Andy Griffith life and biography

Andy Samuel Griffith, born June 1, 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, United States is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the 1960s situation comedy, The Andy Griffith Show, and in the 1980s–1990s legal drama, Matlock. Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President George W. Bush on November 9, 2005.

Early life

Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the only child of Geneva (née Nunn) and Carl Lee Griffith. At a very young age, Griffith had to live with relatives until his parents could afford to get a home of their own. Without a crib or a bed, he slept in drawers for a few months. In 1929, when Griffith was three years old, his father took a job working as a carpenter and was finally able to purchase a home in Mount Airy's "blue-collar" southside.

Like his mother, Griffith grew up listening to music. His father instilled a sense of humor from old family stories. By the time he entered school he was well aware that he was from what many considered the "wrong side of the tracks". He was a shy student, but once he found a way to make his peers laugh, he began to come into his own.

As a student at Mount Airy High School, Griffith cultivated an interest in the arts, and he participated in the school's drama program. A growing love of music, particularly swing, would change his life. Griffith was raised Baptist and looked up to Ed Mickey, a minister at Grace Moravian Church, who led the brass band and taught him to sing and play the trombone. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout high school until graduation in 1944. Griffith was delighted when he was offered a role in The Lost Colony, a play still performed today on historic Roanoke Island, part of the history filled Outer Banks, the barrier islands that sit along most of coastal North Carolina. He performed as a cast member of the play for several years, playing a variety of roles, until he finally landed the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, the namesake of North Carolina's capital.

He began college studying to be a Moravian preacher, but he changed his major to music and became a part of the school's Carolina Play Makers. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and graduated with a bachelor of music degree in 1949. At UNC he was president of the UNC Men's Glee Club and a member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America's oldest fraternity for men in music.

After graduation, he taught English for a few years at Goldsboro High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He also began to write.

Career

* CREDITS

* Television Appearances
* Series

* Sheriff Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show (also known as Andy of 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 the Season), 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 the Empty 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 comedic version of Romeo and Juliet.

WRITINGS
* Television Specials

* Looking Back, CBS, 1969

* Screenplays

* (Uncredited) The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, 1966
* When It Was Football, 1997

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