Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/S...161201175.html

Former UNC President Bill Friday says Andy Griffith died this morning in Dare County. Friday, who is a close friend of the actor, confirmed that to WITN News.

Friday tells us the 86-year-old actor died at his Dare County home around 7:00 a.m. this morning.

Griffith attended UNC Chapel Hill where he earned a degree in Music. According to IMDb.com, Griffith was a regular on the Ed Sullivan show in the 1950's.

His legacy role, which earned him the title of "America's Favorite Sheriff"on "The Andy Griffith" show, set in fictional Mayberry, put North Carolina on the map in the entertainment industry. The show ran from 1960-1968, propelling a handful of spin-off programs. Griffith also produced and starred in the television series "Matlock."

Griffith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President George W. Bush.

Griffith was born in Mount Airy.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

I just saw this. RIP.

One of his recent roles I really liked was in Waitress.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Damn. Farewell, Ben Matlock. :rip:

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Rip.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Crap. He was one of my favorites. Going to go watch an episode of The Andy Griffith Show and shed a tear now.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

RIP to an American Treasure. Hallmark just happens to have a Matlock marathon planned for the 4th of July. Have to watch an episode or 2.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

It is like having an old friend die.

I watched so many of his shows growing up and enjoyed them all. The laughter and good nature really did help me to have a better days.

Just could not be down after watch The Andy Griffith Show, family show that was funny. I was about Opies age when I first started watching the show and I was being raised by my father only, lots to relate to in the show.

Best wishes to his family and friends. I truly hope to see him in the next life.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Being a North Carolina native myself Andy holds a special place in my heart. Growing up watching the Andy Griffith show was a big part of my childhood. He was a second Dad for legions of people. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.
The world is a little darker today.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

:rip: to a legend.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

A legend. So long, old friend.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Indeed. And living in Wilmington while Matlock was being filmed. RIP Andy, a true legend.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l5pJqLt4bV...y-griffith.jpg

:rip:

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Very sad news. "The Andy Griffith Show" was one of the best sitcoms ever made. He will be missed.

:rip:

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

TV Land will honor the life and work of beloved actor Andy Griffith, who passed away today at the age of 86,
with blocks of programming highlighting his most treasured work, “The Andy Griffith Show.”

On Wednesday, July 4th from 8 am to 1 pm ET/PT and Saturday and Sunday, July 7th and 8th from 11 am to
8 pm ET/PT, TV Land will air some of the most memorable episodes in marathons of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
The TV Land Facebook page will also pay tribute to Andy, celebrating some of his best TV moments.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Andy Griffith,” said Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land.
“His contributions to the entertainment industry and his role as Sheriff Andy Taylor will live forever in the minds and
hearts of generations of television viewers past, present and yet to come. The entire TV Land staff will miss him and
our thoughts go out to his family.”

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...ytheNumbers%29

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

:rip:

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

My mother was inconsolable this morning. This is a woman who has compared incidents in her everyday life to storylines from The Andy Griffith Show (and Matlock, for that matter) as far back as I can remember. She actually made me loathe what is an otherwise sweet and homespun sitcom by playing it non-stop and using it as the moral standard by which our entire family should live by. :lol:

Talked to her today and she told me "I've dreaded this day. It's like my world has ended." My dad even called from work to see how she was taking the news. -ohbfrank-

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Barney is waiting for him at the fishing hole. :(

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Agreed. RIP.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

:up:


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oNxLxTZHKM8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

He and Don Knotts were one of the best comedic duos in TV history. For such a vanilla show, it had some great laughs and great heart

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Agree to all of the sentiments above. The Andy Griffith Show is an American institution - arguably the best TV sitcom (if not TV show period) ever.

RIP, Sheriff Taylor.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Kind of sad, but I first envisioned that scene in The Simpsons when Grampa Simpson was riding in a bus next to the ambulance that was carrying "Matlock" to the hospital since he swiped his pills.

RIP, Andy.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

It just occurred to me that I am now older than Andy Griffith was when he first played Sheriff Andy Taylor.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Me-TV and Me-Too will be airing tributes to Andy starting today (July 4). Of special note, Me-TV will be showing the Andy Griffith Show pilot, which was an episode of Make Room for Daddy. That episode is available on a 50th anniversary 3-disc set, The Best of Mayberry.

http://metvnetwork.com/griffithlocal.php

Griffith also had some dramatic roles (aside from Matlock). Check out A Face in the Crowd and, if you can, the TV Movie, Pray for the Wildcats (which hasn't had a DVD release).

The football routine is from Andy's days as a stand-up comic (the illustrations, by George Woodbridge, from MAD Magazine). It's that country persona that likely got him the lead role in No Time for Sergeants, which probably was the template for Gomer Pyle.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

I concur with "Face in the Crowd" and posted my thoughts on his performance http://www.film-matters.net/2012/07/...-th-crowd.html.

As for his television work, it's a testament to Andy for making such a wonderful show that remains endearing. But, most importantly, Andy was gracious as an actor, allowing many supporting players, like Don Knotts, to steal the limelight and become major movie stars.

As much as I love the show, I wouldn't want to purchase the entire series because I believe the show took a dip after Knotts left. But, the show ended at the number 1 status, nonetheless.

RIP

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

As mouch as I love the Andy Griffith Show, i've never been able to stomach the color episodes. Without Knotts and the addition of Howard, Warren and Emmett, the show went down fast.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Same here. Loved him in Waitress.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

Not only did Andy Griffith never win an Emmy for The Andy Griffith Show or Matlock, he wasn't even nominated for either show! He was nominated in 1981 for a TV movie called Murder in Texas. Meanwhile, Don Knotts won 5 Emmys and Frances Bavier won one.

Like other people here, the last thing I saw him in was Waitress and he was terrific.

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

I haven't seen anyone mention one of my favorite comedies No Time For Sergeants which not only has Andy in the starring role but Don Knotts shows up as well for a short scene too. A prelude to Gomer Pyle, but, in my opinion, much funnier

Re: Andy Griffith dead at 86.
 

We sell DVDs & box sets, and it's surprising to find out how many Andy Griffith fans only know him from the show & Matlock. Many have seen No Time For Sergeants and some of his tv-movies, but very few seem to be aware of A Face in the Crowd.

If you haven't seen AFITC, it's a, biting, cynical look at celebrity (particularly, popular entertainers). It's right up there with Sweet Smell of Success, IMHO. Sharp direction by Elia Kazan...maybe Griffith's "Lonesome Rhoads" character seems a bit broad by today's standards, but there certainly have been lots of outsized personalities who have shot to stardom. I believe the climactic scene was loosely inspired by a similar event from a popular children's tv host. At any rate, it's a must-see with wonderful performances by Patricia Neal, Lee Remick, Walter Matthau, and others...along with, of course, Griffith's sparkling, authentic performance.

Re: The Andy show, I always felt that Griffith never quite recovered from Knott's departure for greener pastures on the big screen. Post-Barney, Sheriff Taylor seemed to take on a grumpy, irritable persona much of the time. He didn't smile as much & never seemed to have as good a time as when Barney was around.

One thing that impressed me when reading books about the show was how much care the production company headed by Griffith took with the prep for the show. Griffith employed top-notch writers & supervised the scripts himself; it seems that really meticulous care was taken to craft the comedy gems that seemed so natural. It seems similar to the "Gunsmoke" production teams that were absolute pros when it came to producing timeless shows of great quality.

The old saying about "comedy is hard" seemed belied by the first five seasons of TAGS. We still quote lines from favorite characters to this day & love the amazing characters (including guest characters such as Ernest T., the Fun Girls from Mt. Pilot, the Darlin's, Otis, etc.) and the many hilarious situations that we still reference on a regular basis.