Bio: Andy Griffith is best known for his starring roles in two very popular television series, The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and Matlock (1986). Griffith earned a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the 1950s, he became a regular on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) and The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956). He was featured in the Broadway play "No Time for Sergeants" (1955) for which he received a Tony nomination, and he later appeared in the film version. His film debut was in the provocative and prophetic A Face in the Crowd (1957), in which Griffith gave a performance that has been described as stunning.On The Andy Griffith Show (1960), Griffith portrayed a folksy small-town sheriff who shared simple heartfelt wisdom. The series was one of the most popular television series in history. It generated some successful spin-offs, and the original is still seen in reruns to this day. Griffith created his own production company in 1972, which produced several movies and television series. In 1981, he was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal in Murder in Texas (1981). In 1983, Griffith was stricken with Guillain-Barre syndrome, but he recovered after rehabilitation. In 1986, he produced and starred in the very successful television series Matlock (1986). The series spawned numerous television movies as well. When he accepted the People's Choice Award for this series, he said this was his favorite role. Andy Griffith died at age 86 of a heart attack in his home in Dare County, North Carolina on July 3, 2012.
Tivia: He left instructions that after his death there was to be no funeral. He passed away on 7/3/2012 at age 86. Within five hours of his death, he was buried in the Griffith Family Cemetery on the island of Manteo, N.C. NOTE: His longtime colleague, R.G. Armstrong, passed away 24 days later. They were best friends for over 65 years.His two children, Andy Griffith Jr. and Dixie Griffith, were from his first of three wives, Barbara Griffith, as they decided to be parents, by adoption.Before he was a successful actor, he used to sweep the schools, where he got paid $6 a month.Old friend Dick Van Dyke guest-starred on the debut pilot episode of Matlock (1986). Years later, Van Dyke reunited with Griffith on Diagnosis Murder (1993), where Griffith kept his role as Ben Matlock.Had suggested Ron Howard to write some scenes for The Andy Griffith Show (1960).Unlike Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason, HE disliked the idea of using a studio audience for his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show (1960), in feeling it would cause both him and his co-stars unwanted pressure to deliver their one-liners, so the series was filmed almost like a movie , allowing for the actors to have quiet scenes and for the fictional town of Mayberry to feel like a real place.Was known for his involvement with every detail of the script of both shows: The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and Matlock (1986).Suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and was unable to walk for seven months (1983).He played the same character (Sheriff Andy Taylor) on four different series: The Danny Thomas Show (1953), The Andy Griffith Show (1960), Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964) and Mayberry R.F.D. (1968).Met Dick Van Dyke in 1954, in New York City. They stayed friends for over 55 years.He and Don Knotts were best friends from 1955 to Knotts' death on 2/24/2006.Taught English at Goldsboro High School in Goldsboro, N.C., for a period of time.Was the surrogate grandfather to Ron Howard's four children: daughter Bryce Dallas Howard, twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Howard, and son Reed Cross Howard.Griffith's album, "I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns" won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album.Was the only actor to appear in all 249 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (1960).He commuted from his coastal home in North Carolina to Los Angeles every weekend for the first six years while starring in Matlock (1986) on NBC.In 1987, when he accepted the People's Choice Award, he said he was happy it was for Matlock (1986). He said that Matlock (1986) was his favorite character to date.While working in New York, doing the play "Destry Rides Again", he was approached by Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard, for their first choice as the lead role of Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show (1960), as a spin-off of Thomas' The Danny Thomas Show (1953), he accepted the role.Has a long association with ex-The Andy Griffith Show (1960) co-star, Ron Howard, before and after the show's cancellation. Howard guest-starred on an episode of Griffith's short-lived series, Headmaster (1970) in 1970, and he hosted Saturday Night Live (1975) in 1982 when Griffith made a surprise appearance as Andy Taylor.The town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) is based on his hometown Mount Airy, N.C. (Griffith has said that it is based "somewhat" on Mount Airy, but not as much as people think). By the same token, the characters on the show will commonly mention the "sister city" of Mount Pilot. Mount Pilot does exist, but its true name is Pilot Mountain and has the same basic geographical positioning as Mount Airy as Mayberry does to Mount Pilot. The towns in both reality and the series are about 15 miles apart. Both are north of Winston-Salem, N.C., near the North Carolina and Virginia borders.He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6148 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 21, 1976.Although he was proud of A Face in the Crowd (1957), he found the experience of playing such a loathsome character distasteful and wouldn't play another villain until the 1970s.His decision to end Matlock (1986), in 1995 was because he wanted to spend more time with his family. He would reprise his role one more time, with Dick Van Dyke, in a two-part episode of Diagnosis Murder (1993) in 1997.After a fall, he underwent successful hip surgery, on 9/5/2007.His longest and most popular role of Andy Taylor, on The Andy Griffith Show (1960), was ranked at #8 in "TV Guide"'s list of the "50 Gretest TV Dads of All Time" in its 6/20/2004 issue.His son, Andy Griffith Jr., passed away from alcoholism, on January 17, 1996.After his role on Play the Game (2009), he retired from acting at age 83.Recorded a speaking role in Brad Paisley's song, "Waitin' on a Woman", about an older man imparting romantic advice to Brad, and the role for an accompanying music video.Before his parents had purchased a house, he lived with relatives. Without a crib or bed, he slept in drawers for a few months, just a couple of years after he was born.His decision to end The Andy Griffith Show (1960), in 1968, led him to a contract with Universal Studios, where he pursued a movie career.On 5/9/2000, he successfully underwent a quadruple bypass surgery.At Mount Airy High School, he fell in love with performing arts and participated in school plays.Was the only actor to appear in all 195 episodes of Matlock (1986).His mother introduced him to playing the guitar.Survived by his wife, Cindi Knight, of 29 years, and one daughter.Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush on 11/9/2005. Other recipients were Frank Robinson, Muhammad Ali, General Richard Myers, Paul Rusesabagina, Carol Burnett, Aretha Franklin, Vint Cerf and his Internet co-developer Robert Kahn, Jack Nicklaus, Alan Greenspan, and former congressman Gillespie "Sonny" Montgomery.On the longer-running and more popular The Andy Griffith Show (1960), Ron Howard co-starred as his son, "Opie Taylor". Howard's biological mother, Jean Speegle Howard, guest-starred in one episode, The Doctors (1987), of Griffith's second long-running show, Matlock (1986), in 1987.Played the guitar and banjo on both series: The Andy Griffith Show (1960) and Matlock (1986).While attending high school, he looked up Ed Mickey, who was a minister at Grace Moravian Church, and also a musical band leader, in the brass instruments, Ed Mickey taught him how to play the trombone,.Inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum (2007).After Brandon Tartikoff saw him in Fatal Vision (1984), he called Dean Hargrove and Fred Silverman to suggest hiring Griffith for the lead role in Matlock (1986), which was his comeback to television after 18 years.He enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing guitar and banjo, politics, boat rowing, singing, sailing, reading and studying the Bible as well as general reading.Met R.G. Armstrong and future wife Barbara Griffith in "The Carolina Playmakers" at the University of N. Carolina-Chapel Hill, in 1945.After his relocation to Manteo, Roanoke Island, N.C., he met his third and final wife, Cindi Knight, in the play "The Lost Colony".Before he was a successful actor, he was a comedian and a singer.Attended and graduated from Mount Airy High School in Mount Airy, N.C. (1944).Before he was a successful actor, he worked at various nightclubs in New York City, playing music and doing acting.During a 1959 performance of the Broadway musical "Destry Rides Again", in which he starred opposite Dolores Gray, a small fire broke out backstage at the Imperial Theater. Although it was put out within a few minutes without causing any major damage, just enough smoke drifted toward the stage that could have caused have been a panic had not Griffith and Gray continued with the scene as though nothing was happening. For their bravery, they were rewarded by the audience that night with a standing ovation and by the New York City Fire Commissioner with citations for heroism.Griffith passed away on July 3, 2012. Just 24 days after his death, his longtime colleague, actor R.G. Armstrong, passed away. They were best friends for over 65 years.After starring in two unsuccessful series Headmaster (1970) and The New Andy Griffith Show (1971), he returned to working in nightclubs.