Keith Thibodeaux, who appeared with Dennis Rush on The Andy Griffith Show as children, shared a heartfelt Facebook post after Rush died May 9. Rush was 74, had been diagnosed with leukemia in April, and was remembered as a longtime friend and kind presence at
When Keith Thibodeaux checked his Facebook on Thursday, he didn’t expect the message about Dennis Rush. The former child actor, who later became known as Richard Keith, wrote that the news of his old buddy’s death felt shocking.
Thibodeaux said he “just got word that my old buddy Dennis Rush, a fine actor and a great friend passed away,” adding, “What a shock.” Rush died on May 9. He was 74.
Their connection goes back to childhood TV. Both men appeared on “The Andy Griffith Show” as kids, playing friends of Opie Taylor, famously portrayed by a young Ron Howard. Thibodeaux starred in 13 episodes between 1962 and 1966, while Rush appeared in eight between 1963 and 1965.
In Thibodeaux’s post, he pointed to the illness behind Rush’s final chapter. He said Rush was diagnosed with leukemia in April.
“He was with us as one of Opie‘s buddies. He’s the one sitting down,” Thibodeaux said, sharing a production still from “The Andy Griffith Show” on Facebook. He also described how their last meetings unfolded: “I will miss him at the Andy Griffith festivals as we had so many stories to tell.”
Thibodeaux added that he was “glad” he could pray with Rush last month at one of the festivals after Rush learned about the leukemia diagnosis. “Mayberry has lost a great citizen and a great friend!” he wrote.
Rush’s screen credits extended beyond “The Andy Griffith Show.” Born in 1951, he appeared in multiple series during the late 1950s and 1960s as a child actor, including seven episodes of “Wagon Train,” three episodes of “Laramie,” and one episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
The Andy Griffith Museum also shared its own remembrance on Facebook.. In a tribute posted Thursday. the museum said: “Dennis was an absolute joy to be around and one of the sweetest men you could ever meet.. It was always a pleasure to welcome him to Mayberry Days. where he shared smiles. stories. hugs and kindness with fans from all over the world.”
Dennis Rush Keith Thibodeaux Richard Keith The Andy Griffith Show Opie Taylor Ron Howard Mayberry Days Andy Griffith Museum leukemia Wagon Train Laramie Alfred Hitchcock Presents