Dennis Rush, best known for playing Howie Pruitt on The Andy Griffith Show, has died at the age of 74 after recently being diagnosed with leukemia. His friend Keith Thibodeaux confirmed he passed away on the way to the hospital.
Born in Philadelphia in 1951, Rush moved to California as a child and began acting at just four years old after being discovered by James Cagney for the film Man of a Thousand Faces.
Rush became widely loved for his role as one of Opie Taylor’s friends on The Andy Griffith Show, appearing in several episodes between 1963 and 1965. He later appeared in popular shows including Gunsmoke, The Lucy Show, and My Favorite Martian.
Although he left acting before turning 18, Rush stayed connected with fans through reunions and conventions, where he often shared warm memories of working on classic television during its golden era.