Andy Griffith

Date of Birth: June 1, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 3, 2012

Biography

Andy Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer whose career spanned over seven decades. Born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Griffith first gained attention with his monologue “What It Was, Was Football,” a comedic performance that became a best-selling record. He then transitioned to television and film, achieving iconic status with his portrayal of Sheriff Andy Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show,” which aired from 1960 to 1968. The show is still beloved today for its portrayal of small-town American life and its gentle humor. Griffith also starred in the legal drama “Matlock” from 1986 to 1995, where he played a folksy but shrewd defense attorney. Over the years, his versatile talents allowed him to navigate between comedy, drama, and music. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for his gospel album “I Love to Tell the Story – 25 Timeless Hymns.” Griffith passed away on July 3, 2012, at his coastal home in Manteo, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

5 Interesting Facts about Andy Griffith

1. Andy Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

2. He was a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer.

3. “The Andy Griffith Show” was a spin-off from his role on “The Danny Thomas Show.”

4. He earned a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

5. Griffith had a long-lasting friendship with fellow actor Don Knotts, who played Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Andy Griffith

1. “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 realize that I’m walking even closer with my God.”

2. “You know when you’re young you think you can do anything, and then you get older and you think, well, I better not do that.”

3. “I don’t want to make a living—I want to make a life.”

4. “The straight man has the best part. He gets to be in the show and see it, too.”

5. “If I had to live my life over again, I would live it exactly the same way.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Andy Griffith’s net worth was estimated to be around $60 million.

Children

Andy Griffith had two children: a son, Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. (Sam Griffith), who unfortunately passed away in 1996, and an adopted daughter, Dixie Griffith.