Andy Griffith Biography (1926-)

Full name, Andrew Samuel Griffith; born June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, NC; sonof Carl Lee and Geneva (maiden name, Nunn) Griffith; married Barbara Edwards,1949 (divorced, 1972); married Solica Cassuto, 1973 (divorced, 1981); married Cindi Knight (an actress), April 2, 1983; children: (first marriage) Andy Sam, Dixie Nan. Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, 151 El CaminoDr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2704.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor, producer, director, singer, writer
Birth Details
June 1, 1926
Mount Airy, North Carolina, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Sheriff Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show (also known as Andyof Mayberry), CBS, 1960-1968
  • Andy Taylor, Mayberry, R.F.D., 1968-1969
  • Andy Thompson, Headmaster, CBS, 1970-1971
  • Andy Sawyer, The New Andy Griffith Show, CBS, 1972
  • Sheriff Sam Adams, Adams of Eagle Lake, ABC, 1975
  • Harry Broderick, Salvage 1, ABC, 1978
  • Carroll Yeager, The Yeagers, ABC, 1980
  • Benjamin A. Matlock (title role), Matlock, NBC, 1986-1992, ABC, 1993-1995
  • Miniseries
  • Esker Scott Anderson, Washington: Behind Closed Doors, ABC, 1977
  • Professor Lewis Venor, Centennial, NBC, 1978-1979
  • CBS: On the Air, 1978
  • General Barney Slater, From Here to Eternity, NBC, 1979
  • Commander Robert Munroe, Roots: The Next Generation, ABC, 1979
  • Ash Robinson, Murder in Texas, NBC, 1981
  • Victor Worheide, Fatal Vision, NBC, 1984
  • Movies
  • Artie Sawyer, The Strangers in 7A, CBS, 1972
  • Priest, Go Ask Alice, ABC, 1973
  • Sam Farragut, Pray for the Wildcats, ABC, 1974
  • Horton Maddock, Savages, ABC, 1974
  • The father, "Six Characters in Search of an Author," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1976
  • Gus Brenner, Street Killing, ABC, 1976
  • Guy Harris, The Demon Murder Case (also known as The Rhode Island Murders), NBC, 1983
  • John Wallace, Murder in Coweta County (also known as Last Blood), CBS, 1983
  • Judge Julius Sullivan, Crime of Innocence, NBC, 1985
  • Andy Taylor, Return to Mayberry (based on The Andy Griffith Show), NBC, 1986
  • Noah Talbot, Under the Influence, CBS, 1986
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Power Brokers, 1987
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Billionaire, 1987
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Thief, 1989
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: Nowhere to Turn, 1990
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Witness Killings, 1991
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Suspect, 1991
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Picture, 1991
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Vacation, NBC, 1992
  • Charlie Matlock and Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Legacy, NBC, 1992
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Fortune, 1992
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Kidnapping, 1987
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Fatal Seduction, 1993
  • Phil Doucet, The Gift of Love (also known as Set For Life),CBS, 1994
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Idol, 1994
  • Jack Magruder, Gramps (also known as Lethal Intent), NBC, 1995
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Heist, ABC, 1995
  • Ben Matlock, Matlock: The Scam, ABC, 1995
  • Hiram, Scattering Dad, CBS, 1998
  • Jake Peterson, A Holiday Romance (also known as A Song for theSeason), CBS, 1999
  • Pilots
  • Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show, CBS, 1960
  • Guest, The Jud Strunk Show, ABC, 1972
  • Guest, The NBC Follies, NBC, 1973
  • Sheriff Sam McNeill, Winter Kill (for series Adams of Eagle Lake), ABC, 1974
  • Police Chief Abel Marsh, The Girl in the Empty Grave (also known as Abel), NBC, 1977
  • Police Chief Abel Marsh, Deadly Game (sequel to The Girl in theEmpty Grave), ABC, 1977
  • Harry Broderick, Salvage (for series Salvage 1), ABC, 1979
  • Vernon Bliss, For Lovers Only, ABC, 1982
  • Benjamin J. Matlock, "Diary of a Perfect Murder," Matlock, NBC, 1986
  • Specials
  • The Andy Williams Special, NBC, 1962
  • The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1963
  • Cohost, The Andy Griffith-Don Knotts-Jim Nabors Show, CBS, 1965
  • Friends and Nabors, CBS, 1966
  • Host, Andy Griffith's Uptown-Downtown Show, CBS, 1967
  • The Don Knotts Special, CBS, 1967
  • The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special, CBS, 1967
  • Host, Looking Back, CBS, 1969
  • Don Knotts' Nice, Clean, Decent, Wholesome Hour, CBS, 1970
  • City vs. Country, ABC, 1971
  • Mr. Already Married, Dinah in Search of the Ideal Man, NBC, 1973
  • Mitzi and a Hundred Guys, CBS, 1975
  • Celebration: The American Spirit, ABC, 1976
  • Voice of storyteller, Frosty's Winter Wonderland, ABC, 1979
  • The Nashville Palace, ABC, 1980
  • The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1988
  • Tennessee Ernie Ford: Fifty Golden Years, TNN, 1990
  • The All-Star Salute to Our Troops, CBS, 1991
  • A Celebration of Eddy Arnold, TNN, 1992
  • Host, The Andy Griffith Show Reunion, CBS, 1993
  • A Phyllis George Special, TNN, 1995
  • Interviewee, Ralph Emery: On the Record with Andy Griffith, TNN, 1996
  • Andy Griffith: Hollywood's Homespun Hero, Arts and Entertainment,1997
  • Roddy McDowall: Hollywood's Best Friend, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
  • Ron Howard: Hollywood's Favorite Son, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
  • Don Knotts: Nervous Laughter, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
  • Himself, Andy of Mayberry: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000
  • Himself, Inside TV Land: The Andy Griffith Story, TV Land, 2000
  • Himself, CBS at 75, CBS, 2003
  • Himself and Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry, CBS, 2003
  • Presenter, TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV, TV Land and Nickelodeon, 2004
  • Episodic
  • Monologist, Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1954
  • Private Will Stockdale, "No Time for Sergeants," The U.S. Steel Hour, 1955
  • Guest, Toast of the Town, 1955
  • Will Stockdale & himself, The Ed Sullivan Show, 1955, 1959
  • Himself, The Steve Allen Show, 1956
  • Himself, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, 1958
  • Harry Emsen, "Never Know the End," The United States Steel Hour, 1958
  • Himself, Club Oasis, 1958
  • Kraft Music Hall, 1958
  • Mystery guest, What's My Line?, 1958, 1959, 1965, 1967
  • Sheriff Andy Taylor, "Danny Meets Andy Griffith," Make Room for Daddy, 1960
  • The Andy Williams Show, 1962, 1964
  • The Danny Kaye Show, 1964
  • Sheriff Andy Taylor, "Opie Joins the Marines," Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., 1966
  • Himself, The Carol Burnett Show, 1969, 1971, 1972
  • Himself, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 1969, 1970, 1971
  • Himself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1970, 1972,1991
  • Himself, "Episode #61," Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1970
  • Himself, "Episode #85," Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1971
  • Guest, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, CBS, 1971
  • Himself, "Andy Griffith," This Is Your Life, 1971
  • "Big George," The Mod Squad, 1972
  • Arnold Lovejoy, "I'm a Family Crook--Don't Shoot," Hawaii Five-O,CBS, 1972
  • "The Hoax," The Doris Day Show, 1973
  • Andy Johnson, "Lucy and Andy Griffith," Here's Lucy, 1973
  • Jack Starkey, "Angel of Mercy," The Bionic Woman, ABC, 1976
  • Himself, Easy Does It ... Starring Frankie Avalon, 1976
  • "The Reunion," Best of the West, 1981
  • (Uncredited) Andy Taylor, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1982
  • "Legends/The Perfect Gentleman," Fantasy Island, 1982
  • J. Scott "Scotty" Foreman, "Illusions," Hotel, ABC, 1985
  • Larry Cooper, "Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985
  • Ben Matlock, "Murder Two: Parts 1 & 2," Diagnosis Murder, CBS,1996
  • Colin Sawyer, "The Quality of Mercy," Family Law, CBS, 2001
  • Mr. Brooks' friend, "A Winter's Tale," Dawson's Creek, The WB, 2001
  • Himself, Larry King Live, CNN, 2003
  • Also appeared as special guest star, The Sonny & Cher Show.
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • (With Richard O. Linke) Executive producer, Mayberry, R.F.D., CBS,1968-1971
  • Executive producer and executive story supervisor, Matlock, NBC, 1986-1992, ABC, 1993-1995
  • Television Executive Producer
  • Movies
  • Return to Mayberry, NBC, 1986
  • Matlock: The Picture, 1991
  • Matlock: The Fortune, 1992
  • Matlock: The Vacation, NBC, 1992
  • Matlock: The Legacy, NBC, 1992
  • Matlock: The Kidnapping, 1993
  • Matlock: The Fatal Seduction, 1993
  • Matlock: The Idol, 1994
  • Matlock: The Heist, ABC, 1995
  • Matlock: The Scam, ABC, 1995
  • Specials
  • The Andy Griffith Show Reunion, CBS, 1993
  • The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry, CBS, 2003
  • Television Director
  • Episodic
  • "The Prize Boat," Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., 1967
  • Film Appearances
  • (Film debut) Lonesome Rhodes, A Face in the Crowd, Warner Bros., 1957
  • Al Woods, Onionhead, Warner Bros., 1958
  • Pat Collins, The Second Time Around, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961
  • Himself, Rowan & Martin at the Movies, 1968
  • Reverend Samuel D. Whitehead, Angel in My Pocket, Universal, 1969
  • Howard Pike, Hearts of the West (also known as Hollywood Cowboy), United Artists, 1975
  • Colonel Ticonderoga, Rustler's Rhapsody (also known as Esos locos cuatreros), Paramount, 1985
  • General Rancor, Spy Hard (also known as Live and Let Spy),Buena Vista, 1996
  • O. T. Montgomery, Daddy and Them, Miramax, 2001
  • Stage Appearances
  • Ko-Ko, The Mikado, University of North Carolina Players, c. 1947
  • Sir Walter Raleigh, The Lost Colony (annual outdoor drama pageant), Roanoake Island, NC, c. 1947-1953
  • (Broadway debut) Will Stockdale, No Time for Sergeants, Alvin Theatre, 1955
  • Tom Destry, Destry Rides Again, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1959-1960
  • Radio Appearances
  • Tuesday night host, Sears Mystery Theater, CBS Radio, 1979, then The Mutual Radio Theater, Mutual Radio, 1980
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns, 1997
  • Also recorded The Christmas Guest; Just As I Am. Recorded the single "What It Was, Was Football," Capitol, 1953. Also released a comedicversion of Romeo and Juliet.
  • WRITINGS
  • Television Specials
  • Looking Back, CBS, 1969
  • Screenplays
  • (Uncredited) The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, 1966
  • When It Was Football, 1997

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • Billboard, March 23, 1996, p. 10
    • People, April 14, 1986, p. 90