Howard Jerome "Howie" Morris

 Howard Jerome "Howie" Morris (September 4, 1919 – May 21, 2005)

Morris was an actor, voice actor and director who was best known for his role in The Andy Griffith Show as Ernest T. Bass. He came to prominence in appearances on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows (a live sketch comedy television series appearing weekly in the United States, from 1950 to 1954). Morris appeared twice in 1957 in episodes of the short-lived NBC comedy/variety show The Polly Bergen Show. Although Morris was a classically trained Shakespearean actor, he is best remembered for playing the wily and over the top "mountain man" character Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show. Also, he played George, the TV mechanic in the episode: "Andy and Helen have their Day" on the Andy Griffith show. He had lampooned southern accents while in the army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He starred in one of the more comical early hour-long Twilight Zone episodes, "I Dream of Genie". While Morris continued to make himself available for voice and sound effect roles, he also began a new career in voice directing. Among the projects he directed are Police Academy, Richie Rich, Bionic Six, Goin' Coconuts, Pole Position, Galaxy High, The Snorks, The Mighty Orbots, Rose Petal Place, The Dogfather, Dragon's Lair, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, and Turbo Teen. Morris also directed Doris Day in her final film With Six You Get Eggroll in 1968. Other films he directed were Don't Drink the Water and Who's Minding the Mint?.

On May 21, 2005, Morris was found unconscious by his two divorced wives, Mary Helen McGowan and Dolores A. Wylie. Morris was rushed in an ambulance to the hospital, but died on the way. After an autopsy was performed, the doctor discovered that the 85-year-old had been suffering from heart disease and pneumonia. He is interred at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, CA.