{"id":50810,"date":"2026-05-21T10:47:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=50810"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:47:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:47:01","slug":"andy-griffith-show-star-dennis-rush-dies-after-leukemia-battle-co-star-pays-tribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/05\/andy-griffith-show-star-dennis-rush-dies-after-leukemia-battle-co-star-pays-tribute.html","title":{"rendered":"‘Andy Griffith Show’ Star Dennis Rush Dies After Leukemia Battle, Co-Star Pays Tribute"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former child actor Keith Thibodeaux is mourning the death of his longtime friend and fellow The Andy Griffith Show child star Dennis Rush following Rush’s battle with leukemia.<\/p>\n

Thibodeaux, who played Johnny Paul Jason on “The Andy Griffith Show” and Little Ricky on I Love Lucy, shared the emotional news in a social media post last week.<\/p>\n

“I just got word that my old buddy Dennis Rush, a fine actor and a great friend, passed away,” Thibodeaux wrote<\/a> alongside a photo featuring several former cast members. “What a shock.”<\/p>\n

Rush was best known to fans of the beloved sitcom for playing Howie Pruitt, one of Opie Taylor’s close friends in the fictional town of Mayberry. Thibodeaux reflected warmly on their years together, both on and off screen.<\/p>\n

“He was with us as one of Opie’s buddies,” he wrote. “I will miss him at the ANDY GRIFFITH festivals as we had so many stories to tell.”<\/p>\n

The loss became even more personal as Thibodeaux revealed he had recently prayed with Rush after learning of his leukemia diagnosis.<\/p>\n

“I’m just glad that I was able to pray with him last month at one of the festivals when he found out that he was diagnosed with leukemia,” he shared. “Mayberry has lost a great citizen and a great friend!”<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Keith Thibodeaux (@littlerickydrums)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n