Andy Griffith (better known by some fans simply as Sheriff Andy and by others as Ben Matlock) has passed away.
Griffith became an iconic television personality for his role in the 1960’s comedy series ‘The Andy Griffith Show’, where he played a small town sheriff. As Sheriff Andy Taylor, Griffith, along side Deputy Barney Fife (played by the late Don Knotts), kept the peace in the perpetually trouble-free town of Mayberry. A young Ron Howard also starred in the series as the Sheriff’s son, Opie. ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ was on the air for 8 seasons, from 160 to 1968.
In the 1980’s Griffith reemerged on TV sets, this time as southern defense attorney Ben Matlock, on the legal drama ‘Matlock’, which ran for 9 seasons from 1986 to 1995. The show remains in syndication today.
Griffith died this morning (July 3) at his Northern Carolina home on Roanoke Island. He was 86.
