Howard Morris (September 4, 1919 - May 21, 2005) was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show. ...show more

Howard Morris (September 4, 1919 - May 21, 2005) was an American comic actor and director who was best known for his role as Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.

Life and career

Morris was born to a Jewish family in The Bronx, New York, the son of Elsie and Hugo Morris, a rubber company executive. During World War II he was assigned to a US Army Special Services unit where he was the First Sergeant. Maurice Evans was the company commander and Carl Reiner and Werner Klemperer were soldiers in the unit. Based in Honolulu, the unit entertained American troops throughout the Pacific.

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