The Versatile Howard Morris
4 min readJul 6, 2024
Actor Howard Morris only made five appearances as Ernest T. Bass on the Andy Griffith Show, but the impressions from the character have endured for well over a half-century. Andy Griffith Show fan clubs everywhere feature nostalgic looks at those five episodes, and many fans can recite every line that “Ernest T. Bass” ever spoke.
Morris was amazed at the impact his portrayal of Bass had on fans. It is somewhat ironic that with his life’s accomplishments, this single role has become his legacy.
Here are some interesting facts about the amazing Howard Morris you may not have known.
Morris actually had parts on eight episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. In addition to the five appearances as Bass, he played George, the TV repairman, in a fifth-season episode. Later that same season, he supplied the voices of Leonard Blush and a radio announcer.
Morris also directed eight episodes of the Andy Griffith Show in its fifth season.
He provided the voice of the koala for Qantas Airlines commercials in the 1970s
Morris directed feature films, with Who’s Minding the Mint (starring Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Bob Denver, and Walter Brennan), With Six You Get Eggroll (Staring Doris Day, Brian Keith, George Carlin, and Alice Ghostley), and Don’t Drink the Water (Starring Jackie Gleason and Estelle Parsons) as his credits.
Morris directed numerous television episodes for Trapper John, M.D., The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Love, American Style, Hogan’s Heroes, Bewitched, Get Smart, and The Patty Duke Show, among others.
During WWII, Morris spent his time in service, entertaining troops. He was Carl Reiner’s Sergeant, and the two performed together. Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink) and comedian Buddy Hackett were also members of the same unit.
In the 1970s, Morris provided the voice for Mayor McCheese in McDonald’s commercials and directed several.
He appeared in two Mel Brooks films, High Anxiety (Professor Lilloman) and History of the World Part I (Court Spokesman). Morris and Brooks knew each other from his Show of Shows days with Sid Caesar. They were friends for over fifty years.
He had a small role in Splash, with Tom Hanks and John Candy
Morris provided voices for a large number of animated series, including several versions of Archie shows, Beetle Bailey, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Atom Ant,
Morris was married and divorced five times.
At his funeral in 2005, Carl Reiner was one of the eulogists.
A sketch involving Morris from Sid Caesar’s Show of Shows, a parody of “This Is Your Life,” is considered by many to be the funniest sketch in television history. The eleven-minute routine featured Morris, Carl Reiner, and Caesar. Broadcast live, the extended laughter from the audience delayed the show’s continuation. Conan O’Brien cited this sketch as a reason he got into comedy. Comedian Billy Crystal cited the routine as a significant influence.
Early in his career, Morris was primarily a Shakespearean actor.
His first significant film role was in 1963's The Nutty Professor.
When Morris’s Dad passed away, Howard went to New York’s East River to scatter his ashes. A strong wind blew the ashes back on him and his new suit. Later in life, when a reporter asked him what he considered his father’s final resting place, Morris replied, “I’d say Grand Cleaners on Park Avenue.”
Morris won a Clio for directing commercials
Morris’s mother played the organ in silent movie theaters.
Morris was appreciative of his audience’s love for Ernest T. He once said of his role, “I can put on my old blue jeans, ragged shirt, and vest, walk into any hotel lobby in the South, and get a standing ovation. I don’t even have to say anything.”
Morris said of his character Ernest T. Bass in a 2001 interview, “I’ve always loved him. He’s a wonderful guy.”
