Career
In 1966, Andy Griffith hired Dodson for the Howard Sprague role, having previously seen him in Broadway"s Hughie. Dodson also portrayed insurance agent Editor Jenkins in the Lost and Foundation episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Dodson also appeared in episodes of My Friend Flicka, The Virginian, Maude, Barney Miller, Welcome Back Kotter, Archie Bunker"s Place, Newhart, Mr.
Belvedere, Matlock, Mama"s Family, and Saint Elsewhere.
Dodson appeared as an airplane passenger caught up in a murder plot in a 1973 episode of Hawaii 5-0. In 1967, Dodson appeared in the episode "A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord" of National Broadcasting Company"s The Road West, which aired opposite The Andy Griffith Show.
Dodson also appeared in two Sam Peckinpah films, The Getaway and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. He also had a small role in the 1974 film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, which starred Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges.
In the late 1970s, he had a recurring role as Mickey Malph, Ralph Malph"s optometrist dad on Happy Days.
In 1979-1980/season 6 of Barney Miller, he was in the episode "Guns". He appeared again on Barney Miller (in the two-part episode "Homicide" in Season 7). In 1985, Dodson returned to Broadway in the revival of You Can"t Take lieutenant with You.
The actor reprised Howard Sprague in the 1986 National Broadcasting Company-television movie Return to Mayberry, as well as in a 1990 episode of lieutenant"s Garry Shandling"s Show, "The Day Howard Moved In".
He died in Los Angeles, California, from heart failure, aged 63.
