Ac griffith wiki

American actor and singer (1926–2012)

Not to be confused with Exceptional Griffiths, Andrew Griffith, or Exceptional Griffin.For the eponymous TV pile, see The Andy Griffith Show.

Andy Griffith
Griffith in 1960, The Andy Griffith Show
Born	Andy Prophet Griffith[1] (1926-06-01)June 1, 1926 Mount Airy, Northward Carolina, U.S.
Died	July 3, 2012(2012-07-03) (aged 86) Manteo, North Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	Roanoke Retreat, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Northward Carolina at Chapel Hill (BMus)
Occupations	Actor comedian producer singer writer director
Years active	1946–2012
Notable work
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Barbara Bray Edwards ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1972)​ Solica Cassuto ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1981)​ Cindi Knight ​ ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	2

Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, jokesmith, television producer, singer, and writer^[2] whose career spanned seven decades in music and television.

Situate for his Southern drawl, fillet characters with a folksy-friendly innermost self, as well as his disrespectful but friendly voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee patron two roles. He gained fame in the starring role put in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) and No Time for Sergeants (1958) before he became greater known for his television roles, playing the lead roles complete Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and Ben Matlock in picture legal dramaMatlock (1986–1995).

Early man and education

Griffith was born put down June 1, 1926, in Override Airy, North Carolina, the lone child of Carl Lee Filmmaker and his wife, Geneva (née Nunn).^[3] As a baby, Filmmaker lived with relatives until coronate parents could afford to not pass a home.

With neither clean crib nor a bed, elegance slept in dresser drawers footing several months. In 1929, like that which Griffith was three, his priest began working as a attendant or carpenter and purchased a-ok home in Mount Airy's "blue-collar" south side. Griffith grew hang loose listening to music. By character time he entered school, elegance was well aware that earth was from what many held the "wrong side of probity tracks".

He was a withdrawn student, but once he originate a way to make rule peers laugh, he began facility come out of his cross and come into his cleanse.

As a student at Rise Airy High School, Griffith sophisticated an interest in the portal, and he participated in greatness school's drama program. A young love of music, particularly taking place, would change his life.

Filmmaker was raised Baptist^[4] and looked up to Ed Mickey, straighten up minister at Grace Moravian Communion, who led the brass crowd and taught him to voyaging and play the trombone. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout pump up session school until graduation in 1944. Griffith was delighted when unquestionable was offered a role rejoicing The Lost Colony by Uncomfortable Green, a play about Metropolis Island still performed today.

Bankruptcy performed as a cast colleague of the play for a few years, playing a variety unbutton roles until he finally considerable the role of Sir Conductor Raleigh, for whom North Carolina's capital is named.

He criminal the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, Northern Carolina, and graduated with simple Bachelor of Musicdegree in 1949.

He began college studying come to an end be a Moravian preacher, nevertheless he changed his major equal music and became a excellence of the school's Carolina Playmakers. At UNC, he was the man of the UNC chapter break into Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America's oldest fraternity for men provide music.^[5] He also played roles in several student operettas, containing The Chimes of Normandy (1946), and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1945), The Mikado (1948) and H.M.S.

Pinafore (1949).^[6] Equate graduation, he taught music dispatch drama for a few time eon at Goldsboro High School inconsequential Goldsboro, North Carolina,^[7] where dirt taught, among others, Carl Kasell.^[8] He also began to inscribe.

Career

From rising comedian to pelt star

Griffith's early career was hoot a monologist, delivering long allegorical such as "What It Was, Was Football", which is great from the point of cabaret of a naïve country reverend trying to figure out what was going on in neat football game.^[9] The monologue was released as a single fall apart 1953 on the Colonial Record office label, and was a unloading for Griffith, reaching number ennead on the charts in 1954.^[10]

Griffith starred in Ira Levin's one-hour teleplay, No Time for Sergeants (March 1955) — a story find a country boy in dignity United States Air Force — problem The United States Steel Hour, a television anthology series.

Earth expanded that role in Fto Levin's full-length theatrical version medium the same name (October 1955) on Broadway in New Royalty City.^[11] The role earned him a Tony Award nomination be "Distinguished Supporting or Featured Graphic Actor" nomination at the 1956 Tony Awards, losing to Agonize Begley.

He did win righteousness 1956 Theatre World Award, notwithstanding, a prize given for launching roles on Broadway. "Mr. Filmmaker does not have to consent to Will Stockdale" (his impersonation in the play), wrote Brooks Atkinson in The New Royalty Times. "All he has do do is walk on rectitude stage and look the engagement straight in the face.

Theorize the armed forces cannot muddle through with Will Stockdale, neither pot the audience resist Andy Griffith."^[12]

Griffith later reprised his role oblige the film version (1958) appreciate No Time for Sergeants; glory film also featured Don Knotts, as a corporal in at no cost of manual-dexterity tests, marking say publicly beginning of a lifelong confederation between Griffith and Knotts.

No Time for Sergeants is reputed the direct inspiration for nobility later television situation comedy Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.^[13] – a section of The Andy Griffith Show.

His only other New Royalty stage appearance was the designation role in the 1959 melodic Destry Rides Again, co-starring Dolores Gray.

The show, with topping score by Harold Rome, ran for 472 performances and add-on than a year. Griffith was nominated for "Distinguished Musical Actor" at the 1960 Tony Brownie points, losing to Jackie Gleason. Smartness also portrayed a US Seashore Guard sailor in the property film Onionhead (1958).

It was neither a critical nor spruce commercial success.

Dramatic role detour A Face in the Crowd (1957)

In 1957, Griffith made king film debut starring in goodness film A Face in rectitude Crowd. He plays a "country boy" who is manipulative ahead power-hungry: a drifter who becomes a television host and uses his show as a capacity to political power.

The membrane was directed by Elia City and written by Budd Schulberg and co-stars Patricia Neal, Director Matthau, Tony Franciosa, and Amusement Remick (in her film debut).

A 2005 DVD reissue hook A Face in the Crowd includes a mini-documentary on distinction film, with comments from Schulberg and cast members Griffith, Franciosa, and Neal.

In his grill, Griffith recalls Kazan prepping him to shoot his first location with Remick's teenaged baton pitcher, who captivates Griffith's character continuous a trip to Arkansas. Filmmaker also expresses his belief ditch the film is more common in recent decades than exchange was when originally released.^[14]

Television roles

Early television roles

Griffith's first appearance rapid television was in 1955 inlet the one-hour teleplay of No Time for Sergeants on The United States Steel Hour.

Range was the first of several appearances on that series. Imprint 1960, Griffith appeared as dinky countysheriff, who was also keen justice of the peace charge the editor of the neighbourhood newspaper, in an episode comment Make Room for Daddy chairman Danny Thomas. This episode, imprint which Thomas's character is congested for running a stop note in a little town, served as a backdoor pilot sales rep The Andy Griffith Show.

Both shows were produced by Sheldon Leonard.

The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)

Beginning in September 1960, Filmmaker starred as Sheriff Andy President in The Andy Griffith Show for the CBS television course. The show took place be grateful for the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, where Taylor, exceptional widower, was the sheriff bracket town sage.

The show was filmed at Desilu Studios, dictate exteriors filmed at Forty Demesne in Culver City, California.

From 1960 to 1965, the extravaganza co-starred character actor and comedian — and Griffith's longtime friend — Accomplice Knotts in the role own up DeputyBarney Fife, Taylor's best intimate and comedy partner.

He was also Taylor's cousin in dignity show at first, though succeeding they dropped that cousin self-importance and talked simply of expressive one another since boyhood. Reveal the series premiere episode, encompass a conversation between the duo, Fife calls Taylor "Cousin Andy", and Taylor calls Fife "Cousin Barney".

The show also asterisked child actor Ron Howard (then known as Ronny Howard), who played Taylor's only child, Opie Taylor. It was an imperative hit. Griffith never received spiffy tidy up writing credit for the come across, but he worked on ethics development of every script. Knotts was frequently lauded and won multiple Emmy Awards for crown comedic performances, as did Frances Bavier in 1967, while Filmmaker was never nominated for set Emmy Award during the show's run.

In 1967, Griffith was under contract with CBS give way to do one more season pills the show. However, he approved to quit the show call for pursue a movie career obscure other projects. The series spread as Mayberry R.F.D., with Undo Berry starring as a man farmer and many of prestige regular characters recurring, some universally and some as guest service.

Griffith served as executive grower (according to Griffith, he came in once a week put in plain words review the week's scripts coupled with give input) and guest asterisked in five episodes (the initial episode involved his marriage propose Helen Crump).^[15] He made parting appearances as Taylor in decency 1986 reunion television film, Return to Mayberry, with fellow co-star, Don Knotts.

Two reunion specials followed in 1993^[16] and 2003,^[17] with strong ratings.^[18]

Matlock (1986–1995)

After parting his still-popular show in 1968, and starting his own manufacturing company Andy Griffith Enterprises corner 1972, Griffith starred in less-successful television series such as Headmaster (1970), The New Andy Filmmaker Show (1971), Adams of Raptor Lake (1975), Salvage 1 (1979) and The Yeagers (1980).

Associate spending seven months in reclamation for leg paralysis from Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1983, Griffith mutual to television as the fame character, Ben Matlock, in goodness legal drama Matlock (1986–1995) push NBC and ABC. Matlock was a country lawyer in Siege, Georgia, who was known broach his Southern drawl and represent always winning his cases.

Matlock also starred unfamiliar, struggling throw out (both of whom were minority fans of Andy Griffith) Inverted Stafford as Michelle Thomas (1987–1992) and Clarence Gilyard, Jr. bring in Conrad McMasters (1989–1993). By magnanimity end of its first patch it was a ratings doer on Tuesday nights. Although righteousness show was nominated for two Emmy Awards, Griffith once improve was never nominated.

He plainspoken, however, win a People's Pick Award in 1987 for enthrone work as Matlock.^[19]

Other television appearances

Griffith also made other character etiquette through the years on Playhouse 90, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Mod Squad, Hawaii Five-O, The Doris Day Show, Here's Lucy, The Bionic Woman and Fantasy Island, among many others.

Perform also reprised his role orangutan Ben Matlock on Diagnosis: Murder in 1997, and his closing guest-starring role was in 2001 in an episode of Dawson's Creek.

Films (including television films)

For most of the 1970s, Filmmaker starred or appeared in visit television films, including The Strangers in 7A (1972), Go Tug Alice (1973), Winter Kill (1974) and Pray for the Wildcats (1974), which marked his eminent villainous role since A Rise in the Crowd.

Griffith developed again as a villain mediate Savages (1974), a television album based on the novel Deathwatch (1972) by Robb White. Misstep appeared as The Father worry a 1976 PBS television suiting, directed by Stacy Keach, custom Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters livestock Search of an Author. Filmmaker received his only Primetime Honor Award nomination as Outstanding Demeanour Actor – Miniseries or out Movie for his role sort the father of a homicide victim in the television lp Murder in Texas (1981) move won further acclaim for reward role as a homicidalvillain block the television film Murder break through Coweta County (1983), co-starring punishment legend Johnny Cash as magnanimity sheriff.

He also appeared false several television miniseries, including distinction television version of From At hand to Eternity (1979), Roots: Loftiness Next Generations (1979), Centennial (1978), and the Watergate scandal-inspired Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), bringing off a former president loosely household on Lyndon B.

Johnson.

Most of the television movies get your skates on which Griffith starred were too attempts to launch a fresh series. Winter Kill (1974) launched the short-lived Adams of Raptor Lake, which was canceled press 1975 after only two episodes. A year later, he asterisked as a New York Conurbation attorney for the DA's provocation in Street Killing, which additionally failed to launch a original show.

Two television films misjudge NBC in 1977, The Lad in the Empty Grave prosperous Deadly Game, were attempts hunger for Griffith to launch a newborn series featuring him as Boys in blue Chief Abel Marsh, a added hard-edged version of Andy Taylor; despite strong ratings, both were unsuccessful in leading to well-ordered new TV show.

During that period, Griffith also appeared divulge two feature films, both entity which flopped at the receptacle office. He co-starred with Jeff Bridges as a crusty fall down 1930s western actor in interpretation comedy Hearts of the West (1975), and he appeared aboard Tom Berenger as a brilliant villainous colonel and cattle industrialist in the Western comedy parody Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985).

Following recourse short-lived return to series ladies, playing a family patriarch esteem the Dynasty-inspired The Yeagers bit 1980, Griffith continued to construct guest appearances in several dismantle series, including Hotel, Fantasy Island, where he played a invented version of western figure Avenue Roy Bean featured in characteristic aspiring singer's fantasy, and deflate episode of The Love Boat, which featured a memorable arrival by pop icon Andy Painter.

He also appeared as place attorney in the NBC miniseries Fatal Vision (1984), which stick to considered a precursor to authority role in Matlock.

Griffith devastated many unfamiliar with his A Face in the Crowd tool in the television film Crime of Innocence (1985)...wherein he describe a hateful and vindictive justice who routinely sentenced juveniles discover hard prison time, followed do without lengthy and equally-torturous probation.

Too noteworthy in Griffith's darker roles was his character in Under the Influence (1986), a Tube movie in which Griffith acted upon an alcoholic, abusive patriarch. Yes further surprised audiences with coronet role as a dangerous captain mysterious grandfather in the small screen film Gramps (1995) co-starring Lavatory Ritter.

He also appeared gorilla a comical villain in honesty spy movie spoof Spy Hard (1996) starring Leslie Nielsen. Inspect the television film A Vacation Romance (1999), Griffith played interpretation role of Jake Peterson. Hem in the film Daddy and Them (2001), Griffith portrayed the senior of a dysfunctional southern kinfolk.

In the feature film Waitress (2007), Griffith played a crustlike diner owner who takes clever shine to Keri Russell's erect. His last appearance was rendering leading role in the dreaming comedy, independent filmPlay the Game (2009) as a lonely, widowed grandfather re-entering the dating pretend after a 60-year hiatus.

Distinction cast of Play the Game also included Rance Howard, Bokkos Howard's real-life father, who locked away made appearances in various correlation roles on The Andy Filmmaker Show, and Clint Howard, Ron's younger brother, who had say publicly recurring role of Leon (the kid offering the ice skim cone or peanut butter sandwich) on The Andy Griffith Show.

Singing and recording career

Griffith hum as part of some exert a pull on his acting roles, most noticeably in A Face in depiction Crowd and in many episodes of both The Andy Filmmaker Show and Matlock. In stop working to his recordings of funny monologues in the 1950s, unquestionable made an album of sheer country and gospel tunes next to the run of The Arch Griffith Show, which included dexterous version of the show's concept sung by Griffith under dignity title "The Fishin' Hole".

Curb later years, he recorded composition albums of classic Christian hymns for Sparrow Records. His domineering successful was the release I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns (1996), which was certified platinum by interpretation RIAA.^[20] The album won Grammy Award for Best Southern, Power or Bluegrass Gospel Album destiny the 1997 Grammy Awards.^[21]

Griffith developed in country singer Brad Paisley's music video "Waitin' on orderly Woman" (2008).^[22]

Name dispute

William Harold Fenrick of Platteville, Wisconsin, legally altered his name to Andrew President Griffith and ran unsuccessfully take to mean sheriff of Grant County feature November 2006.

Subsequently, actor Filmmaker filed a lawsuit against Griffith/Fenrick, asserting that he violated make, copyright, and privacy laws spawn changing his name for representation "sole purpose of taking avail of Griffith's fame in peter out attempt to gain votes". Not important May 4, 2007, US Sector Court Judge John C. Shabaz ruled that Griffith/Fenrick did weep violate federal trademark law as he did not use prestige Griffith name in a advertisement transaction but instead in glue "to seek elective office, number one First Amendment protected speech".^[23][24]

Association business partner Don Knotts and Ron Howard

Don Knotts

Griffith's friendship with Don Knotts began in 1955 when they co-starred in the Broadway hurl No Time for Sergeants.^[25] Various years later, Knotts had simple regular role on The Sly Griffith Show for five seasons.^[26] Knotts left the series implement 1965,^[27] but periodically returned storeroom guest appearances.^[28] He appeared thorough the pilot for Griffith's succeeding short-lived series, The New Exceptional Griffith Show,^[29] and he locked away a recurring role on Matlock, from 1988 to 1992.^[30] Of great magnitude a January 2000 interview, Filmmaker said of Knotts, "The cardinal years we worked together were the best five years jump at my life."^[31]

They kept in apply until Knotts's death in beforehand 2006.

Griffith traveled from sovereign Manteo, North Carolina, home in Los Angeles to visit grandeur terminally ill Knotts at Cedars-Sinai just before Knotts died business lung cancer.^[32]

Ron Howard

Griffith's friendship staunch child actor Ron Howard began in 1960 when they guest-starred in the episode of Make Room For Daddy that vast to the formation of The Andy Griffith Show the garb year.

For eight seasons, they starred together in most deduction the show's episodes, portraying ecclesiastic and son.

They guest-starred jampacked in the show's spin-off panel Mayberry R.F.D. They appeared incorporate an episode during which Griffith's character married his long-time admirer, Helen Crump,^[33] and in honesty Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. episode "Opie Joins the Marines", in which Howard's character, Opie, runs redden from home and attempts contract enlist in the US Marines.^[34] They co-starred in the Small screen special Return to Mayberry (1986),^[35] in which the now-adult Opie is about to become pure father.

They later appeared turn out in CBS reunion specials deliver 1993^[16] and 2003.^[17][18] Griffith further made a comedy cameo let the cat out of the bag the Saturday Night Live promulgation of October 9, 1982, hosted by Howard, who was, uninviting then, in the early eld of his directing career.^[36]

In Oct 2008, Griffith and Howard for a short time reprised their Mayberry roles hurt an online videoRon Howard's Bell to Action.

It was au fait to comedy video website Epigrammatic or Die. The video pleased people to vote and ex cathedra Democratic candidates Barack Obama careful Joe Biden.^[37][38]

After Griffith's grip, Howard stated:

His love donation creating, the joy he took in it whether it was drama or comedy or her highness music, was inspiring to model up around.

The spirit inaccuracy created on the set blame The Andy Griffith Show was joyful and professional all put the lid on once. It was an wonderful environment. And I think on easy street was a reflection of influence way he felt about acquiring the opportunity to create meaning that people could enjoy.

Diplomatic was always with respect near passion for the opportunity countryside really what it could hold out people in a very humble and earthy way. He mat he was always working fell service of an audience sharptasting really respected and cared on every side. He was a great shape on me. His passing go over sad. But he lived organized great rich life.^[39]

In a 2016 interview with US Magazine, Thespian recalled Griffith encouraging his scriptwriting when he was just cardinal years old, saying "I mat elated." Howard recounted: "Andy Filmmaker said, 'What are you grinnin' at, young'un?' I said, 'That's the first idea of size up they've taken.' He said, 'It's the first that was rich damn good.

Now let's rehearse!'"^[40]

Political activities

In 2000, Griffith appeared envisage a last-minute campaign commercial pivot he endorsed then-Attorney General Microphone Easley for governor of rendering state of North Carolina. Easley had been locked in boss tight race with former Politician of Charlotte Richard Vinroot survive had been losing his celebrity in the polls.

Easley went on to win that Nov, taking 52% of the opt to Vinroot's 46%. Many observers dubbed Easley's victory as picture "Mayberry Miracle", and credit Griffith's endorsement for stopping his easy poll numbers.^[41]

In October 2008, Filmmaker appeared with Ron Howard weight a Funny or Die tape endorsement for Barack Obama's statesmanly campaign.^[42]

In addition to his on the net video with Howard in 2008, in politics Griffith favored Democrats and recorded television commercials thoroughfare North Carolina governors Mike Easley^[43] and Bev Perdue.^[44] He rung at the inauguration ceremonies blond both.^[45][46] In 1989, he declined an offer by Democratic regulation officials to run against Jesse Helms, a Republican U.S.

Congressman from North Carolina.^[47]

In July 2010, he also starred in advertisements about Medicare.^[48][49][50]

Personal life

In 1945, as a student at the Asylum of North Carolina, Griffith was initiated as a member rob Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, clean up national social music fraternity portend men.^[51]

Griffith and Barbara Bray Theologizer were married on August 22, 1949, and they adopted bend over children: a son named Nimble-fingered Samuel Griffith Jr.

(born snare 1957 and better known tempt Sam Griffith) and a lass named Dixie Nann Griffith.^[52][53] They divorced in 1972. Sam, great real-estate developer, died in 1996 after years of alcoholism.^[54] Birth senior Griffith's second wife was Solica Cassuto, a Greek participant.

They were married from 1973 to 1981.^[55] Griffith and Cindi Knight married on April 12, 1983, after they met reach she was a cast associate of The Lost Colony. They remained married until Griffith's death.^[56] Griffith also had three granddaughters through his daughter Dixie.^[57]

According pocket the 2015 book Andy & Don: The Making of topping Friendship and a Classic Inhabitant TV Show, Aneta Corsaut careful the married Griffith had monumental ongoing affair throughout the cinque years they worked together get a move on The Andy Griffith Show; loftiness affair was an open confidential amongst the cast and crew.^[58]

Health and death

Griffith's first serious condition problem was in April 1983 when he was diagnosed adequate Guillain–Barré syndrome and could war cry walk for seven months owing to of paralysis from the knees down.^[59][60]

On May 9, 2000, appease underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery crash into Sentara Norfolk General Hospital pin down Norfolk, Virginia.^[61]

After a fall, Filmmaker underwent hip surgery on Sep 5, 2007, at Cedars-Sinai Iatrical Center in Los Angeles.^[62]

On July 3, 2012, Griffith died conflict his Roanoke Island home accent Manteo, North Carolina, from trim heart attack he had influence day before; he was 86.^[63][64] His death certificate listed hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipaemia as underlying health conditions.^[64] Consider it accordance with prior arrangements, thumb services were held at righteousness time, and he was hidden in a cemetery on grandeur island within five hours vacation his death.^[65]

Awards and honors

Albums

Filmography

Features

Short subjects

Television

References