BIOGRAPHY
Allan Newsome was raised in a small rural Alabama town much like Mayberry. He attended Auburn University and lives with his wife, Jan, and son in Huntsville working as an electrical engineer.
Early in the summer of 1994, Allan met and was able to spend time talking to David Browning (better known as The Mayberry Deputy) at Mule Days held in Gordo, Alabama. “David said he liked the character of Floyd. I started quoting Floyd’s dialogue from The Andy Griffith Show in my ‘Floyd’ voice and he encouraged me to consider doing the character. That’s how my being ‘Floyd’ began.”
Allan’s first public appearance as Floyd came in September of 1994 during Mayberry Days held in Andy Griffith’s hometown, Mt. Airy, NC. “I never expected to do Floyd more than that one time. After my first appearance, I began to receive calls from folks asking ‘Floyd’ to come to their events.”
Allan is honored to have worked with several cast members from The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS) to include Don Knotts (Barney Fife), George Lindsey (Goober Pyle), Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Howard Morris (Ernest T. Bass), Elinor Donahue (Miss Ellie), James Best (Jim Lindsey), Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling), The Dillards (the Darling boys), Ronnie Schell (Duke on Gomer Pyle USMC), Jackie Joseph (Ramona Ankrum), and more.
In the fall of 1997, Allan emceed “An Evening with Don Knotts” in Birmingham, AL as Floyd. There have been other such events, but the first time hosting someone like Don Knotts is an honor he will never forget
Allan has this to say about meeting the stars of The Andy Griffith Show, “The cast members I’ve met are amazing people. Just as nice as you’d expect from Mayberry people. I haven’t been disappointed by any of the wonderful cast and crew I’ve been able to meet.”
Allan recorded an episode of his long running podcast, Two Chairs No Waiting, on the topic of “nostalgia” that was used throughout the 2021 film The Mayberry Effect as narration and appeared as himself as a “superfan” of The Andy Griffith Show.
Allan co-starred in the Mayberry Man movie in 2021 as a Floyd the barber tribute artist named “Allan.” “It was a ‘stretch’ for me to play a guy named ‘Allan” who does ‘Floyd,’ but I believe I pulled it off.”
Allan has appeared as “Floyd the barber” in over 17 states and performed at the Opryland Hotel, churches, theaters, festivals, civic events, and on cruise ships.