<P> Floyd the Barber was the slow - paced , somewhat absent - minded barber in the series ' fictional town of Mayberry . He was first seen in episode # 12 , `` Stranger in Town , '' played by actor Walter Baldwin . Baldwin established the running gag of Floyd 's inability to trim sideburns evenly , which continued throughout the run of the series . Baldwin portrayed Floyd for just one episode . From 1961 on , the role was played by Howard McNear , the actor most commonly associated with the role . In McNear 's first appearance as Floyd , the character 's last name was `` Colby '' ; thereafter the character was always `` Floyd Lawson '' . </P>
<P> Floyd the Barber was the slow - paced , somewhat absent - minded barber in the series ' fictional town of Mayberry . He was first seen in episode # 12 , `` Stranger in Town , '' played by actor Walter Baldwin . Baldwin established the running gag of Floyd 's inability to trim sideburns evenly , which continued throughout the run of the series . Baldwin portrayed Floyd for just one episode . From 1961 on , the role was played by Howard McNear , the actor most commonly associated with the role . In McNear 's first appearance as Floyd , the character 's last name was `` Colby '' ; thereafter the character was always `` Floyd Lawson '' . </P>
who played the original floyd the barber on the andy griffith show
who played the original floyd the barber on the andy griffith show
Walter Baldwin
Walter Baldwin