Jack Dodson

Jack Dodson
Dodson as Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show
Born	John S. Dodson May 16, 1931(1931-05-16) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 16, 1994 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1960-1994

Jack Dodson (May 16, 1931 - September 16, 1994) Born John S. Dodson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was an American television actor best remembered for the character Howard Sprague in The Andy Griffith Show and its spin-off Mayberry R.F.D. From 1959 until his death in 1994, Dodson was married to television actress Mary Dodson.

Andy Griffith hired Dodson for the Howard Sprague role after seeing him on Broadway in 1964's, Hughie. Dodson also appeared in episodes of My Friend Flicka, Maude, Barney Miller, Archie Bunker's Place, Newhart, Matlock, Mama's Family, and St. Elsewhere. He also had a recurring role as Ralph Malph's eye doctor dad on Happy Days. A guest appearance on Barney Miller (in the two-part episode "Homicide," Season 7) had Dodson in a Howard Sprague-like role as a mild mannered fellow who happened to be a vicious murderer. In 1967, he appeared in the episode "A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord" of NBC's The Road West, which aired opposite The Andy Griffith Show. Dodson also appeared on the Mama's Family episode "Steal One, Pearl Two".

In addition to his television work, Dodson also appeared in two films directed by Sam Peckinpah, The Getaway and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

In 1985, Dodson returned to Broadway in the revival of You Can't Take It With You. In real life, the actor was a fan of boxing, and liked camping. He died in Los Angeles, California from heart failure, aged 63.

External links

• Jack Dodson at the Internet Movie Database
• Jack Dodson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Jack Dodson at Find a Grave

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