1994 Obituary
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Jack Dodson
LesterFester — 12 years ago(December 19, 2013 11:47 AM)
The New York Times, September 21, 1994
Jack Dodson, 63, TV Actor, Is Dead
LOS ANGELES, September 20 (AP) - Jack Dodson an actor best known for his role as Howard Sprague, the County Clerk, on "The Andy Griffith Show" and its offshoot "Mayberry RFD," died on Friday at Encino Tarzana Regional Medical Center. He was 63.
The cause was heart failure, said his daughter, Christina
As Mayberry's County Clerk on the Griffith show, Mr. Dodson played an intellectual in a rural county whose statistical calculations often mystified other characters.
Mr. Dodson was born in Pittsburgh, graduated from Carnegie tax drama department and went tob68 New York to begin a stage career. He acted on Broadway in "Our Town," "You Can't Take It with You" and "Hughie," where Mr. Griffith spotted him.
On television, he made more than 150 guest appearances on shows including "The Fugitive," "Hawaii Five-O," "Newhart," "Barney Miller," "Cagney and Lacey," "St. elsewhere," "Matlock" and "LA Law,"
He also had recurring roles as the father of Ralph Malph on "Happy Days" and as a radio station manager on "HomeFront." He regularly made commercials.
His film credits include "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973), "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" (1974) and "The Getaway" (1972)
In addition to his daughter Christina, he is survived by his wife, Mary, and another daughter, Amy.
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