The Tragic Story of Howard McNear, Floyd the Barber on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’

When you think of The Andy Griffith Show, your mind probably instantly conjure up images of Andy, Barney Fife and Opie. However, the show’s strength was in its vast group of supporting characters, including Howard McNear‘s Floyd the Barber. McNear’s portrayal of the character helped to bring life to Mayberry, but things weren’t always so easy for him: the actor suffered from a massive stroke during the show’s run that left him paralyzed on his left side, but Griffith fought hard to bring him back after a year of recovery.