Andy Griffith

ANDY GRIFFITH

Date of Birth: June 1, 1926

Andy Griffith is best known for his starring roles in two very popular TV series The Andy Griffith Show (1960 - 1968) and Matlock (1986 - 1995). In the 1950s, Griffith became a reglar on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show. He was featured in the Broadway play No Time for Sergeants (1955) for which he received a Tony nomination, and appeared in a TV version that aired as part of The United States Steel Hour in 1955, and later appeared in the 1958 film version, though his film debut was in A Face in the Crowd (1957).

By 1960, he had his own show-The Andy Griffith Show-on which he portrayed a folksy small town sheriff who shared simple, heartfelt wisdom. The show was one of the most popular TV series in history. It generated successful spinoffs such as Mayberry R.F.D. and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (in which Griffiths himself appeared as his original character, Andy Taylor), and the original is still seen in re-runs to this day.

Griffith created his own production company in 1972, which produced several movies and TV series. In 1981, he was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Ash Robinson in Murder in Texas (1981).

In 1986 Griffith produced and starred in the successful TV series Matlock, for which he received a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series." The show spawned numerous TV movies as well.

Griffith has a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has released several albums including two Christmas records and two collections of hymns.

Griffith, who has a star on the Walk of Fame, has continued to work over the years, making guest appearances on TV series such as Family Law and Dawson's Creek, and in films such as Daddy and Them (2001), directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton and Waitress (2007), starring Keri Russell.

Married to his third wife, Cindi, since 1983, Griffiths has two adopted children from his 23-year-long first marriage.

Filmography:

Christmas Is Here Again (2007) (voice)
Waitress (2007)
Daddy and Them (2001)
What It Was Was Football (1997)
Spy Hard (1996)
Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)
Hearts of the West (1975)
Angel in My Pocket (1969)
The Second Time Around (1961)
Onionhead (1958)
No Time for Sergeants (1958)
A Face in the Crowd (1957)