Table of Contents
Who Was Andy Griffith?
Andy Griffith emerged as a prominent figure in entertainment during the late 1950s, gaining recognition through his work in film, television, and Broadway productions, as well as through his comedic monologue albums. He achieved immense popularity for his portrayal of Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, which aired from 1960 to 1968. Following this iconic role, he starred in the legal drama Matlock and recorded several gospel albums. Griffith passed away on July 3, 2012, in Manteo, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
Early Career
Born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Griffith initially aspired to be an opera singer. His ambitions shifted toward becoming a Moravian preacher, leading him to enroll as a pre-divinity student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1944. While in college, he developed a passion for drama and musical theater, graduating in 1949 with a degree in music. Following his graduation, Griffith taught high school music for three years before embarking on a career as an entertainer with his new wife, Barbara Edwards, a fellow actor from UNC. Together, they crafted a traveling act that featured singing, dancing, and monologues. One of these monologues, titled “What It Was Was Football,” was released commercially in 1953 and became one of the most celebrated comedic monologues of its time.
Griffith made his television debut in 1954 as a guest monologist on The Ed Sullivan Show. That same year, he secured the role of Will Stockdale in the television adaptation of Ira Levin’s play, No Time for Sergeants. The Broadway production in 1955 became a success, earning Griffith a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He reprised his role in the 1958 film adaptation, which received mixed reviews. In 1960, he garnered another Tony nomination, this time for Best Actor in a Musical for Destry Rides Again. Griffith also made his film debut in 1957 in Elia Kazan’s provocative drama, A Face in the Crowd, and regularly appeared with Don Knotts on NBC’s variety series, The Steve Allen Show, from 1959 to 1960.
The Andy Griffith Show
Griffith’s guest appearance as a small-town mayor on the sitcom Make Room for Daddy in 1960 led CBS to grant him his own series, The Andy Griffith Show, where he portrayed the gentle and philosophical Sheriff Andy Taylor. The show was a monumental success, consistently ranking among the most popular sitcoms during its eight-year run. Don Knotts co-starred from 1960 to 1965 as Taylor’s high-strung deputy sheriff, Barney Fife, while the young Ron Howard played Taylor’s son, Opie.
TV Shows
After The Andy Griffith Show concluded in 1968, Griffith appeared in several feature films, including Hearts of the West (1975), which also starred Jeff Bridges. He primarily focused on television, participating in various short-lived series in an attempt to replicate the success of his earlier sitcom, including Headmaster (1970-71) and The New Andy Griffith Show (1972) on CBS, as well as Salvage (1980) on ABC and the Western comedy Best of the West (1981-82). Griffith served as executive producer for Mayberry, R.F.D., the first spinoff of The Andy Griffith Show, which aired from 1968 to 1971.
In 1972, Griffith established a production company, Andy Griffith Enterprises, which produced various projects, including the TV movie Winter Kills (1974), in which Griffith also starred. In 1981, he earned an Emmy nomination for his supporting role in the TV movie Murder in Texas.
Later Years and Death
In 1983, Griffith was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a debilitating muscular disease that left him partially paralyzed for three months. After a rigorous six-month rehabilitation, he made a full recovery and returned to acting. His comeback came in 1986 with the title role in the courtroom drama series Matlock, which aired on NBC from 1986 to 1992 and on ABC from 1993 to 1995. Griffith also served as an executive producer and story supervisor for the show and later reprised his role in a series of successful TV movies. He made a notable appearance as a villain opposite Leslie Nielsen in the James Bond parody Spy Hard in 1996.
Despite the conclusion of The Andy Griffith Show, fan appreciation for the series continued through reruns. In 1986, Griffith reunited with co-stars Knotts and Howard in Return to Mayberry, which became the highest-rated TV movie of that season. He also hosted The Andy Griffith Reunion Special in 1993 and served as an executive producer for both projects.
Griffith’s personal life included two marriages that ended in divorce, the first to Barbara Edwards in 1972 and the second to Solicia in 1981. He married Cindi Knight, a former teacher and actress, in 1983. The couple lived for many years on a 68-acre ranch in Dare County, North Carolina. Griffith had two children with his first wife: Dixie and Sam, a real estate developer who passed away in 1996.
Andy Griffith passed away on July 3, 2012, at the age of 86, at his home in Manteo, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.