- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAndy Samuel Griffith
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- 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 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.
- IMDb mini biography by: Roger Burns <rogerburns@pobox.com>
- SpousesCindi Knight(April 2, 1983 - July 3, 2012) (his death)Solica Casuto(June 11, 1975 - 1981) (divorced)Barbara Griffith(August 26, 1949 - October 16, 1972) (divorced, 2 children)
- Children
- ParentsGeneva Nunn
- Commonly played acoustic guitar, banjo and sang folk or gospel songs
- Most all of his characters have a folksy, friendly personality
- Often recounted classic stories and histories with a folksy point of view. These included: Romeo and Juliet, Cleopatra, and Christopher Colombus discovering America
- Gruff gregarious voice with slow southern drawl
- Frequently wore gray suits or blazers on Matlock (1986).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Met Dick Van Dyke in 1954, in New York City. They stayed friends for over 55 years.
- Suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and was unable to walk for seven months (1983).
- [on his off-camera relationship with Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee] There was just something about me she did not like.
- [How he valued Don Knotts as an actor/best friend]: I loved Don. There was no one like him.
- [For making Chapel Hill, which is where he went to college, proud of him]: I am proud of my connections to Carolina and pleased to know that some results from a lifetime of work on television, film, stage and recordings will have a permanent home in Chapel Hill.
- I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have tried to walk a Christian life, ... And now that I'm getting older, I realized that I'm walking even closer with my God.
- I still play that guitar. It's a Martin D-18 with a clear pick guard. I've played that guitar on and off my TV shows for nearly 50 years.
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