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

User Contributions:

ann

⚠

Sadly missed, never forgotten. Like many people, Andy was part of my life growing up. His easy laid back acting always bought a smile to my face. I often wondered if he was like that off screen. I'm so happy there is so much of him that he left behind, he will always be with us. God Bless You. Rest in peace dear man.

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