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Andy Griffith’s Makeup Artist Inspired Many Stories In The Series

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Lee Greenway and Andy Griffith became fast friends. Lee was the makeup artist on the set of The Andy Griffith Show. Turns out that Lee and Andy had a lot in common and by swapping stories, some of Lee’s real-life experiences inspired the show.

Lee grew up in a small town in North Carolina and could relate to the town of Mayberry, portrayed in the series. One particular story that inspired the writers was a time when Lee found a drunk relative trying to ride a cow!

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Makeup artist Lee Greenway inspired some episodes of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, from left: James Arness, make-up artist Lee Greenway, Billy Curtis, on-set, 1951 / Everett Collection

Do you remember the episode called “The Rehabilitation of Otis” where Otis rides a cow while drunk? Turns out that was a true story. Lee said, “I had an uncle who got half lit-up or more once and came home on a mule. He went back out, put a saddle on a cow, and rode away. We got in the old T-Model and found him lying in the road with the cow standing over him.”

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RELATED: ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Cast Then And Now 2021

ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, Hal Smith, Andy Griffith, in the Season 5 episode, ‘The Rehabilitation of Otis,’ January 18, 1965 / Everett Collection

That’s crazy! Even after the show ended, Lee and Andy stayed friends for many years. Lee went on to become a very famed makeup artist working in movies. He was behind the makeup worn by James Arness in The Thing From Another World.

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, from left: Don Knotts, Jim Nabors, Andy Griffith, 1964, (1960-1968). ph: Richard R. Hewett / TV Guide / Courtesy Everett Collection

Can you believe some of the crazy stories on The Andy Griffith Show were inspired by real life?

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