This Forgotten ‘Gunsmoke’ Episode Starred a Young Ron Howard

Before he was Richie Cunningham on Happy Days (or one of the most successful directors of all time) but after The Andy Griffith Show ended, a young Ron Howard made a surprising guest appearance on Gunsmoke — on the episode that won the show its final Emmy.

“Charlie Noon,” which aired on November 3, 1969 featured two familiar names at very different points in their careers: in addition to Howard, who was 15 at the time, the episode also starred James Best, who played the titular Noon — a prisoner who is being transported by Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness).