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 ''.
who played the original floyd the barber on the andy griffith show
Walter Baldwin