Surprising Stories from the Set of The Andy Griffith Show

While starring as Opie Taylor, Ron Howard continued attending regular public school instead of being fully tutored on set. His parents wanted his life to feel as normal as possible despite his success on television.

Balancing school and filming wasn’t always easy, but it helped keep Howard grounded. That normalcy translated on screen, giving Opie a natural, unaffected quality. His performances felt genuine because he really was just a kid, learning and growing up much like Opie did in Mayberry.