I can't find a news link to the article, but several usenet groups have reported that Actor/Director Howard Morris passed away.
Howard Morris had to be one of the funniest character actors ever. His most famous was Ernest T Bass from the Andy Griffith Show.
Actor and director Howard Morris has died at age 85.
Howard appeared with the Three Stooges in STAR SPANGLED SALESMAN
(1968), directed by Norman Maurer. Mr. Morris directed WHO'S MINDING
THE MINT? (1967), which was produced by Norman Maurer and featured Emil
Sitka and Jeffrey Maurer in cameo roles. He also directed WITH SIX YOU
GET EGGROLL (1968); originally Joe Besser was a member of the cast, but
at costar Brian Keith's insistence, Howard had the unfortunate task of
recasting Joe's role (with Vic Tayback).
Howard Morris is probably best-known as Ernest T. Bass on THE ANDY
GRIFFITH SHOW. Regardless, he considered his career highlight to be
the years he spent working on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS and CAESAR'S HOUR,
with Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Nanette Fabray, Mel Brooks,
Larry Gelbart, and more. Over seven years, Howard was hilarious in one
comic skit after another... "This Is Your Story," "The German General,"
"The Bavarian Clock," and scores more.
Mr. Morris was also a long-time member of the television animation
voice-actor community, working for Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and King
Features. Among his long list of animation roles are Jughead on THE
ARCHIES, Atom Ant, Beetle Bailey, and various characters on THE
FLINTSTONES and THE JETSONS. Morris was always a very busy character
actor in television too. A close friend of Mel Brooks, Howard
costarred in Brooks' Hitchcock spoof HIGH ANXIETY (1977) as Professor
Lilloman.
In the 1960s, Howard moved into directing, mostly for television, but
also film. Highlights include GET SMART (pilot episode), BEWITCHED,
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, GOMER PYLE USMC and
HOGAN'S HEROES. He also directed Jackie Gleason in DON'T DRINK THE
WATER (1969).
Any Fans of the Andy Griffith Show...Ernest T.Bass dies
by El Kabong 11 Replies latest jw friends
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El Kabong
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blondie
I loved that guy.
Frank Gorshin died too; saw his last appearance on CSI.
I'm getting old.
Blondie
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SallySue
Oh, I loved that character. Thanks for the info...
All the good ones are going....
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Golden Girl
So sorry to hear that...
I still watch the reruns...
I like shows that you don't have to be afraid to watch. Always leave you with a good feeling..
Snoozy....
ps..I also heard that the guy that does the voice of Fred Flintstone died. He must have been sick for a while because I noticed some time back that "Fred" just didn't sound like the same "Fred"..(His voice is different.)
I think he must have been replaced some time back.
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blondie
I like shows that you don't have to be afraid to watch. Always leave you with a good feeling..
That's so true.
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El Kabong
I also love the old TV comedies. (as well as the old radio shows). Good clean humor. They did a lot of true comedy back then and didn't have to resort to cursing or shock to get a laugh.
I was a little too young for Your Show of Shows, but I've seen some of them recently on TV. Now, there was some funny stuff. -
TresHappy
Howard Morris's official website said he passed away on May 21. Howard Morris only played Ernest T. Bass 5 times, but his character was so funny. My favorite one is when Andy and Barney try to teach him manners...hilarious. Howard Morris also directed some episodes of Andy Griffith and once appeared as another character, a tv repairman.
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El Kabong
He only played Ernest T. five times? Wow! I didn't know that. But, I guess that makes sense.
I too loved the ep. when Andy and Barney tried to teach him manners.
"How dooo youuu dooo Mrs. Wiiileeey". "I ain't no creeethurrr".
What a great character that was. -
integ
Always leave you with a good feeling..
You mean you had a "good feeling" after watching a psychopathic vandal who throws bricks into peoples windows, or a hopelessly depressed alcoholic (Otis Campbell) spend time in jail??????? That gives you a good feeling????.....Yeah me too.
Integ.
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TresHappy
He appeared only once in the colored episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. The colored episodes were from 1965-1968, after Don Knotts left to make movies. That is when to me, Andy's show jumped the shark. It was never the same after they left. Goober was OK, but Howard, ugh...