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 initially 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 (four episodes), 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, he appeared in the episode "Guns". He appeared again on Barney Miller in the two-part episode "Homicide" in season 7.
Dodson appeared in all 24 episodes of the CBS romantic sitcom All's Fair during the 1976-77 season. Set in Washington, D.C., Dodson played Wayne Joplin, a slightly bumbling Democratic senator from an unspecified rural state. The show lasted just one season.
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 the role of 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 and death He died in Los Angeles, California, from heart failure, aged 63, on September 16, 1994.
Dodson's widow, art director Mary Dodson, younger sister of actor Fritz Weaver, died on February 15, 2016.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Workman (uncredited) 1 Episode1965 Hazel Grouchy "Open House" lingerer (uncredited) 1 Episode1965 Peyton Place Al Pearson 1 Episode1965 The Wackiest Ship in the Army Commander Judd 1 Episode1966 Munster, Go Home! Second Ship Steward Uncredited 1966 The Fugitive Lieutenant 1 Episode1966 The Virginian Henry Brodie 1 Episode1966-68 The Andy Griffith Show Howard Sprague 43 episodes1967 The Road West Jack Hanson 1 Episode1968-71 Mayberry R.F.D. Howard Sprague 71 episodes1969 Angel in My Pocket Norman Gresham Movie1971 Room 222 Mr. Casey 1 Episode1972 Emergency! George 1 Episode1972 The Doris Day Show Henry Thurston 1 Episode1972 The Getaway Harold Clinton Movie1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show Holly 1 Episode1973 Hawaii Five-O Will Rowan 1 Episode1973 Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Howland Movie1974 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Vault Manager Movie1975 Adams of Eagle Lake Doc Russell 2 episodes1975 Barney Miller Mr. Franklin 1 Episode1975 The Manhunter Judge Corman 1 Episode1976 Maude Floyd Hathaway 1 Episode1976 The Nancy Walker Show Ed Greenburger 1 Episode1976 The Practice Dr. Gardner 1 Episode1976-77 All's Fair Senator Wayne Joplin 24 episodes1976-80 Happy Days Dr. Mickey Malph 3 episodes 1977 CPO Sharkey Dr. Savage 1 Episode1977 Maude Rev. Harper 1 Episode1977 Walkin' Walter Wendell Henderson 1977 Welcome Back, Kotter Mr. Hansen 1 Episode1978 A.E.S. Hudson Street Coody 1 Episode1978 Carter Country Ludlow 1 Episode1978 In the Beginning Msgr. Francis X. Barlow 9 episodes1978 Police Story Osburn Parker 1 Episode1978 Snavely Mr. Bishop TV movie1979 13 Queens Boulevard Mr. Sloan 1 Episode1979-80 Sesame Street Man in Letter U Cartoon Voice1979-83 One Day at a Time Mr. Reed / Bernie 2 episodes1980 Archie Bunker's Place Tom 1 Episode1980 Barney Miller Henry St. Martin / Mr. Vogel 3 episodes1980 Benson Major 1 Episode1980 Lou Grant Walter Parrott 1 Episode1980 Mork & Mindy Ricky 1 Episode1980 Phyl & Mikhy Edgar 'Truck' Morley 11 episodes1981 Broadway on Showtime Charlie Hughes 1 Episode1981 Quincy M.E. Mr. Barswell 1 Episode1982 Benson Mac McFadden 1 Episode1982 Million Dollar Infield Chuck TV movie1982 Newhart Mr. Shaver 1 Episode1983 Something Wicked This Way Comes Dr. Douglas Movie1984 American Playhouse F. Edward Hebert / Charlie Hughes 2 episodes1984 Gimme a Break! Principal Smythe 1 Episode1984 Great Performances Paul Sycamore 1 Episode1984-88 St. Elsewhere Judge Farnham 12 episodes1985 Cagney & Lacey Bill Carstairs 1 Episode 1986 Benson Senator Chapman 1 Episode1986 Mama's Family Gus 1 Episode1986 Return to Mayberry Howard Sprague TV movie1986-89 Mr. Belvedere Carl Putnam 4 episodes1987 L.A. Law Bradford Fredericks 1987 Night Court Uncredited1987 The New Leave It to Beaver Dr. Harold Warren 1988 Duet Walter Johnson 1 Episode1989 Just the Ten of Us Burt 2 episodes1989 Matlock William Austin 1 Episode1990 Growing Pains Judge Herman 1 Episode1990 It's Garry Shandling's Show Howard Sprague 1 Episode1991 A Climate for Killing Sam Moorehouse 1992-93 Homefront Mr. Melon 12 episodes
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