Jack Dodson

Jack Dodson
Dodson as Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show
Born	John Smeaton Dodson (1931-05-16)May 16, 1931 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 16, 1994(1994-09-16) (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1960–1994
Spouse	Mary Dodson (1959–1994; his death)

John Smeaton "Jack" Dodson (May 16, 1931 – September 16, 1994) was an American television actor best remembered for the milquetoast character Howard Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show and its spin-off Mayberry R.F.D. From 1959 until his death in 1994, Dodson was married to television art director Mary Dodson.

Career

In 1966, Andy Griffith hired Dodson for the Howard Sprague role, having previously seen him in Broadway's Hughie. Dodson also portrayed insurance agent Ed Jenkins in the "Lost and Found" episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Dodson also appeared in episodes of My Friend Flicka, Hazel, The Virginian, Maude, Barney Miller, Welcome Back Kotter, Archie Bunker's Place, Newhart, Mr. Belvedere, Matlock, Mama's Family, and St. Elsewhere, on which he had a recurring role.

Dodson appeared as an airplane passenger caught up in a murder plot in a 1973 episode of Hawaii Five-0. In 1967, Dodson appeared in the episode "A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord" of NBC's The Road West, which aired opposite The Andy Griffith Show. He played Norman Gresham in the 1969 film Angel in My Pocket, and also appeared in two Sam Peckinpah films, The Getaway (1972) and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973). He also had a small role in the 1974 film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, which starred Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. His other film appearances included roles in Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) and A Climate for Killing (1991).

In the late 1970s, he had a recurring role as Mickey Malph, Ralph Malph's optometrist father on Happy Days.

In 1975 he was in the Barney Miller episode "Horse Thief". In 1979–80, Season 6 of Barney Miller, he appeared in the episode "Guns". He appeared again on Barney Miller in the two-part episode "Homicide" in Season 7.

In January 1979, Dodson played Bernie, a hard of hearing acquaintance of Mark (David Spielberg), in a comic scene set in a restaurant in One Day at a Time.

In 1983, Dodson returned to Broadway in the revival of You Can't Take It with You. The actor reprised Howard Sprague in the 1986 NBC-TV movie Return to Mayberry, as well as in a 1990 episode of It's Garry Shandling's Show, "The Day Howard Moved In".

In 1986, Dodson appeared as Gus, a bus depot attendant, in the Steal One Pearl Two episode of Mama's Family.

Personal life

He died in Los Angeles, California, from heart failure, aged 63.

Dodson's widow, art director Mary Dodson, younger sister of actor Fritz Weaver, died in February 2016.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1966	Munster, Go Home!	Ship Steward	Uncredited
1969	Angel in My Pocket	Norman Gresham
1972	The Getaway	Harold Clinton
1973	Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid	Howland
1974	Thunderbolt and Lightfoot	Vault Manager
1983	Something Wicked This Way Comes	Dr. Douglas
1991	A Climate for Killing	Sam Moorehouse

1992-1997 Homefront (TV Series) Mr. Melon - On the Rebound (1997) ... Mr. Melon - All Good Things (1993) ... Mr. Melon - Like Being There When You're Not (1993) ... Mr. Melon - First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage (1992) ... Mr. Melon - The Traveling Lemo All-Stars (1992) ... Mr. Melon Show all 7 episodes

1991 

A Climate for Killing Sam Moorehouse

1990 

Growing Pains (TV Series) Judge Herman - Carol in Jail (1990) ... Judge Herman (as Jack Dobson)

1990 

It's Garry Shandling's Show. (TV Series) Howard Sprague - The Day Howard Moved In (1990) ... Howard Sprague

1986-1989 

Mr. Belvedere (TV Series) Carl Putnam - A Happy Guy's Christmas (1989) ... Carl Putnam - Stakeout (1989) ... Carl Putnam - Halloween (1986) ... Carl Putnam - Speechless (1986) ... Carl Putnam

1989 

Just the Ten of Us (TV Series) Burt - St. Augie's Blues: Part 2 (1989) ... Burt - St. Augie's Blues: Part 1 (1989) ... Burt

1989 

Matlock (TV Series) William Austin - The Cult (1989) ... William Austin

1984-1988 

St. Elsewhere (TV Series) Judge Farnham - Curtains (1988) ... Judge Farnham - Heaven's Skate (1988) ... Judge Farnham - The Idiot and the Odyssey (1987) ... Judge Farnham - Getting Ahead (1987) ... Judge Farnham - Slice O'Life (1985) ... Judge Farnham Show all 7 episodes

1987 

The New Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Dr. Harold Warren - The Terrible Lizards (1987) ... Dr. Harold Warren

1987 

L.A. Law (TV Series) Bradford Fredericks - The Lung Goodbye (1987) ... Bradford Fredericks

1987 

Night Court (TV Series) - A Day in the Life (1987) ... (uncredited)

1986 

Mama's Family (TV Series) Gus - Steal One Pearl Two (1986) ... Gus

1986 

Return to Mayberry (TV Movie) Howard Sprague

1980-1986 

Benson (TV Series) Senator Chapman / Mac McFadden / Major - Secret Love (1986) ... Senator Chapman - Getting Even (1982) ... Mac McFadden - The Army Wants You (1980) ... Major

1985 

Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) Bill Carstairs - Lottery (1985) ... Bill Carstairs

1984 

Great Performances (TV Series) Paul Sycamore - You Can't Take It with You (1984) ... Paul Sycamore

1984 

American Playhouse (TV Series) F. Edward Hebert / Charlie Hughes - Concealed Enemies, Part I: Suspicion (1984) ... F. Edward Hebert - Hughie (1984) ... Charlie Hughes

1984 

Gimme a Break! (TV Series) Principal Smythe - Class of '84 (1984) ... Principal Smythe

1983 

Something Wicked This Way Comes Dr. Douglas

1979-1983 

One Day at a Time (TV Series) Mr. Reed / Bernie - The Hero (1983) ... Mr. Reed - The Married Man: Part 3 (1979) ... Bernie

1982 

Newhart (TV Series) Mr. Shaver - In the Beginning (1982) ... Mr. Shaver

1982 

Million Dollar Infield (TV Movie) Chuck

1981 

Broadway on Showtime (TV Series) Charlie Hughes - Hughie (1981) ... Charlie Hughes

1981 

Quincy M.E. (TV Series) Mr. Barswell - Sugar and Spice (1981) ... Mr. Barswell

1975-1980 

Barney Miller (TV Series) Henry St. Martin / Mr. Vogel / Mr. Franklin - Homicide: Part 2 (1980) ... Henry St. Martin - Homicide: Part 1 (1980) ... Henry St. Martin - Guns (1980) ... Mr. Vogel - Horse Thief (1975) ... Mr. Franklin

1980 

Phyl & Mikhy (TV Series) Edgar 'Truck' Morley - The Seduction of Mikhail Orlov (1980) ... Edgar 'Truck' Morley - One Big Happy Family (1980) ... Edgar 'Truck' Morley - Mikhy's Visitor (1980) ... Edgar 'Truck' Morley - Phyl's Wedding (1980) ... Edgar 'Truck' Morley - Phyl's Birthday Surprise (1980) ... Edgar 'Truck' Morley Show all 6 episodes

1976-1980 

Happy Days (TV Series) Dr. Mickey Malph - Ralph's Family Problem (1980) ... Dr. Mickey Malph - The Last of the Big Time Malphs (1977) ... Dr. Mickey Malph - A Sight for Sore Eyes (1976) ... Dr. Mickey Malph

1980 

Lou Grant (TV Series) Walter Parrott - Guns (1980) ... Walter Parrott

1980 

Archie Bunker's Place (TV Series) Tom - Archie Fixes Up Fred (1980) ... Tom

1980 

Mork & Mindy (TV Series) Ricky - Mork's Vacation (1980) ... Ricky

1979 

13 Queens Boulevard (TV Series) Mr. Sloan - No Room at the Top (1979) ... Mr. Sloan

1978 

In the Beginning (TV Series) Msgr. Francis X. Barlow - Wedding for Thee (1978) ... Msgr. Francis X. Barlow - Well Healed (1978) ... Msgr. Francis X. Barlow - The Poker Game (1978) ... Msgr. Francis X. Barlow - The Kook (1978) ... Msgr. Francis X. Barlow - Aggie's Love Story (1978) ... Msgr. Francis X. Barlow Show all 9 episodes

1978 

Snavely (TV Movie) Mr. Bishop

1978 

A.E.S. Hudson Street (TV Series) Coody - Dr. No-No (1978) ... Coody

1978 

Police Story (TV Series) Osburn Parker - Day of Terror... Night of Fear (1978) ... Osburn Parker

1978 

Carter Country (TV Series) Ludlow - Roy Pays His Taxes (1978) ... Ludlow

1977 

CPO Sharkey (TV Series) Dr. Savage - Sharkey Flies Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1977) ... Dr. Savage

1977 

Welcome Back, Kotter (TV Series) Mr. Hansen - And Baby Makes Four: Part 3 (1977) ... Mr. Hansen

1976-1977 

Maude (TV Series) Rev. Harper / Floyd Hathaway - Phillip and Sam (1977) ... Rev. Harper - Walter's Stigma (1976) ... Floyd Hathaway

1977 

Walkin' Walter (TV Series) Wendell Henderson

1976-1977 

All's Fair (TV Series) Senator Wayne Joplin - Charley's Father (1977) ... Senator Wayne Joplin - The Jailbirds: Part 2 (1977) ... Senator Wayne Joplin - The Jailbirds: Part 1 (1977) ... Senator Wayne Joplin - The Dick and Vanessa Show (1977) ... Senator Wayne Joplin - Remembrance (1977) ... Senator Wayne Joplin Show all 24 episodes

1976 

The Nancy Walker Show (TV Series) Ed Greenburger - The Homecoming (1976) ... Ed Greenburger

1976 

The Practice (TV Series) Dr. Gardner - The Practice (1976) ... Dr. Gardner

1975 

Adams of Eagle Lake (TV Series) Doc Russell - Treasure Chest Murder (1975) ... Doc Russell - Home Is the Coward (1975) ... Doc Russell

1975 

The Manhunter (TV Series) Judge Corman - Man in a Cage (1975) ... Judge Corman

1974 

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Vault Manager

1973 

Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) Will Rowan - Murder Is a Taxing Affair (1973) ... Will Rowan

1973 

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Howland

1972 

The Getaway Harold Clinton

1972 

Emergency! (TV Series) George - Decision (1972) ... George

1972 

The Doris Day Show (TV Series) Henry Thurston - Doris' House Guest (1972) ... Henry Thurston

1972 

The Jimmy Stewart Show (TV Series) Holly - Paper Work (1972) ... Holly

1971 

Room 222 (TV Series) Mr. Casey - Who Is Benedict Arnold? (1971) ... Mr. Casey

1968-1971 

Mayberry R.F.D. (TV Series) Howard Sprague - Emmett's Invention (1971) ... Howard Sprague - The City Planner (1971) ... Howard Sprague - Goober, the Hero (1971) ... Howard Sprague - Howard, the Swinger (1971) ... Howard Sprague - Alice and the Professor (1971) ... Howard Sprague Show all 66 episodes

1969 

Angel in My Pocket Norman Gresham

1966-1968 

The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) Howard Sprague / Ed Jenkins - Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) ... Howard Sprague - Sam for Town Council (1968) ... Howard Sprague - The Wedding (1968) ... Howard Sprague - Helen's Past (1968) ... Howard Sprague - Aunt Bee's Big Moment (1968) ... Howard Sprague Show all 38 episodes

1967 

The Road West (TV Series) Jack Hanson - A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord (1967) ... Jack Hanson

1966 

Munster, Go Home! Ship Steward (uncredited)

1966 

The Virginian (TV Series) Henry Brodie - The Inchworm's Got No Wings at All (1966) ... Henry Brodie

1966 

The Fugitive (TV Series) Lieutenant - Not with a Whimper (1966) ... Lieutenant

1965 

The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV Series) Commander Judd - ....And Tyler, Too (1965) ... Commander Judd

1965 

Hazel (TV Series) Grouchy open house looker - Hazel Sits It Out (1965) ... Grouchy open house looker (uncredited)

1965 

Peyton Place (TV Series) Al Pearson - Episode #2.21 (1965) ... Al Pearson (uncredited)

1963 

Car 54, Where Are You? (TV Series) the Workman - The Curse of the Snitkins (1963) ... the Workman (uncredited

External links

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