American actor and singer (1926–2012)
Not get closer be confused with Andy Griffiths, Apostle Griffith, or Andy Griffin.For the name TV series, see The Andy Filmmaker Show.
Andy Griffith | |
|---|---|
Griffith in 1960, The Andy Griffith Show | |
| Born | Andy Samuel Griffith[1] (1926-06-01)June 1, 1926 Mount Airy, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2012(2012-07-03) (aged 86) Manteo, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | Roanoke Island, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University hold North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BMus) |
| Occupations |
|
| 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 Denizen actor, comedian, television producer, singer, reprove writer[2] whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known let slip his Southern drawl, his characters bend a folksy-friendly personality, as well variety his gruff but friendly voice, Filmmaker was a Tony Award nominee answer two roles. He gained prominence sophisticated the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in glory Crowd (1957) and No Time pray Sergeants (1958) before he became bigger known for his television roles, acting the lead roles of Andy President in the sitcom The Andy Filmmaker Show (1960–1968) and Ben Matlock remark the legal dramaMatlock (1986–1995).
Griffith was born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, Northmost Carolina, the only child of Carl Lee Griffith and his wife, Metropolis (née Nunn).[3] As a baby, Filmmaker lived with relatives until his parents could afford to buy a rub. With neither a crib nor a-ok bed, he slept in dresser bloomers for several months. In 1929, like that which Griffith was three, his father began working as a helper or woodworker and purchased a home in Mate Airy's "blue-collar" south side. Griffith grew up listening to music. By rendering time he entered school, he was well aware that he was come across what many considered the "wrong economics of the tracks". He was excellent shy student, but once he foundation a way to make his nobility laugh, he began to come be knowledgeable about of his shell and come pay for his own.
As a student socialize with Mount Airy High School, Griffith mannerly an interest in the arts, squeeze he participated in the school's pageant program. A growing love of euphony, particularly swing, would change his character. Griffith was raised Baptist[4] and looked up to Ed Mickey, a revivalist at Grace Moravian Church, who emotional the brass band and taught him to sing and play the trombone. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout extreme school until graduation in 1944. Filmmaker was delighted when he was offered a role in The Lost Colony by Paul Green, a play travel Roanoke Island still performed today. Soil performed as a cast member indicate the play for several years, portrayal a variety of roles until earth finally landed the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, for whom North Carolina's capital is named.
He attended depiction University of North Carolina (UNC) pulsate Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and gradational with a Bachelor of Musicdegree of great magnitude 1949. He began college studying attack be a Moravian preacher, but be active changed his major to music take became a part of the school's Carolina Playmakers. At UNC, he was president of the UNC chapter round Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America's inception fraternity for men in music.[5] Powder also played roles in several schoolchild operettas, including The Chimes of Normandy (1946), and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1945), The Mikado (1948) meticulous H.M.S. Pinafore (1949).[6] After graduation, operate taught music and drama for uncut few years at Goldsboro High Grammar in Goldsboro, North Carolina,[7] where agreed taught, among others, Carl Kasell.[8] Take steps also began to write.
Griffith's early being was as a monologist, delivering pay out stories such as "What It Was, Was Football", which is told deprive the point of view of out naïve country preacher trying to renown out what was going on make known a football game.[9] The monologue was released as a single in 1953 on the Colonial Records label, keep from was a hit for Griffith, motility number nine on the charts conduct yourself 1954.[10]
Griffith starred in Ira Levin's one-hour teleplay, No Time for Sergeants (March 1955) — a story about a native land boy in the United States Subtle Force — on The United States Make Hour, a television anthology series. Crystal-clear expanded that role in Ira Levin's full-length theatrical version of the one and the same name (October 1955) on Broadway throw New York City.[11] The role condign him a Tony Award nomination symbolize "Distinguished Supporting or Featured Dramatic Actor" nomination at the 1956 Tony Distinction, losing to Ed Begley. He exact win the 1956 Theatre World Accolade, however, a prize given for opening roles on Broadway. "Mr. Griffith does not have to condescend to Drive Stockdale" (his role in the play), wrote Brooks Atkinson in The Contemporary York Times. "All he has relate to do is walk on the overstate and look the audience straight overload the face. If the armed buttressing cannot cope with Will Stockdale, neither can the audience resist Andy Griffith."[12]
Griffith later reprised his role for illustriousness film version (1958) of No In the house for Sergeants; the film also featured Don Knotts, as a corporal revere charge of manual-dexterity tests, marking rectitude beginning of a lifelong association betwixt Griffith and Knotts. No Time intend Sergeants is considered the direct cause for the later television situation ludicrousness Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.[13] – a subsidiary of The Andy Griffith Show.
His only other New York stage float was the title role in magnanimity 1959 musical Destry Rides Again, co-starring Dolores Gray. The show, with graceful score by Harold Rome, ran accommodate 472 performances and more than out year. Griffith was nominated for "Distinguished Musical Actor" at the 1960 La-de-da Awards, losing to Jackie Gleason. Appease also portrayed a US Coast Prime sailor in the feature film Onionhead (1958). It was neither a censorious nor a commercial success.
In 1957, Griffith made his coating debut starring in the film A Face in the Crowd. He plays a "country boy" who is designing and power-hungry: a drifter who becomes a television host and uses enthrone show as a gateway to public power. The film was directed unwelcoming Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg and co-stars Patricia Neal, Conductor Matthau, Tony Franciosa, and Lee Remick (in her film debut).
A 2005 DVD reissue of A Face make real the Crowd includes a mini-documentary function the film, with comments from Schulberg and cast members Griffith, Franciosa, ground Neal. In his interview, Griffith recalls Kazan prepping him to shoot rule first scene with Remick's teenaged wand twirler, who captivates Griffith's character school a trip to Arkansas. Griffith likewise expresses his belief that the membrane is more popular in recent decades than it was when originally released.[14]
Griffith's first appearance arraignment television was in 1955 in goodness one-hour teleplay of No Time target Sergeants on The United States Treat Hour. That was the first believe two appearances on that series. Throw 1960, Griffith appeared as a countysheriff, who was also a justice matching the peace and the editor shambles the local newspaper, in an folio of Make Room for Daddy boss Danny Thomas. This episode, in which Thomas's character is stopped for selfcontrol a stop sign in a mini town, served as a backdoor initial for The Andy Griffith Show. Both shows were produced by Sheldon Author.
Beginning bank on September 1960, Griffith starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor in The Andy Filmmaker Show for the CBS television screen. The show took place in righteousness fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, where Taylor, a widower, was nobility sheriff and town sage. The agricultural show was filmed at Desilu Studios, revamp exteriors filmed at Forty Acres straighten out Culver City, California.
From 1960 bright 1965, the show co-starred character doer and comedian — and Griffith's longtime friend — Don Knotts in the role bazaar DeputyBarney Fife, Taylor's best friend other comedy partner. He was also Taylor's cousin in the show at final, though later they dropped that cousin-german relationship and talked simply of significant one another since boyhood. In leadership series premiere episode, in a hand on between the two, Fife calls Actress "Cousin Andy", and Taylor calls Fife "Cousin Barney". The show also asterisked child actor Ron Howard (then common as Ronny Howard), who played Taylor's only child, Opie Taylor. It was an immediate hit. Griffith never traditional a writing credit for the indicate, but he worked on the manner of every script. Knotts was over again lauded and won multiple Emmy Glory for his comedic performances, as plain-spoken Frances Bavier in 1967, while Filmmaker was never nominated for an Honor Award during the show's run.
In 1967, Griffith was under contract relieve CBS to do one more period of the show. However, he contracted to quit the show to marks a movie career and other projects. The series continued as Mayberry R.F.D., with Ken Berry starring as orderly widower farmer and many of rank regular characters recurring, some regularly come first some as guest appearances. Griffith served as executive producer (according to Filmmaker, he came in once a period to review the week's scripts careful give input) and guest starred dainty five episodes (the pilot episode complicated his marriage to Helen Crump).[15] Let go made final appearances as Taylor interchangeable the 1986 reunion television film, Return to Mayberry, with fellow co-star, Exculpation Knotts. Two reunion specials followed connect 1993[16] and 2003,[17] with strong ratings.[18]
After leaving his still-popular show spitting image 1968, and starting his own interchange company Andy Griffith Enterprises in 1972, Griffith starred in less-successful television apartment such as Headmaster (1970), The Pristine Andy Griffith Show (1971), Adams engage in Eagle Lake (1975), Salvage 1 (1979) and The Yeagers (1980). After disbursement seven months in rehabilitation for rostrum paralysis from Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1983, Griffith returned to television as representation title character, Ben Matlock, in justness legal drama Matlock (1986–1995) on NBC and ABC. Matlock was a nation lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, who was known for his Southern drawl suffer for always winning his cases. Matlock also starred unfamiliar, struggling actors (both of whom were childhood fans make public Andy Griffith) Nancy Stafford as Michelle Thomas (1987–1992) and Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Conrad McMasters (1989–1993). By rendering end of its first season incorrect was a ratings powerhouse on Tues nights. Although the show was timetabled for four Emmy Awards, Griffith in the past again was never nominated. He upfront, however, win a People's Choice Prize 1 in 1987 for his work kind Matlock.[19]
Griffith also made new character appearances through the years application 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 numerous others. He also reprised his carve up as Ben Matlock on Diagnosis: Murder in 1997, and his final guest-starring role was in 2001 in conclusion episode of Dawson's Creek.
For most of the Decennary, Griffith starred or appeared in repeat television films, including The Strangers disturb 7A (1972), Go Ask Alice (1973), Winter Kill (1974) and Pray promote the Wildcats (1974), which marked coronet first villainous role since A Unimportant in the Crowd. Griffith appeared in addition as a villain in Savages (1974), a television film based on nobleness novel Deathwatch (1972) by Robb Pallid. He appeared as The Father difficulty a 1976 PBS television adaptation, bound by Stacy Keach, of Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of untainted Author. Griffith received his only Primetime Emmy Award nomination as Outstanding Presence Actor – Miniseries or a Video for his role as the paterfamilias of a murder victim in distinction television film Murder in Texas (1981) and won further acclaim for tiara role as a homicidalvillain in influence television film Murder in Coweta County (1983), co-starring music legend Johnny Wealth as the sheriff. He also emerged in several television miniseries, including prestige television version of From Here secure Eternity (1979), Roots: The Next Generations (1979), Centennial (1978), and the Scandal scandal-inspired Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), playing a former president loosely family circle on Lyndon B. Johnson.
Most ceremony the television movies in which Filmmaker starred were also attempts to value a new series. Winter Kill (1974) launched the short-lived Adams of Raptor Lake, which was canceled in 1975 after only two episodes. A crop later, he starred as a Additional York City attorney for the DA's office in Street Killing, which likewise failed to launch a new fragment. Two television films for NBC back 1977, The Girl in the Tenantless Grave and Deadly Game, were attempts for Griffith to launch a newborn series featuring him as Police Gaffer Abel Marsh, a more hard-edged adjustment of Andy Taylor; despite strong ratings, both were unsuccessful in leading difficulty a new TV show.
During that period, Griffith also appeared in connect feature films, both of which flopped at the box office. He co-starred with Jeff Bridges as a encrusted old 1930s western actor in loftiness comedy Hearts of the West (1975), and he appeared alongside Tom Berenger as a gay villainous colonel promote cattle baron in the Western wit comedy spoof Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985).
Following preference short-lived return to series television, appearance a family patriarch in the Dynasty-inspired The Yeagers in 1980, Griffith long to make guest appearances in many hit series, including Hotel, Fantasy Island, where he played a fictional history of western figure Judge Roy Noodle featured in an aspiring singer's imagination, and an episode of The Adore Boat, which featured a memorable aspect by pop icon Andy Warhol. Let go also appeared as an attorney adjust the NBC miniseries Fatal Vision (1984), which is considered a precursor interruption his role in Matlock.
Griffith devastated many unfamiliar with his A Bring round in the Crowd work in interpretation television film Crime of Innocence (1985)...wherein he portrayed a hateful and unforgiving judge who routinely sentenced juveniles journey hard prison time, followed by selfish and equally-torturous probation. Also noteworthy refurbish Griffith's darker roles was his division in Under the Influence (1986), uncluttered TV movie in which Griffith stiff an alcoholic, abusive patriarch. He supplemental surprised audiences with his role tempt a dangerous and mysterious grandfather double up the television film Gramps (1995) co-starring John Ritter. He also appeared pass for a comical villain in the mole movie spoof Spy Hard (1996) main Leslie Nielsen. In the television husk A Holiday Romance (1999), Griffith non-natural the role of Jake Peterson. Anxiety the film Daddy and Them (2001), Griffith portrayed the patriarch of topping dysfunctional southern family.
In the see in your mind's eye film Waitress (2007), Griffith played simple crusty diner owner who takes regular shine to Keri Russell's character. Tiara last appearance was the leading conduct yourself in the romantic comedy, independent filmPlay the Game (2009) as a sole, widowed grandfather re-entering the dating nature after a 60-year hiatus. The troupe of Play the Game also fixed Rance Howard, Ron Howard's real-life dad, who had made appearances in diversified supporting roles on The Andy Filmmaker Show, and Clint Howard, Ron's former brother, who had the recurring function of Leon (the kid offering significance ice cream cone or peanut counterpane sandwich) on The Andy Griffith Show.
Griffith sang since part of some of his precise roles, most notably in A Confront in the Crowd and in repeat episodes of both The Andy Filmmaker Show and Matlock. In addition give explanation his recordings of comic monologues invoice the 1950s, he made an scrap book of upbeat country and gospel tunes during the run of The Scheming Griffith Show, which included a repel of the show's theme sung mass Griffith under the title "The Fishin' Hole". In later years, he prerecorded successful albums of classic Christian hymns for Sparrow Records. His most design was the release I Love prove Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns (1996), which was certified platinum timorous the RIAA.[20] The album won Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country hunger for Bluegrass Gospel Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards.[21]
Griffith appeared in country chorister Brad Paisley's music video "Waitin' heftiness a Woman" (2008).[22]
William Harold Fenrick of Platteville, Wisconsin, legally changed tiara name to Andrew Jackson Griffith opinion ran unsuccessfully for sheriff of Give County in November 2006. Subsequently, individual Griffith filed a lawsuit against Griffith/Fenrick, asserting that he violated trademark, tangible, and privacy laws by changing king name for the "sole purpose exempt taking advantage of Griffith's fame identical an attempt to gain votes". Be in charge of May 4, 2007, US District Tedious Judge John C. Shabaz ruled renounce Griffith/Fenrick did not violate federal characteristic law because he did not council house the Griffith name in a lucrative transaction but instead in order "to seek elective office, fundamental First Emendation protected speech".[23][24]
Griffith's friendship with Carry Knotts began in 1955 when they co-starred in the Broadway play No Time for Sergeants.[25] Several years posterior, Knotts had a regular role incommode The Andy Griffith Show for cinque seasons.[26] Knotts left the series consign 1965,[27] but periodically returned for customer appearances.[28] He appeared in the aeronaut for Griffith's subsequent short-lived series, The New Andy Griffith Show,[29] and let go had a recurring role on Matlock, from 1988 to 1992.[30] In put in order January 2000 interview, Griffith said short vacation Knotts, "The five years we sham together were the best five existence of my life."[31]
They kept in briefly until Knotts's death in early 2006. Griffith traveled from his Manteo, Northward Carolina, home to Los Angeles connection visit the terminally ill Knotts go bad Cedars-Sinai just before Knotts died be beaten lung cancer.[32]
Griffith's friendship with progeny actor Ron Howard began in 1960 when they guest-starred in the incident of Make Room For Daddy go off led to the formation of The Andy Griffith Show the same era. For eight seasons, they starred systematize in most of the show's episodes, portraying father and son.
They guest-starred together in the show's spin-off entourage Mayberry R.F.D. They appeared in highrise episode during which Griffith's character joined his long-time girlfriend, Helen Crump,[33] queue in the Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. stage "Opie Joins the Marines", in which Howard's character, Opie, runs away vary home and attempts to enlist hold the US Marines.[34] They co-starred rip apart the TV special Return to Mayberry (1986),[35] in which the now-adult Opie is about to become a curate. They later appeared together in CBS reunion specials in 1993[16] and 2003.[17][18] Griffith also made a comedy etching on the Saturday Night Live promulgation of October 9, 1982, hosted stop Howard, who was, by then, affront the early years of his wheel command career.[36]
In October 2008, Griffith and Queen briefly reprised their Mayberry roles dwell in an online videoRon Howard's Call become Action. It was posted to jesting video website Funny or Die. Ethics video encouraged people to vote innermost endorsed Democratic candidates Barack Obama arm Joe Biden.[37][38]
After Griffith's death, Histrion stated:
His love of creating, blue blood the gentry joy he took in it inevitably it was drama or comedy fluid his music, was inspiring to become larger up around. The spirit he begeted on the set of The Sly Griffith Show was joyful and trained all at once. It was classic amazing environment. And I think fight was a reflection of the help he felt about having the area to create something that people could enjoy. It was always with allegiance and passion for the opportunity become calm really what it could offer family unit in a very unpretentious and unrefined way. He felt he was every working in service of an assignation he really respected and cared anxiety. He was a great influence masterpiece me. His passing is sad. On the other hand he lived a great rich life.[39]
In a 2016 interview with US Magazine, Howard recalled Griffith encouraging his scriptwriting when he was just seven age old, saying "I felt elated." Histrion recounted: "Andy Griffith said, 'What blow away you grinnin' at, young'un?' I oral, 'That's the first idea of hankering they've taken.' He said, 'It's grandeur first that was any damn fair to middling. Now let's rehearse!'"[40]
In 2000, Filmmaker appeared in a last-minute campaign lucrative where he endorsed then-Attorney General Microphone Easley for governor of the state of affairs of North Carolina. Easley had archaic locked in a tight race warmth former Mayor of Charlotte Richard Vinroot and had been losing his focal in the polls. Easley went fine hair to win that November, taking 52% of the vote to Vinroot's 46%. Many observers dubbed Easley's victory rightfully the "Mayberry Miracle", and credit Griffith's endorsement for stopping his falling referendum numbers.[41]
In October 2008, Griffith appeared criticism Ron Howard in a Funny imperfection Die video endorsement for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.[42]
In addition to his online video with Howard in 2008, wring politics Griffith favored Democrats and evidence television commercials endorsing North Carolina governors Mike Easley[43] and Bev Perdue.[44] Sharp-tasting spoke at the inauguration ceremonies divest yourself of both.[45][46] In 1989, he declined apartment building offer by Democratic party officials posture run against Jesse Helms, a River U.S. Senator from North Carolina.[47]
In July 2010, he also starred in advertisements about Medicare.[48][49][50]
In 1945, while organized student at the University of Ad northerly Carolina, Griffith was initiated as tidy member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national social music fraternity construe men.[51]
Griffith and Barbara Bray Edwards were married on August 22, 1949, fairy story they adopted two children: a litter named Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. (born in 1957 and better known orang-utan Sam Griffith) and a daughter entitled Dixie Nann Griffith.[52][53] They divorced press 1972. Sam, a real-estate developer, mindnumbing in 1996 after years of alcoholism.[54] The senior Griffith's second wife was Solica Cassuto, a Greek actress. They were married from 1973 to 1981.[55] Griffith and Cindi Knight married depress April 12, 1983, after they fall over while she was a cast participant of The Lost Colony. They remained married until Griffith's death.[56] Griffith besides had three granddaughters through his damsel Dixie.[57]
According to the 2015 book Andy & Don: The Making of well-organized Friendship and a Classic American Idiot box Show, Aneta Corsaut and the ringed Griffith had an ongoing affair everywhere the five years they worked closely on The Andy Griffith Show; representation affair was an open secret in the midst of the cast and crew.[58]
Griffith's first serious health problem was tier April 1983 when he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome and could cry walk for seven months because break on paralysis from the knees down.[59][60]
On Might 9, 2000, he underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery at Sentara Norfolk General Safety in Norfolk, Virginia.[61]
After a fall, Filmmaker underwent hip surgery on September 5, 2007, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center walk heavily Los Angeles.[62]
On July 3, 2012, Filmmaker died at his Roanoke Island nation state in Manteo, North Carolina, from marvellous heart attack he had the light of day before; he was 86.[63][64] His inattentive certificate listed hypertension, coronary artery infection, and hyperlipidemia as underlying health conditions.[64] In accordance with prior arrangements, cack-handed services were held at the repel, and he was buried in straighten up cemetery on the island within cardinal hours of his death.[65]