Andy Griffith dies at 86
July 3rd, 2012
12:15 PM ET

Andy Griffith dies at 86

Actor Andy Griffith, the man who played folksy Sheriff Andy Taylor in the fictional town of Mayberry, has died at the age of 86, Sheriff J.D. "Doug" Doughtie of Dare County, North Carolina, said Tuesday.

Griffith died at about 7 a.m. at his home on Roanoke Island, the sheriff said in a statement. The statement did not provide a cause of death.

iReport: Share memories of Griffith

Best known for his role on "The Andy Griffith Show," the actor also starred as a murder-solving Southern attorney in the television series "Matlock" during the 1980s and 1990s. He was also known for his roles in movies and on the stage, as a producer and as a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer.

Ron Howard, who played Taylor's son, Opie Taylor, on "The Andy Griffith Show," said he is "forever grateful" to the actor.

"His pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations & shaped my life," Howard said on Twitter.

Time: 'The Andy Griffith Show' helped shape America

2003: Griffith says love was theme for 'Andy Griffith Show'

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Filed under: Celebrity • Showbiz • TV
soundoff (25 Responses)
  1. knute

    great man. too bad obama used him to sell obamacare. he must have started using bad judgement in old age

    July 3, 2012 at 3:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      What the.....?
      Does EVERYTHING have to be turned into a politi tcal bash-fest?
      Absurd.

      July 3, 2012 at 4:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • carla james

      You are pathetic, lacking compassion & tact. May Mr Griffith rest in peace. He was a blessing too many.

      July 3, 2012 at 6:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • debbie Matter

      nobody wants to hear toilet mouth save it for your family time

      July 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Donnadelgado

    Rest in peace and you will be missed.But never forgotting and i know you will very happy and Heven.

    July 3, 2012 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jacklyn Johnson

    I hope he finds eternal peace in paradise. Thanks for the heads up on the Evertalk page Christina.

    July 4, 2012 at 5:15 am | Report abuse |
  4. beatlegirl61

    My sympathy goes out to the family of Mr.Andy Griffith.
    Some say its impossible to learn values from a television program; I beg to differ. Growing up, The Andy Griffith Show was a staple in our American home. We, as a family, whom you may have called 'city-slickers', could still relate to the problems and emotional dilemmas we were faced with as a family.Thank you and may you rest in peace Mr. Andy Griffith.

    July 4, 2012 at 10:20 am | Report abuse |
    • debbie Matter

      i enjoyed your reply as some of the values during our america the beautiful is not lost on the valuable morals of our past. we can learn so much from our history. he was a charming part of learning as a child who watched him. i have always remembered him with fondness. May sympathy go out to Andy Griffith loved ones...

      July 4, 2012 at 3:59 pm | Report abuse |
  5. JS

    Poor Ron Howard- he lost both his tv dads within 2 years. Hope Rance is doing ok...

    July 4, 2012 at 2:17 pm | Report abuse |
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