Otis Campbell

Last updated
Otis Campbell
The Andy Griffith Show character
Otis Campbell.jpg
Otis Campbell portrayed by Hal Smith
First appearance
  • "The Manhunt"
  • The Andy Griffith Show
  • October 10, 1960 (1960-10-10)
Last appearance
Portrayed by Hal Smith
In-universe information
OccupationTown drunk
Family
  • Ralph Campbell (brother)
  • Verlaine Campbell (sister-in-law)
SpouseRita Campbell
Relatives
  • Uncle Nat
  • Nathan Tibbs
  • Charley Foley [1] : 71 

Otis Campbell is the fictional "town drunk" in Mayberry on the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Otis was played by Hal Smith and made frequent appearances on the show from 1960 to 1967 but stopped appearing toward the end of the series because of concerns raised by the sponsors over the portrayal of excessive drinking.

Contents

Character overview

Otis works as a glue dipper in a furniture factory Monday through Friday and drinks all weekend. [1] : 72  After a binge, Otis will usually lock himself in the town jail until he is sober. He has a key to the front door of the courthouse and the cell keys are hung on a nail near the cells (presumably, to accommodate Otis). The lack of crime in Mayberry and the laid-back attitude of the Sheriff's department easily accommodate Otis' drinking habit. On one occasion Otis brings a suit to the jail on Friday before his binge so that he can change into the suit for church on Sunday without going home first. Otis often lets himself in jail on the same day that a dignitary or a superior of Sheriff Andy Taylor is arriving at the courthouse, much to the chagrin of the sheriff or Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts). Typically, Otis admits himself to jail without being arrested. In Season 1 episode “Bringing Up Opie,” Otis is arrested for drunkenness and given the option of paying a $2 fine or spending 24 hours in jail. Otis opts for jail saying he “wouldn’t waste two dollars on somethin’ that didn’t have a cork in it.”

In the episode "The Case of the Punch in the Nose", it is revealed that Otis was first arrested for drunkenness on September 23, 1941, at 2 p.m. (a Tuesday) but was released because it was "his first offense." [1] : 37 

A common joke on the show was to have Otis see something bizarre or unexpected while he was inebriated that was actually present, but which he would assume to be a drunken hallucination. Once, Sheriff Taylor locked a dynamite-laden goat in a padded jail cell to prevent an explosion. Predictably, Otis stumbled in after a night of drinking, and let himself into the same cell, only to find the mattress nailed to the wall (curiously, along with the blanket). Otis attempted to climb into the bed anyway, and naturally fell on the floor. Believing the peculiarity to be a result of his intoxication, he exclaimed, "First time I ever fell off a bed onto the wall." [2] : 117 

On the Danny Thomas Show episode that was the pilot for The Andy Griffith Show, Andy had deputized another town drunk, Will Hoople, so that Will could arrest himself every time he got drunk. In the episode "Deputy Otis", Otis was temporarily deputized when it was learned that his family thought he worked in the sheriff's office because of his use of their stationery. During that time Otis became agitated with Barney's dictatorial style and Barney was especially concerned about having the town drunk made a deputy.

An episode in Season 1 reveals Otis is the descendant of local Revolutionary War hero, Nathan Tibbs. The Women's Historical Society want to award Otis an honorary plaque, which causes Barney and the mayor to worry about Otis' condition at the upcoming ceremony; and, they pressure Andy to find a substitute. Otis, however, appears sober, clean-shaven and in a suit. He humbly gives the award to the town stating that he cannot take credit for "just being born." Also in this episode viewers are introduced to Otis' wife, Rita. [1] : 71 

In episode "Deputy Otis," the season 2 finale, [3] it is revealed that Otis has a brother named Ralph (Stanley Adams), who is the town drunk in another community. Ralph and his wife Verlaine visit Mayberry on their way to Memphis. [1] : 70-71 

In the Season 1 episode, "Bringing Up Opie," Aunt Bee is concerned with Opie's frequent trips to visit Andy at the jail because of the nature of Andy's work. This includes Otis' presence. Near the end of the episode, Opie is allowed to conditionally return if Otis is not there. Opie, then 7, responds "You mean when he's had a snootful?"

In the Season 2 episode “Aunt Bee the Warden,” Otis serves his jail time at Andy’s home due to both cells being occupied by moonshiners. Aunt Bee supervises Otis and works him to exhaustion with various chores, causing him to long for the jail.

In the Season 4 episode, "Hot Rod Otis", Otis buys a car which concerns Barney who stakes Otis out for a possible DUI. When Otis emerges from a party drunk, Andy and Barney intervene and trick Otis into believing he died while driving drunk. Otis reveals he had already sold his car. [2] : 292-294 

Only twice was Otis arrested for something other than drunkenness. In the episode "Ellie For Council," Otis is jailed for assault — during a fight with Rita, Otis tries to hit her with a leg of lamb, misses, and hits his mother-in-law in the mouth (much to his delight). In "Barney and the Governor", while already in the jail for drinking, Otis spikes the courthouse's water cooler with whisky, causing Barney and Mayor Roy Stoner to get inadvertently drunk. This, as Andy says in the epilogue of the episode, is a "serious offense" in a dry county like Mayberry, and Otis has to serve a lengthier sentence than usual.

Toward the end of the series, Andy mentioned that Otis is now doing his drinking in Mt. Pilot. [1] : 71 

In the 1986 television movie Return to Mayberry, it is revealed that Otis is now completely sober and employed as the town's ice-cream man, driving a van.

Smith appeared as town drunk Calver Weems in the Don Knotts comedy The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), playing essentially a second version of Otis.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Town drunk</span> Stock character; male in a small town who is drunk more often than sober

The town drunk is a stock character in Anglo-Saxon culture, almost always male, who is drunk more often than exhibiting sobriety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney Gumble</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise

Barnard "Barney" Gumble is a recurring character in the American animated TV series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".

<i>The Andy Griffith Show</i> American sitcom TV series (1960–1968)

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color.

Mayberry is a fictional community that was the setting for two popular American television sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971); Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television film titled Return to Mayberry. The town is also frequently mentioned in the spin-off program Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and is seen when Pyle returns to visit his home town. Mayberry is said to be based on Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Mount Airy is also known as Mayberry and called by both names by its residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Knotts</span> American actor and comedian (1924–2006)

Jesse Donald Knotts was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He also played Ralph Furley on the sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984. He starred in multiple comedic films, including leading roles in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966). In 2004, TV Guide ranked him number 27 on its "50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time" list.

<i>Return to Mayberry</i> 1986 American television romantic comedy film

Return to Mayberry is a 1986 American made-for-television romantic comedy film based on the 1960s sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D.. The film premiered on April 13, 1986, on NBC, and was the highest-rated television film of 1986. Sixteen of the original cast members reunited and reprised their roles for the film and its success could have led to additional Mayberry programs, but Griffith was committed to Matlock for the 1986–87 season.

<i>Mayberry R.F.D.</i> American TV sitcom series (1968–1971)

Mayberry R.F.D. is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of The Andy Griffith Show. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters returned for the sequel series, which ran for three seasons on the CBS Television Network from 1968 to 1971.

Gomer Pyle is a fictional character played by Jim Nabors and introduced in the middle of the third season of The Andy Griffith Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal Smith (actor)</span> American actor (1916–1994)

Harold John Smith was an American actor. He is credited in over 300 film and television productions, and was best known for his role as Otis Campbell, the town drunk on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and for voicing Owl and Winnie the Pooh in the first four original Winnie the Pooh shorts and later Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons, Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore and in the television series, Welcome to Pooh Corner and The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. He also did a cameo in The Apartment as a drunken Santa Claus. Hal played the voice of Goliath the dog in the Davey and Goliath TV series which aired from 1961-1965

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney Fife</span> Fictional character

Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show, portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow-paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North Carolina. He appeared in the first five seasons (1960–65) as a main character, and, after leaving the show towards the end of season five, made a few guest appearances in the following three color seasons (1965–68). He also appeared in the first episode of the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971), and in the 1986 reunion television film Return to Mayberry. Additionally, Barney appeared in the Joey Bishop Show episode "Joey's Hideaway Cabin", and, unnamed, in the first episode of The New Andy Griffith Show.

Andy Taylor (<i>The Andy Griffith Show</i>) Sheriff of the fictional town Mayberry, from the show "The Andy Griffith Show"

Sheriff Andrew Jackson "Andy" Taylor is the lead character on The Andy Griffith Show, an American sitcom which aired on CBS, (1960–1968). He also appears in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. episode "Opie Joins the Marines," five episodes of Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971), and the reunion television film Return to Mayberry (1986). He made a cameo appearance in the USMC episode "Gomer Goes Home." The character made his initial appearance in an episode of The Danny Thomas Show entitled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith." In the CBS special The Andy Griffith - Don Knotts - Jim Nabors Show (1965), Andy and Barney are featured in a musical sketch about their friendship and recreate some classic moments between the characters. Andy Griffith, as Sheriff Taylor, also has a brief comedy cameo in Rowan and Martin at the Movies (1969), a PSA short subject promoting the purchase of U.S. Savings Bonds. Griffith appeared with costar Ron Howard in character as Andy and Opie Taylor in a 2008 commercial for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. Andy Taylor appeared in all 249 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and was played by comedian, musician, and actor Andy Griffith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aunt Bee</span> Fictional TV character

Aunt Bee is a fictional character from the 1960 American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show played by Frances Bavier. The character migrated to the spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971) when The Andy Griffith Show ended its run in 1968, and remained for two years. Though she was the aunt of Sheriff Andy Taylor, virtually every character in Mayberry, even those in her age bracket such as Floyd and Emmett, called her "Aunt Bee".

"Days of Wine and D'oh'ses" is the eighteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 9, 2000. In the episode, Barney realizes how much of a pathetic drunk he is after watching his birthday party video and decides to give up alcohol forever, which upsets his friend Homer. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa work together to take a memorable photo for a new phone book cover contest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Peterson</span> American television actress (1941–2022)

Margaret Ann Peterson was an American actress and singer. She was best known for playing Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show. She also played the character of Doris in the episode "A Girl for Goober" (1968).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Crump</span> Fictional character on the American television program The Andy Griffith Show

Helen Crump is a fictional dramatic character on the American television program The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968). Helen was a schoolteacher and became main character Sheriff Andy Taylor's girlfriend, and eventually, wife. Helen first appears in the third-season episode "Andy Discovers America" (1963). She also appeared in spinoff program Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971), as well as the reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry (1986). Helen was portrayed by Aneta Corsaut.

The Darlings are a fictional family of musically inclined hillbillies in the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.

Ernest T. Bass is a fictional character on the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. He was played by Howard Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fun Girls</span> Fictional recurring characters on The Andy Griffith Show

The Fun Girls are fictional recurring characters on The Andy Griffith Show, an American TV sitcom from the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelma Lou</span> Fictional character

Thelma Lou, or Thel by boyfriend Barney Fife, is a character on the American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). The character appeared in 26 episodes, starting with the first-season episode, "Cyrano Andy". Thelma Lou was portrayed by Betty Lynn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Prince (singer)</span> American singer

John Trevathian Upchurch Jr., professionally known as Jack Prince, was a singer and an occasional actor who incorporated his mother's maiden name into his professional name of Prince. He performed in Broadway plays, sang in nightclubs, and was a regular on a 1955 television variety show. Prince is best remembered for playing Ben Sewell and Rafe Hollister on The Andy Griffith Show.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beck, Ken; Clark, Jim (1985). The Andy Griffith Show Book - From Miracle Salve to Kerosene Cucumbers: the Complete Guide to One of Television's Best-loved Shows. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN   0-312-03654-X . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Brower, Neal (1998). Mayberry 101: Behind the Scenes of a TV Classic. John Blair Publisher. ISBN   0-8958-7218-8 . Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Deputy Otis (TAGS Episode)". Mayberry Historical Society. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

Hal Smith at IMDb

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.