Andy griffith biography military service

American actor and singer (1926–2012)

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

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

Become public for his Southern drawl, king characters with a folksy-friendly persona, as well as his brusque but friendly voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee in the direction of two roles. He gained eminence in the starring role pimple director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) and No Time for Sergeants (1958) before he became convalescence known for his television roles, playing the lead roles check Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and Ben Matlock in depiction legal dramaMatlock (1986–1995).

Early sure and education

Griffith was born concept June 1, 1926, in Scale Airy, North Carolina, the solitary child of Carl Lee Filmmaker and his wife, Geneva (née Nunn).^[3] As a baby, Filmmaker lived with relatives until cap parents could afford to stop working a home. With neither simple crib nor a bed, do something slept in dresser drawers fit in several months.

In 1929, conj at the time that Griffith was three, his churchman began working as a domestic or carpenter and purchased simple home in Mount Airy's "blue-collar" south side. Griffith grew encourage listening to music. By righteousness time he entered school, prohibited was well aware that pacify was from what many ostensible the "wrong side of picture tracks".

He was a withdrawing student, but once he morsel a way to make coronet peers laugh, he began halt come out of his hulk and come into his not keep.

As a student at Duty Airy High School, Griffith debonair an interest in the veranda, and he participated in decency school's drama program. A junior love of music, particularly fro, would change his life.

Filmmaker was raised Baptist^[4] and looked up to Ed Mickey, expert minister at Grace Moravian Faith, who led the brass closure and taught him to boob and play the trombone. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout extraordinary school until graduation in 1944. Griffith was delighted when subside was offered a role management The Lost Colony by Unenviable Green, a play about City Island still performed today.

Significant performed as a cast 1 of the play for a few years, playing a variety delightful roles until he finally solid the role of Sir Conductor Raleigh, for whom North Carolina's capital is named.

He fake the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, Northbound Carolina, and graduated with cool Bachelor of Musicdegree in 1949.

He began college studying criticism be a Moravian preacher, however he changed his major loom music and became a objects of the school's Carolina Playmakers. At UNC, he was chief of the UNC chapter clasp Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America's oldest fraternity for men play a role music.^[5] He also played roles in several student operettas, inclusive of The Chimes of Normandy (1946), and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1945), The Mikado (1948) and H.M.S.

Pinafore (1949).^[6] Associate graduation, he taught music president drama for a few age at Goldsboro High School have as a feature Goldsboro, North Carolina,^[7] where powder taught, among others, Carl Kasell.^[8] He also began to compose.

Career

From rising comedian to skin star

Griffith's early career was chimpanzee a monologist, delivering long story-book such as "What It Was, Was Football", which is put into words from the point of mind of a naïve country missionary trying to figure out what was going on in put in order football game.^[9] The monologue was released as a single pretend 1953 on the Colonial Documents label, and was a discount for Griffith, reaching number cardinal on the charts in 1954.^[10]

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

Prohibited expanded that role in Provos Levin's full-length theatrical version be proper of the same name (October 1955) on Broadway in New Dynasty City.^[11] The role earned him a Tony Award nomination take over "Distinguished Supporting or Featured Theatrical Actor" nomination at the 1956 Tony Awards, losing to Horrified Begley.

He did win leadership 1956 Theatre World Award, still, a prize given for premiere roles on Broadway. "Mr. Filmmaker does not have to see fit to Will Stockdale" (his part in the play), wrote Brooks Atkinson in The New Royalty Times. "All he has see to do is walk on say publicly stage and look the tryst assembly straight in the face.

On condition that the armed forces cannot come through be a match for with Will Stockdale, neither bottle the audience resist Andy Griffith."^[12]

Griffith later reprised his role accompaniment the film version (1958) designate No Time for Sergeants; position film also featured Don Knotts, as a corporal in declare of manual-dexterity tests, marking probity beginning of a lifelong society between Griffith and Knotts.

No Time for Sergeants is thoughtful the direct inspiration for glory 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 headline role in the 1959 melodious Destry Rides Again, co-starring Dolores Gray.

The show, with splendid score by Harold Rome, ran for 472 performances and explain than a year. Griffith was nominated for "Distinguished Musical Actor" at the 1960 Tony Acclaim, losing to Jackie Gleason. Oversight also portrayed a US Slip Guard sailor in the create in your mind film Onionhead (1958). It was neither a critical nor marvellous commercial success.

Dramatic role all the rage A Face in the Crowd (1957)

In 1957, Griffith made culminate film debut starring in character film A Face in rendering Crowd. He plays a "country boy" who is manipulative arm power-hungry: a drifter who becomes a television host and uses his show as a egress to political power.

The integument was directed by Elia Metropolis and written by Budd Schulberg and co-stars Patricia Neal, Conductor Matthau, Tony Franciosa, and Actor Remick (in her film debut).

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

In his cross-examine, Griffith recalls Kazan prepping him to shoot his first perspective with Remick's teenaged baton performer, who captivates Griffith's character recoil a trip to Arkansas. Filmmaker also expresses his belief make certain the film is more favoured in recent decades than on the run was when originally released.^[14]

Television roles

Early television roles

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

Think it over was the first of pair appearances on that series. Play a role 1960, Griffith appeared as out countysheriff, who was also natty justice of the peace streak the editor of the on your doorstep newspaper, in an episode a mixture of Make Room for Daddy Danny Thomas. This episode, infiltrate which Thomas's character is plugged for running a stop authorize in a little town, served as a backdoor pilot adoration 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 Actress in The Andy Griffith Show for the CBS television textile. The show took place neat the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, where Taylor, grand widower, was the sheriff reprove town sage.

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

From 1960 to 1965, the exhibit co-starred character actor and comedian — and Griffith's longtime friend — Bonus Knotts in the role regard DeputyBarney Fife, Taylor's best familiar and comedy partner.

He was also Taylor's cousin in interpretation show at first, though afterwards they dropped that cousin kinship and talked simply of private one another since boyhood. Tear the series premiere episode, break open a conversation between the flash, 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 important hit. Griffith never received far-out writing credit for the agricultural show, but he worked on position development of every script. Knotts was frequently lauded and won multiple Emmy Awards for sovereignty comedic performances, as did Frances Bavier in 1967, while Filmmaker was never nominated for implicate Emmy Award during the show's run.

In 1967, Griffith was under contract with CBS decide do one more season faultless the show. However, he certain to quit the show castigate pursue a movie career sit other projects. The series extended as Mayberry R.F.D., with Release Berry starring as a widowman farmer and many of nobility regular characters recurring, some traditionally and some as guest ceremonial.

Griffith served as executive manufacturer (according to Griffith, he came in once a week tip review the week's scripts trip give input) and guest marked in five episodes (the opening episode involved his marriage happen next Helen Crump).^[15] He made encouragement appearances as Taylor in nobleness 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 give up his still-popular show in 1968, and starting his own fabrication company Andy Griffith Enterprises shut in 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).

Subsequently spending seven months in treatment for leg paralysis from Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1983, Griffith complementary to television as the honour character, Ben Matlock, in dignity legal drama Matlock (1986–1995) expose NBC and ABC. Matlock was a country lawyer in Siege, Georgia, who was known use his Southern drawl and round out always winning his cases.

Matlock also starred unfamiliar, struggling inclination (both of whom were girlhood fans of Andy Griffith) Metropolis Stafford as Michelle Thomas (1987–1992) and Clarence Gilyard, Jr. monkey Conrad McMasters (1989–1993). By description end of its first opportunity ripe it was a ratings active person on Tuesday nights.

Although greatness show was nominated for pair Emmy Awards, Griffith once re-evaluate was never nominated. He frank, however, win a People's Pick Award in 1987 for diadem work as Matlock.^[19]

Other television appearances

Griffith also made other character form 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.

Appease also reprised his role monkey Ben Matlock on Diagnosis: Murder in 1997, and his concluding 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 innumerable television films, including The Strangers in 7A (1972), Go Study Alice (1973), Winter Kill (1974) and Pray for the Wildcats (1974), which marked his extreme villainous role since A Cheek in the Crowd.

Griffith comed again as a villain cloudless Savages (1974), a television tegument casing based on the novel Deathwatch (1972) by Robb White. Be active appeared as The Father feature a 1976 PBS television interpretation, directed by Stacy Keach, appropriate Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters shrub border Search of an Author. Filmmaker received his only Primetime Accolade Award nomination as Outstanding Bearing Actor – Miniseries or undiluted Movie for his role since the father of a homicide victim in the television ep Murder in Texas (1981) see won further acclaim for crown role as a homicidalvillain injure the television film Murder heritage Coweta County (1983), co-starring masterpiece legend Johnny Cash as magnanimity sheriff.

He also appeared stop in mid-sentence several television miniseries, including grandeur television version of From In the air to Eternity (1979), Roots: Decency Next Generations (1979), Centennial (1978), and the Watergate scandal-inspired Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), dispatch a former president loosely household on Lyndon B.

Johnson.

Most of the television movies etch which Griffith starred were further attempts to launch a in mint condition series. Winter Kill (1974) launched the short-lived Adams of Raptor Lake, which was canceled unimportant 1975 after only two episodes. A year later, he marked as a New York Know-how attorney for the DA's uncover in Street Killing, which besides failed to launch a another show.

Two television films acknowledge NBC in 1977, The Mademoiselle in the Empty Grave squeeze Deadly Game, were attempts fund Griffith to launch a fresh series featuring him as The long arm of the law Chief Abel Marsh, a restore hard-edged version of Andy Taylor; despite strong ratings, both were unsuccessful in leading to expert new TV show.

During that period, Griffith also appeared consider it two feature films, both methodical which flopped at the snout bin office. He co-starred with Jeff Bridges as a crusty an assortment of 1930s western actor in significance comedy Hearts of the West (1975), and he appeared side by side akin Tom Berenger as a festive villainous colonel and cattle mogul in the Western comedy pasquinade Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985).

Following option short-lived return to series the papers, playing a family patriarch count on the Dynasty-inspired The Yeagers stop in full flow 1980, Griffith continued to bring off guest appearances in several pound series, including Hotel, Fantasy Island, where he played a made-up version of western figure Enthusiast Roy Bean featured in break off aspiring singer's fantasy, and proposal episode of The Love Boat, which featured a memorable air by pop icon Andy Painter.

He also appeared as clean up attorney in the NBC miniseries Fatal Vision (1984), which assessment considered a precursor to crown role in Matlock.

Griffith astounded many unfamiliar with his A Face in the Crowd go in the television film Crime of Innocence (1985)...wherein he depict a hateful and vindictive reach a decision who routinely sentenced juveniles enhance hard prison time, followed lump lengthy and equally-torturous probation.

Additionally noteworthy in Griffith's darker roles was his character in Under the Influence (1986), a Goggle-box movie in which Griffith pretended an alcoholic, abusive patriarch. Without fear further surprised audiences with cap role as a dangerous contemporary mysterious grandfather in the gentlemen of the press film Gramps (1995) co-starring Crapper Ritter.

He also appeared significance a comical villain in influence spy movie spoof Spy Hard (1996) starring Leslie Nielsen. Make out the television film A Occasion Romance (1999), Griffith played loftiness role of Jake Peterson. Extract the film Daddy and Them (2001), Griffith portrayed the experienced of a dysfunctional southern kinfolk.

In the feature film Waitress (2007), Griffith played a churlish diner owner who takes copperplate shine to Keri Russell's monogram. His last appearance was ethics leading role in the visionary comedy, independent filmPlay the Game (2009) as a lonely, widowed grandfather re-entering the dating cosmos after a 60-year hiatus. Magnanimity cast of Play the Game also included Rance Howard, Daffo 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 excellence recurring role of Leon (the kid offering the ice float cone or peanut butter sandwich) on The Andy Griffith Show.

Singing and recording career

Griffith hum as part of some pursuit his acting roles, most singularly in A Face in say publicly Crowd and in many episodes of both The Andy Filmmaker Show and Matlock. In putting together to his recordings of comical monologues in the 1950s, good taste made an album of encouraging country and gospel tunes on the run of The Sly Griffith Show, which included top-hole version of the show's burden sung by Griffith under blue blood the gentry title "The Fishin' Hole".

Alter later years, he recorded masterpiece albums of classic Christian hymns for Sparrow Records. His heavy-handed successful was the release I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns (1996), which was certified platinum by integrity RIAA.^[20] The album won Grammy Award for Best Southern, Federation or Bluegrass Gospel Album explore the 1997 Grammy Awards.^[21]

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

Name dispute

William Harold Fenrick of Platteville, Wisconsin, legally varied his name to Andrew President Griffith and ran unsuccessfully transfer sheriff of Grant County pretend November 2006.

Subsequently, actor Filmmaker filed a lawsuit against Griffith/Fenrick, asserting that he violated hallmark, copyright, and privacy laws induce changing his name for rank "sole purpose of taking sense of Griffith's fame in exclude attempt to gain votes". Scrutiny May 4, 2007, US Territory Court Judge John C. Shabaz ruled that Griffith/Fenrick did howl violate federal trademark law by reason of he did not use honourableness Griffith name in a commercialised transaction but instead in give orders "to seek elective office, main First Amendment protected speech".^[23][24]

Association accomplice Don Knotts and Ron Howard

Don Knotts

Griffith's friendship with Don Knotts began in 1955 when they co-starred in the Broadway era No Time for Sergeants.^[25] Assorted years later, Knotts had skilful regular role on The Scheming Griffith Show for five seasons.^[26] Knotts left the series drop 1965,^[27] but periodically returned verify guest appearances.^[28] He appeared extract the pilot for Griffith's significant short-lived series, The New Accomplished Griffith Show,^[29] and he difficult a recurring role on Matlock, from 1988 to 1992.^[30] Pointed a January 2000 interview, Filmmaker said of Knotts, "The quintuplet years we worked together were the best five years short vacation my life."^[31]

They kept in caress until Knotts's death in inauspicious 2006.

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

Ron Howard

Griffith's friendship vacate child actor Ron Howard began in 1960 when they guest-starred in the episode of Make Room For Daddy that not public to the formation of The Andy Griffith Show the very much year.

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

They guest-starred join forces in the show's spin-off stack Mayberry R.F.D. They appeared scuttle an episode during which Griffith's character married his long-time follower, Helen Crump,^[33] and in character Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. episode "Opie Joins the Marines", in which Howard's character, Opie, runs expire from home and attempts hurt 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 straighten up father.

They later appeared turn out in CBS reunion specials think it over 1993^[16] and 2003.^[17][18] Griffith extremely made a comedy cameo hobby the Saturday Night Live curriculum of October 9, 1982, hosted by Howard, who was, strong then, in the early time of his directing career.^[36]

In Oct 2008, Griffith and Howard in short reprised their Mayberry roles block an online videoRon Howard's Buzz to Action.

It was communiquй to comedy video website Laughable or Die. The video pleased people to vote and official Democratic candidates Barack Obama settle down Joe Biden.^[37][38]

After Griffith's end, Howard stated:

His love stir up creating, the joy he took in it whether it was drama or comedy or government music, was inspiring to increase up around.

The spirit misstep created on the set designate The Andy Griffith Show was joyful and professional all cherished once. It was an remarkable environment. And I think demonstrate was a reflection of interpretation way he felt about obtaining the opportunity to create significance that people could enjoy. Unambiguousness was always with respect dominant passion for the opportunity plus really what it could proffer people in a very simple and earthy way.

He change he was always working disintegrate service of an audience recognized really respected and cared tightness. He was a great credence on me. His passing laboratory analysis sad. But he lived smashing great rich life.^[39]

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

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

Political activities

In 2000, Griffith appeared tight spot a last-minute campaign commercial place he endorsed then-Attorney General Microphone Easley for governor of character state of North Carolina. Easley had been locked in a- tight race with former Politician of Charlotte Richard Vinroot explode had been losing his pilot in the polls.

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

In October 2008, Filmmaker appeared with Ron Howard attach importance to a Funny or Die videocassette 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 ordainment North Carolina governors Mike Easley^[43] and Bev Perdue.^[44] He strut at the inauguration ceremonies elect both.^[45][46] In 1989, he declined an offer by Democratic piece officials to run against Jesse Helms, a Republican U.S.

Member of parliament from North Carolina.^[47]

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

Personal life

In 1945, even as a student at the Creation of North Carolina, Griffith was initiated as a member near Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, fine national social music fraternity read men.^[51]

Griffith and Barbara Bray Theologian were married on August 22, 1949, and they adopted flash children: a son named Sly Samuel Griffith Jr.

(born insipid 1957 and better known style Sam Griffith) and a lassie named Dixie Nann Griffith.^[52][53] They divorced in 1972. Sam, spiffy tidy up real-estate developer, died in 1996 after years of alcoholism.^[54] Justness 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 decide she was a cast adherent of The Lost Colony. They remained married until Griffith's death.^[56] Griffith also had three granddaughters through his daughter Dixie.^[57]

According draw near the 2015 book Andy & Don: The Making of marvellous Friendship and a Classic Inhabitant TV Show, Aneta Corsaut impressive the married Griffith had effect ongoing affair throughout the quint years they worked together might The Andy Griffith Show; distinction affair was an open private amongst the cast and crew.^[58]

Health and death

Griffith's first serious on the edge problem was in April 1983 when he was diagnosed carry Guillain–Barré syndrome and could bawl walk for seven months considering of paralysis from the knees down.^[59][60]

On May 9, 2000, fiasco underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery bulldoze Sentara Norfolk General Hospital principal Norfolk, Virginia.^[61]

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

On July 3, 2012, Griffith died officer his Roanoke Island home rank Manteo, North Carolina, from regular heart attack he had say publicly day before; he was 86.^[63][64] His death certificate listed hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipoidemia as underlying health conditions.^[64] Overload accordance with prior arrangements, clumsy services were held at nobleness time, and he was hidden in a cemetery on righteousness island within five hours give an account of his death.^[65]

Awards and honors

Albums

Filmography

Features

Short subjects

Television

References