Warren Ferguson


Warren Ferguson is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show. Warren Ferguson is portrayed by Jack Burns.

Overview

Warren is Mayberry barber Floyd Lawson's nephew. Warren hails from Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated fourth in his police academy class but proves to be a bungler in Mayberry. Warren serves as deputy of Mayberry under Sheriff Andy Taylor, following the departure of the previous deputy Barney Fife, when actor Don Knotts left the series. Warren is just as impetuous in his role as deputy as his predecessor Barney and is just as bumbling. Many of the episodes Warren appeared in were actually originally written for Barney, however, after Don Knotts' late departure from the show following season 5, some episodes were rewritten for Warren. His most common trademark is his repeated questioning followed by a rapidfire succession of the phrase "Huh?". Warren is a bachelor and a sleepwalker.

First appearance

Warren's first appearance occurs in "The Bazaar". He puts an end to Aunt Bee's bingo games at the Ladies' Bazaar.

Closure

After eleven appearances in the sixth season, he was fired off-screen and never mentioned again; when Andy visits Barney in Raleigh in the season 7 episode "A visit to Barney Fife," Andy mentions Barney's former job "is still open." In these later seasons, Goober Pyle served as a part-time deputy whenever a second police officer was needed. Warren was written out of the show due to his unpopularity with viewers.