy delicately tries to balance respecting Dave’s dignity with teaching Opie about responsibility and consequences.
Fun Fact: Ebsen would become a television legend just a year later when The Beverly Hillbillies debuted with him playing Jed Clampett.
2. Alan Hale Jr.
Episode: “The Farmer Takes a Wife” (Season 2, Episode 13)
Airdate: January 1, 1962
Role: Alan Hale Jr. guest stars as Jeff Pruitt, a well-meaning but overly eager farmer who comes to Mayberry determined to find a wife. With Barney as his overzealous wingman, Jeff’s old-fashioned courtship style and lack of subtlety cause mild chaos as he awkwardly proposes to nearly every eligible woman in town. Hale plays the role with a broad, genial charm that hints at the comedic instincts he would embrace as the Skipper on Gilligan’s Island.
Fun Fact: This episode aired just three years before Gilligan’s Island, which would take Hale’s career in a whole different direction.
3. Sterling Holloway
Episode: “The Merchant of Mayberry” (Season 2, Episode 22)
Airdate: March 5, 1962
Role: Sterling Holloway plays Bert Miller, a weary traveling salesman who arrives in Mayberry with a suitcase full of miscellaneous goods. Bert’s gentle demeanor and reluctance to aggressively market his wares endear him to Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife, who assist him in setting up a modest stand on a vacant lot. Their support, partly to help Bert and partly to challenge the local department store owner Ben Weaver, leads to a series of events that culminate in Bert being offered a stable job.
Fun Fact: In addition to his TV roles, Holloway was a prolific Disney voice actor, famously lending his unique vocals to characters like Winnie the Pooh, Kaa the snake from The Jungle Book and the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.
4. Barbara Eden
Episode: “The Manicurist” (Season 2, Episode 16)
Airdate: January 22, 1962
Role: Barbara Eden appears as Ellen Brown, an attractive and independent manicurist who causes quite a stir when she opens a shop within Floyd’s Barbershop. While the town’s men flock to her, their wives grow suspicious, leading to tension and gossip that threaten Ellen’s ability to make a living. Andy steps in and helps the town see Ellen as a professional woman trying to make her way in a new place.
5. Denver Pyle
Episodes: “Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee” (Season 4, Episode 9), “The Darlings Are Coming” (Season 3, Episode 25), “Mountain Wedding” (Season 3, Episode 31), “Divorce, Mountain Style” (Season 4, Episode 14), “The Darlings Return” (Season 5, Episode 2), “The Darling Fortune” (Season 5, Episode 24)
Airdates: November 18, 1963; March 18, 1963; May 6, 1963; December 30, 1963, September 28, 1964, March 1, 1965.
Role: Denver Pyle originated the role of Briscoe Darling, the gruff but lovable patriarch of the musically gifted Darling family. A mountain man with a rigid sense of honor and a thick Appalachian accent, Briscoe brings chaos and bluegrass every time he rolls into Mayberry with his brood.
Fun Fact: Denver Pyle later found bigger TV fame as Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard.
6. Ellen Corby
Episode: “Barney’s First Car” (season 3, episode 27)
Airdate: April 1, 1963
Role: Barney Fife buys his first car from a sweet little old lady—played by Ellen Corby—who turns out to be part of a car-theft scam. As Myrt Lesh (nicknamed “Hubcaps”), Corby brilliantly plays against type, delivering a charmingly deceptive performance that leaves Barney (and the viewers) in shock.
Fun Fact: Corby would later achieve lasting fame as Grandma Walton on The Waltons, a role that earned her three Emmy Awards.
7. Don Rickles
Episode: “The Luck of Newton Monroe” (Season 5, episode 29)
Airdate: April 12, 1965
Role: Don Rickles guest stars as Newton Monroe, a fast-talking traveling salesman who comes to Mayberry selling all-purpose elixirs. When Andy catches on to his smooth-talking but shady sales pitch, he gives Newton a chance to go straight by assigning him to honest work. Physical comedy ensues, with Rickles fumbling through odd jobs under Andy’s watchful eye.
Fun Fact: Though better known for his insult comedy, Rickles was eager to stretch his acting ability, and this was one of his few roles as a well-meaning screw-up.
8. Ruta Lee
Episodes: “Andy on Trial” (season 2, episode 29), “The Hollywood Party” (season 5, episode 19)
Airdates: April 23, 1962; January 25, 1965
Roles: In the first episode, Ruta Lee plays Jean Boswell, a reporter who collaborates with a newspaper publisher to challenge Andy’s position as sheriff; and in the second, she’s Darlene Mason, an actress who attends a Hollywood party that Andy and Barney are invited to.
Fun fact: During the 1950s, Ruta Lee appeared in over 100 TV shows. Off camera, she was a lifelong friend of Debbie Reynolds and served as the co-chair of the Thalians, a charitable organization in Hollywood dedicated to mental health causes.
9. Jerry Van Dyke
Episode: “Banjo-Playing Deputy” (season 5, episode 32)
Airdate: May 3, 1965
Role: Jerry Van Dyke portrays Jerry Miller, a destitute carnival musician left behind when the carnival departs Mayberry. Andy Taylor, feeling sympathetic, invites Jerry to stay at his home and offers him temporary work around the courthouse.
Fun Fact: This episode is notable for being the last to air in black and white before the series transitioned to color broadcasts.
10. Jack Nicholson
Episodes: “Opie Finds a Baby” (season 7, episode 10), “Aunt Bee, the Juror” (season 8, episode 7)
Airdates: November 21, 1966; October 23, 1967
Roles: In the first episode, Opie and his friend Arnold discover an abandoned baby on the courthouse steps. They attempt to find a home for the infant, fearing it will be sent to an orphanage. Jack Nicholson plays Mr. Garland, the baby’s father. In the second, Aunt Bee is summoned for jury duty and finds herself at odds with fellow jurors when she believes the defendant, Marvin Jenkins (played by Nicholson), is innocent of theft charges.
Fun Fact: This was one of Nicholson’s first screen appearances, which he made at age 29.
