How a guest appearance on The Love Boat revived Andy Griffith's television career

Executive producer Aaron Spelling helped Griffith during his time of need.

CBS Television Distribution

There's nothing wrong with being a big-time Hollywood hotshot. But if you're not using your power to help others out in their time of need, you're not nearly as impressive as you could be.

Television producer Aaron Spelling had a large number of television shows under his belt: Charlie's Angels,Dynasty, and 7th Heaven, just to name a few.

But as talented as Spelling was at spotting a television series that was destined for success, he was even better at noticing when a friend was in need.

Watch The Love Boat on MeTV!

Sundays at 5 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

Just a few years ago, that friend was none other than Andy Griffith. Griffith had made a name for himself in the television industry, starring as Sheriff Andy Taylor in the series The Andy Griffith Show.

While the series was wildly popular, Griffith had a difficult time securing another role after the show had wrapped. During an interview with The Press of Atlantic City, Griffith revealed that Spelling helped him out of a tight spot.

"You're not going to get me to say anything bad about Aaron Spelling. He helped me get on my feet after I quit The Andy Griffith Show. I couldn't find a job, and Aaron offered me a role on The Mod Squad."

In fact, when asked whether he owed Spelling his life, Griffith seemed inclined to agree. Spelling had offered Griffith a new breath of life for his career after the actor had a nasty health scare.

"Three years ago, on Mother's Day, I came down with what I thought was the flu," said Griffith. But it was Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological disease that was destroying me. I was in great pain, and I was paralyzed from my knees down for three months. Then, one day, Aaron asked me to do an episode of The Love Boat. I said yes because I had to run in front of the camera. I wanted to prove to Hollywood - and myself - that I wasn't dead."