Q: Context: Howard Jerome Morris (September 4, 1919 -- May 21, 2005) was an American actor, voice actor and director who was best known for his role in The Andy Griffith Show as Ernest T. Bass.

Question: who was the actor that played ernest t bass?
Let's give stream of consciousness below

To answer the question, consider the following: Howard Jerome Morris (September 4, 1919 -- May 21, 2005) was an American actor, voice actor and director who was best known for his role in The Andy Griffith Show as Ernest T. Bass. So the answer is Howard Jerome Morris.