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Howard Terbell McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. McNear is best remembered as Floyd Lawson, the barber in The Andy Griffith Show and as Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961). McNear was born in Los Angeles, California to Luzetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNear. He worked as a theatical actor as early as 1930, and worked in radio from the late 1930s, distinguishing himself in the 1937–1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police as ace operator Clint Barlow. McNear could be... MORE

Howard Terbell McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American film, television and radio character actor. McNear is best remembered as Floyd Lawson, the barber in The Andy Griffith Show and as Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961). McNear was born in Los Angeles, California to Luzetta M. Spencer and Franklin E. McNear. He worked as a theatical actor as early as 1930, and worked in radio from the late 1930s, distinguishing himself in the 1937–1940 radio serial Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police as ace operator Clint Barlow. McNear could be effective in such authoritative roles, but he gravitated more toward character roles, often comic. He enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps on November 17, 1942 during World War II. He created the role of Doc Charles Adams in CBS Radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961). McNear was under contract to CBS for many years and was featured in many of the network's radio and TV programs. From 1955 to 1960 he appeared frequently, in various quirky roles, in the popular radio detective series Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. He guest starred in the Thanksgiving Day episode, November 26, 1959, of NBC's The Ford Show, LESS