Ernest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith Show has died at 85
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Ernest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith Show has died at 85
One of the more memorable characters to have a reoccurring role on the series. Sad to hear he died, and season 2 of the series was just released on DVD. I wish Paramount would put together some bonus material for the DVDs before the rest of the cast dies off.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=785175
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=785175
Comic Actor, Director Howard Morris Dies
Howard Morris, Early TV Star Who Went on to Direct Films, Dead at 85
By BOB THOMAS
The Associated Press
May. 24, 2005 - Howard Morris, the wry-faced comic who costarred with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner on the TV classic "Your Show of Shows" before going on to success as a film director, and to fame as poetry-spouting Ernest T. Bass on "The Andy Griffith Show," has died. He was 85.
Morris died Saturday, according to his son, David.
He joined the cast of "Your Show of Shows" a year after it debuted in 1950, often playing the ambitious little guy whose grandiose plans go awry.
The 90-minute show, with scripts written by such luminaries as Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen, was one of the most heralded of television's Golden Era. It won Emmys as best variety show in its first two seasons, during which it also placed in the top 10 in audience ratings.
But as television's audience widened, viewers sought less sophisticated entertainment, and the series was canceled in 1954. Morris then joined Caesar and Reiner in another TV classic, "Caesar's Hour."
After that show ended in 1957, Morris moved to Hollywood where he played comedic characters in such films as "Boys' Night Out" and "40 Pounds of Trouble." He appeared with Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor" and "Way... Way Out" and with Brooks in "High Anxiety" and "History of the World, Part I."
He also acted in sitcoms, perhaps most notably as Ernest T. Bass, his recurring role on "The Andy Griffith Show." Although he appeared in only a handful of episodes, his character remains warmly remembered.
He also played nebbish George P. Hanley on one memorable episode of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "I Dream of Genie." Hanley, hopelessly inept in social situations, is given one wish by a genie that appears after he rubs a lamp. After considering and rejecting numerous options, Hanley's wish is granted he becomes the genie.
Morris eventually moved from acting to directing, and his 1967 feature film debut, "Who's Minding the Mint?" was hailed by Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide as "hilarious fun in the classic comedy tradition."
Some of his other directing credits include the Doris Day-Brian Keith family comedy "With Six You Get Egg Roll," "Don't Drink the Water" with Jackie Gleason, and "Goin' Coconuts" with Donny and Marie Osmond. He also directed the pilot for the classic 1960s TV spy spoof "Get Smart," starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon.
Also adept at doing wacky voices, Morris was placed under contract by Hanna-Barbara Productions in the 1960s and for decades he created voices for such shows as "The Jetsons," "The Flintstones," "The Archie Show," "My Favorite Martians," "Cow and Chicken" and "DuckTales."
Howard Morris, Early TV Star Who Went on to Direct Films, Dead at 85
By BOB THOMAS
The Associated Press
May. 24, 2005 - Howard Morris, the wry-faced comic who costarred with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner on the TV classic "Your Show of Shows" before going on to success as a film director, and to fame as poetry-spouting Ernest T. Bass on "The Andy Griffith Show," has died. He was 85.
Morris died Saturday, according to his son, David.
He joined the cast of "Your Show of Shows" a year after it debuted in 1950, often playing the ambitious little guy whose grandiose plans go awry.
The 90-minute show, with scripts written by such luminaries as Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen, was one of the most heralded of television's Golden Era. It won Emmys as best variety show in its first two seasons, during which it also placed in the top 10 in audience ratings.
But as television's audience widened, viewers sought less sophisticated entertainment, and the series was canceled in 1954. Morris then joined Caesar and Reiner in another TV classic, "Caesar's Hour."
After that show ended in 1957, Morris moved to Hollywood where he played comedic characters in such films as "Boys' Night Out" and "40 Pounds of Trouble." He appeared with Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor" and "Way... Way Out" and with Brooks in "High Anxiety" and "History of the World, Part I."
He also acted in sitcoms, perhaps most notably as Ernest T. Bass, his recurring role on "The Andy Griffith Show." Although he appeared in only a handful of episodes, his character remains warmly remembered.
He also played nebbish George P. Hanley on one memorable episode of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "I Dream of Genie." Hanley, hopelessly inept in social situations, is given one wish by a genie that appears after he rubs a lamp. After considering and rejecting numerous options, Hanley's wish is granted he becomes the genie.
Morris eventually moved from acting to directing, and his 1967 feature film debut, "Who's Minding the Mint?" was hailed by Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide as "hilarious fun in the classic comedy tradition."
Some of his other directing credits include the Doris Day-Brian Keith family comedy "With Six You Get Egg Roll," "Don't Drink the Water" with Jackie Gleason, and "Goin' Coconuts" with Donny and Marie Osmond. He also directed the pilot for the classic 1960s TV spy spoof "Get Smart," starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon.
Also adept at doing wacky voices, Morris was placed under contract by Hanna-Barbara Productions in the 1960s and for decades he created voices for such shows as "The Jetsons," "The Flintstones," "The Archie Show," "My Favorite Martians," "Cow and Chicken" and "DuckTales."
#4
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Wasn't he Wade Duck on Garfield and friends?
Sad, he was probably my favorite recurring character on a TV show. His character only made about five or six appearances, but definitely left and impression and was good enough to make the Return to Mayberry special.
Sad, he was probably my favorite recurring character on a TV show. His character only made about five or six appearances, but definitely left and impression and was good enough to make the Return to Mayberry special.
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That was the funny Dude who threw Bricks on Andy's show right?
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Originally Posted by Giantrobo
That was the funny Dude who threw Bricks on Andy's show right?
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0606593/
#10
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After that show ended in 1957, Morris moved to Hollywood where he played comedic characters in such films as "Boys' Night Out" and "40 Pounds of Trouble." He appeared with Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor" and "Way... Way Out" and with Brooks in "High Anxiety" and "History of the World, Part I."