Andy Griffith

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Birthday:

1 June 1926, Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA

Birth Name:

Andy Samuel Griffith

Height:

183 cm

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 Toast of the Town (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. Show less «

[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...Show more »

[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. Show less «

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 o...Show more »

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. Show less «

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.

[When he used a televangelist as his model]: I did an impression of Oral Roberts, and near the end, I took Elia Kazan's head in my hands, an...Show more »

[When he used a televangelist as his model]: I did an impression of Oral Roberts, and near the end, I took Elia Kazan's head in my hands, and I healed him, I walked out of that restaurant with the part. Show less «

[on filming a 2-part Matlock (1986) episode in his hometown]: During all the years of the old Griffith show I tried to talk them into filmin...Show more »

[on filming a 2-part Matlock (1986) episode in his hometown]: During all the years of the old Griffith show I tried to talk them into filming something in North Carolina, but they said, 'Why? They already think you're in North Carolina anyway.' Show less «

[on being released from Universal Studios - while being typecast as Andy Taylor]: I wanted to prove that I could play something else, but th...Show more »

[on being released from Universal Studios - while being typecast as Andy Taylor]: I wanted to prove that I could play something else, but there were 249 episodes out there of 'Mayberry,' and it was aired every day. It was hard to escape. Show less «

If you think and feel what you're supposed to think and feel, hard enough, it'll come out through your eyes - and the camera will see it.

[In 1996]: I'll be 70 on June 1. I don't want to make a living - I mean, I do. I really don't have to. But I want to work for my mind and my...Show more »

[In 1996]: I'll be 70 on June 1. I don't want to make a living - I mean, I do. I really don't have to. But I want to work for my mind and my spirit. I know how to do a couple of things, and I can sing a little, and I can act, and I can write a little, so I wanna try that. Show less «

[In 1987]: They saw me as more of a personality than an actor, and I didn't get much work.

[In comparing himself to one of his characters]: I am from a little town in North Carolina. I have chosen to keep one foot in that life and ...Show more »

[In comparing himself to one of his characters]: I am from a little town in North Carolina. I have chosen to keep one foot in that life and my other foot in this life and I've had success with that. This man does the same thing. He is from a little community outside of Atlanta, and he has chosen to keep one foot in that life and the other foot in this life. So far as his being a country lawyer, he's the kind of guy that will let you believe anything you choose to believe as long as it works in his corner. Show less «

[In 1986]: There ain't no way you're going to do an hour show every week and go home to Mayberry.

[on working off-camera on- the set of _"Matlock" (1986)]: I do my best in the mornings. I've also asked to put the grueling courtroom scenes...Show more »

[on working off-camera on- the set of _"Matlock" (1986)]: I do my best in the mornings. I've also asked to put the grueling courtroom scenes at the end of the week's filming, so that I have time to learn all the lines. They have, all but twice - and those two times were nightmares. Learning lines in front of the crew is one of the most difficult things you can do. Show less «

[on comparison his sociable sheriff role to his sociable lawyer role]: I'm not going to retire. I cannot live without comedy. I write a lot ...Show more »

[on comparison his sociable sheriff role to his sociable lawyer role]: I'm not going to retire. I cannot live without comedy. I write a lot on 'Matlock,' too, and I put a lot of comedy in it. Sometimes the writers make Matlock is a very bright man, but he's vain. Show less «

[In 1989]: I always wanted to bring a show here. I thought it would be good for the town and good for the company.

Hell, I'm just not comfortable with it. But isn't this one beautiful piece?

[In 1991]: I can't tell you how surprised I was - until my wife admitted she had torn out the page of the article that had included me. I de...Show more »

[In 1991]: I can't tell you how surprised I was - until my wife admitted she had torn out the page of the article that had included me. I deserve worst dressed - both as Andy Griffith and as the character I play. Away from the set, I only wear Levi's jeans and Lands' End shirts and tennis shoes. And for six seasons on 'Matlock,' I've been wearing the same rumpled gray suit. Show less «

It's the damnedest thing I ever heard of. There are books of all kinds, trading cards, videotapes of the shows. Fan clubs? Oh, there's sever...Show more »

It's the damnedest thing I ever heard of. There are books of all kinds, trading cards, videotapes of the shows. Fan clubs? Oh, there's several of them. They have conventions and things. I can't go; I'm working. But a lot of the others from the old show. But I just can't, while I'm doing this show I can't [find the time to] do anything else. Show less «

People started saying that Mayberry was based on Mount Airy. It sure sounds like it, doesn't it?