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10 actors who appeared in both Mayberry and M*A*S*H
Over 7,000 miles apart, you could spot some familiar faces.
Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution/CBS Television Distribution
They are two of the greatest sitcoms — no, TV shows — ever made. They made us laugh and they made us cry. Who could forget Gomer, Klinger, Opie, Radar, Bee, and Hot Lips? Of course, we are talking about The Andy Griffith Show and M*A*S*H.
Mayberry may lie (approximately) 7,019 miles away from the 4077th, but the two shows shared some familiar faces.
Let's take a look at some actors who popped up on both series.
1. Ron Howard
Well, "Ronny," as he was billed back then. The 18-year-old broke away from the stereotype of Opie in M*A*S*H's first season, thanks to his touching performance as an underaged Marine in "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet."
2. Hope Summers
Summers is best known as Aunt Bee's longtime bestie Clara Edwards. She also turns up in a key supporting role in "The Trial of Henry Blake," a season-two M*A*S*H tale written by McLean Stevenson. Blake is charged with treason for giving supplies to a clinic in the North, run by Meg Cratty (Summers).
3. William Christopher
Before he became Father Mulcahy, Christopher was known for his recurring role as another military man, in the Mayberry universe, as Private Lester Hummel on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. And before that, he twice guest-starred on The Andy Griffith Show in its color years, most notably as the title character in "A New Doctor in Town."
4. Arlene Golonka
Mayberry folks know her as Millie — and, well, Millie. She played both Millie Swanson, key love interest to Sam on Mayberry R.F.D., and Millie Swanson, Howard's squeeze in The Andy Griffith Show. In an early episode of M*A*S*H, "Edwina," both Hawkeye and Trapper vie for the cot comfort of Lieutenant Edwina Ferguson, a nurse played by Golonka.
5. George Lindsey
Goober! Yep, the feller who played Gomer's cousin became a surgeon. Lindsey played Roy DuPree, a doctor from the 8063rd MASH unit, who comes to help the 4077th in "Temporary Duty."
6. Bernard Fox
The British actor made memorable appearances in both shows, as Malcolm Merriweather and Major Ross. Though he was in just three Andy Griffith episodes and one single M*A*S*H ("Tea and Empathy") it feels like he was a recurring character. Fox just made an impression and lit up episodes.
7. Keye Luke
Luke's legendary career spanned more than half a century. He was Kato in The Green Hornet films in the 1940s, and the regular Lee Chan in the Charlie Chan movies (he also voices Charlie Chan in cartoons). Seventies TV fans know and love him as Master Po on Kung Fu. The Chinese-born actor was a Hollywood go-to for Asian roles. Perhaps his role of Charlie Lee in "Aunt Bee's Restaurant" was a nod to his Lee Chan character in Charlie Chan flicks. M*A*S*H cast him three times, in "Patent 4077," "A Night at Rosie's," and "Death Takes a Holiday."
8. Buck Young
The character actor typically found himself playing soldiers and lawmen. Young's credits list is littered with "Lt." and "Deputy" and "Cpl." and "Sergeant." He was Deputy Joe Watson in "Goober Takes a Car Apart." He later pestered the other Pyle, when he became Sergeant Whipple on Gomer Pyle. He turned up a few times on M*A*S*H, in both "Dear Dad" and "Dear Mildred."
9. Yuki Shimoda
Barney Fife was not a man to be trifled with. He took judo. His instructor was one Mr. Izamoto, portrayed by Yuki Shimoda. The California native of Japanese descent is best known for his made-for-TV internment drama Farewell to Manzanar. He thrice appeared on M*A*S*H, first in regal uniform in "The Price," seen here. His role of Key Yong Lu in "Oh, How We Danced" would be his penultimate screen performance.
10. Robert F. Simon
In "Opie's Drugstore Job," the growing boy gets a gig working at the local soda fountain. His boss is Mr. Crawford, played by Simon. The mustache might have disguised the fact he was also Gen. Maynard M. Mitchell on M*A*S*H, a character who first appeared in "The Trial of Herny Blake," alongside Hope Summers!
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80 Comments
Most blurbs don't extend to the bottom of the Image. Can we get the credits moved to the bottom of the image?
I suppose I feel better after writing this out, but I still have a strong "tilting at windmills" feeling about this.
I wonder if producer actor/writet/director Gene Reynolds had anything to do with giving actors work and breaking in new talent? MASH / GOMER / HOGANS / ANDY G / ??
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031394/
