Andy Griffith's death certificate says the actor died of a heart attack, after years of suffering from other illnesses, including coronary artery disease.
The North Carolina native had long endured hypertension and hyperlipidemia, his certificate said, which can suggest high cholesterol or high triglycerides.
The heart attack occurred about 24 hours before he died, the certificate says. Griffith passed away at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning and was buried less than five hours later.
He was 86.
Most known for his role as the sheriff of Mayberry on the CBS series "The Andy Griffith Show," Griffith "has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island," the family said in a statement issued Tuesday.
FULL STORYActor 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'
FULL STORYEditor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
"It's like my dad said, 'There are people dying now who never died before.'Â RIP Richard, you were a big part of my childhood.
- Jim Steele
Richard Dawson, longtime "Family Feud" host and actor, died Saturday night in Los Angeles. Readers responded to news of Dawson's death, fondly recalling his TV shows and acting roles, his penchant for kissing female guests on "Family Feud" and that show's famous phrase, "survey says." Several "Hogan's Heroes" fans jumped in to comment. What would be on your list?
Former 'Family Feud' host Richard Dawson dies
Several readers mentioned "Family Feud."
Snowball12: "Survey SAYS!: Thanks for all the great years of entertainment. You had wit, swagger and charm, and we’re going to miss you. RIP, Richard and condolences to your family and friends."
ReallyJersey: "His salute on the cheek was appreciative while never crossing the line into salaciousness. This was a gentleman who knew how to do that politely, with class and flair. He wanted to be a nice guy you would feel comfortable sitting next to. ... He succeeded by making us feel like we were all invited to be part of playing a party game among our friends and neighbors. Bless you Richard, for making us laugh and smile. My sincere sympathy to his family and many friends."
"Hogan's Heroes," a sitcom set in a World War II German camp, left a particular mark on many readers. Some of the actors had served in the military, and some were Jewish and had fled Germany. Dawson portrayed Corp. Peter Newkirk, one of the Allied officers.
2nova: "Aw - Richard - you'll always be Newkirk to me. My brother liked 'Hogan's Heroes' when I was just little, so of course I watched it, too. Our parents, a WWII vet and a refugee of the Holocaust, always grumbled that it made the Nazis too likable and goofy, but even they had to smile at it. A different time. A time whose positive aspects you were representative of. RIP, sweetheart."
One person said they had a personal connection to Dawson's family. FULL POST
Controversial Sea Shepherd conservationist and "Whale Wars" star Paul Watson was released from a German jail on Monday after posting 250,000 euros ($318,000) bail in an extradition case from Costa Rica.
Watson, whose attempts to disrupt Japanese whalers at sea gained fame through Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars” TV show, was detained last weekend at the Frankfurt airport after Costa Rica issued an international request for his arrest.
Costa Rican authorities allege that Watson’s crew aboard Sea Shepherd’s Ocean Warrior ship endangered a Costa Rican fishing vessel during a confrontation off Guatemala’s coast in 2002, according to the Frankfurt court.
The court ruled Friday that Germany will consider the request and that Costa Rica will have 90 days to make its case. The German Ministry of Justice then will decide whether to extradite Watson.
Speaking outside the prison Monday, Watson defended what happened in the Costa Rica case.
[Updated at 4:34 p.m. ET] Broadcast icon Dick Clark, the creator and longtime host of "American Bandstand," has died, publicist Paul Shefrin said. He was 82.
Clark suffered a heart attack while at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica for an outpatient procedure, his publicist said. "Attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful."
iReport: Share your favorite Dick Clark memory
Photos: Clark through the years
Clark suffered what was then described as "a mild stroke" in December 2004, just months after announcing he had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
That stroke forced Clark to cut back on his on-camera work, including giving up the hosting duties for the "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" specials. He reappeared as a co-host with Ryan Seacrest on December 31, 2005.
His "American Bandstand" work, which he began as a local TV show in Philadelphia in 1956, earned him the nickname "America's oldest living teenager." The show was picked up by ABC and broadcast nationally a year later.
FULL STORYTelevision personality Keith Olbermann sued his former employer, Current TV, on Thursday, claiming breach-of-contract, unfair dealing and disparagement in an action filed in California Superior Court.
Current TV's co-founders, including former Vice President Al Gore, ousted Olbermann (pictured) last week.
"This action is necessary as Current has repeatedly and willfully breached its written agreement with Olbermann," the lawsuit said, "often continuing to do so after receiving specific notices to cure such breaches.
"In its most recent breach, Current unilaterally, and without cause, terminated its Agreement with Olbermann. Current's sudden and public termination of Olbermann was the latest in a series of increasingly erratic and unprofessional actions undertaken by Current's senior management," the lawsuit said.
FULL STORYAlana Thompson is the 6-year-old known as “Honey Boo Boo Child” on TLC’s “Toddlers and Tiaras.” Her huge personality and hilarious antics made her a favorite on the reality show, but she and her mother have also been the subject of several controversies this year. Alana has been seen using “pageant crack” and dancing on a bar. Yesterday, mother June Shannon defended her daughter on HLN. You’ve Gotta Watch this pageant family.
Alana Thompson’s mom sets the record straight on the notorious video showing the little girl dancing on a bar for dollars. Learn why she defends the event.
If you missed the video that caused this controversy in the first place, we’ve got it for you. This YouTube video shows Alana dancing on top of a bar. You’ve got to see what she’s wearing.
How do those tiara-wearing toddlers get so peppy onstage? Many of them inhale sugary Pixie Stix to get an energy boost. Watch to decide what’s in Honey Boo Boo’s mysterious “go-go juice.”
For years, pawn shops have had a seedy and hopeless connotation: people pawning items for short-term loans because they can’t get a loan from a bank or don’t qualify for mainstream credit. But over the past five years or so, pawn shops have had a whole new light shed on them.
In this down economy, especially with high credit-card and bank-loan interest rates, pawn shop business is up. Pawn popularity also is up because of reality shows like the History Channel’s "Pawn Stars."
(Click the audio player to hear more on this story from CNN Radio's Jim Roope)
"Pawn Stars" features the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas and its owner, Rick Harrison, who says pawning is banking at its most basic.
"You give collateral on a loan; (if) you don’t pay it back, you lose your collateral, and that’s the end of it," Harrison said. "There is no turning you into a credit reporting agency. There’s no suing you, no garnishing your wages. It’s just that simple."
Cesar Salgato, manager of Van Nuys Pawn in Los Angeles, says that over the past four or five years, his business has increased 60%.
"A lot of the middle class and upper middle class is starting to pawn," Salgato said. "It's incredible, the amount of money that goes out for meeting mortgages and meeting payroll."
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
"Just dug out my old Monkees album. Dusted off the B.I.C. turntable; cleaned the needle with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip. Fired up the huge, ancient, Pioneer (two-channel) receiver. Threw the wax on the platter. The pops and clicks are part of 'Pleasant Valley Sunday.' Turned it up real loud. Memories never sounded so good."
–allmosttoast
Jones' death at 66 has sparked a massive amount of genuine, heartfelt comments. Daydream Believers, Clarksville residents and denizens of Status Symbol Land remembered meeting and idolizing the musician from The Monkees.
The Monkees' Davy Jones dead at 66
iReporter Mark Stepaniak of Stuart, Florida, just got to meet Davy Jones a few days ago. He and some friends went to The Black Marlin restaurant after a February 23 performance and caught up with the star, whose wife was in a show at the Lyric Theatre across the street. Stepaniak took the photo at the top of this post, which shows Rebecca Anderson and Sara Mullen posing with Jones, and decided to send it in to CNN. He has fond memories going back to childhood.
“As a kid, I would always watch their TV shows and would listen to their records, back when they were vinyl," Stepaniak said.
Below is the most-liked comment, a fond farewell to Jones. One replying reader pointed out that the other David Jones owes a little something to Davy.
MrBunbury: "Thank you for the music Davy, a true class act. They don't make 'em like you anymore. Rest in peace."
Ras137: "Actually they do, the music industry today pretty much functions the way the Monkees were created. Get a bunch of pretty people, have professional songwriters give them their material. Endlessly promote them. The ignorant masses buys it up. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Even with all that, you can't deny the greatness of some of their singles: 'I'm a believer,' 'Pleasant Valley Sunday,' 'Daydream Believer.' RIP Davy Jones. As a side note, without Davy Jones we would not have David Bowie (whose original name is David Jones, but changed to avoid confusion with this Davy Jones). So I guess we would have David Jones and the Spiders from Mars. Just seems wrong."
One reader recalled once meeting Jones. FULL POST
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
"Clint Eastwood doing 'Spaghetti' car commercials ... priceless."
–jedclampet1
Readers buzzed about a Super Bowl ad featuring Clint Eastwood, wondering if "halftime in America" was a political statement or a misunderstood ad slogan.
Don't pick a fight with Clint Eastwood
Were politics buried inside Eastwood's 'Halftime' commercial?
We took a look at responses to a couple of the stories about this subject. Turns out some of our posters are big fans of Dirty Harry, and we saw a variety of descriptions of the actor.
Is he conservative? Some readers said Clint Eastwood ...
"... is a Republican. I don't think he would have done this to plug for President Obama. Maybe the ad is just the truth." –Rrigo
"... is a Hollywood liberal. And a joke."Â –jcg20
"... has stated that he is a libertarian. Therefore I honestly doubt the ad was politically motivated." –JohnnySeven
"... is an American folk hero, and a lifelong Republican." –bp4truth
"... still has a seemingly naive notion that government can work."Â –nzgrrj
"... is a staunch conservative (I don't hold that against him as he is a brilliant film maker) so it is not likely he would be endorsing Obama - something (Rove) could never figure out with his tiny brain." –statman29
There were some readers who got the feeling that there were politics behind the ad, whether Eastwood realized it or not. FULL POST
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
"Obscenity mars Super Bowl halftime show? I think you meant Super Bowl halftime show mars obscenity. No gesture, cursing, or wardrobe malfunction could be nearly as offensive as that 'music' was to my ears."
–HoopleDoople
It's amazing how one little finger can say so much, without actually speaking. M.I.A.'s centermost digit performed its own Super Bowl halftime show, inviting obligatory morning-after comparisons to the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" of yore. Lots of people are talking about it. Commenters, too.
Middle finger 'malfunction' mars Super Bowl halftime show
A quote from Devon Soltendieck of Montreal got people riled up.
"Can we all stop pretending #MIA flipping the Finger during the halftime show is offensive in 2012?" he asked. That got people talking.
IdahoJ: "Yeah, it is. Ever gotten the bird from another driver on the highway? Or flip it at someone who cuts ahead in a line? So yeah, we can brush it off, but we don't like it when it's us who are on the receiving end ... Point is, what's the point? All it did was cheapen the act IMO ... If obscene gestures and language is what people want to see, more power to them. Personal choice. Just stand in front of your mirror at in the privacy of your own home, make all the rude gestures and abuse yourself verbally all you want."
Saresudog: "IdahoJ, when people do that to me, I just laugh at them. When you get angry you're just empowering the person. If you have such low self esteem that a simple gesture or word angers you, than you got some real big problems. I don't know how you survive in this cruel world. Funny how we teach children about 'sticks and stones,' but a lot of adults don't seem to understand the concept. One reader said he's heard and probably said worse, but doesn't want that kind of stuff on TV. Others wondered if the whole thing was such a big deal."
Some said they've seen and done worse, but they were still bothered. FULL POST
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
"It's better to celebrate the life of someone rather than mourn their loss in death. Therefore, I say thank you, Don Cornelius. You were a credit to the human race. You helped facilitate the spread of Soul as the conductor of the train, giving artists an outlet beyond the confines of the industry machine so we all could be inspired. Let the Soul Train Scramble Board read: 'Rest in Power Don Cornelius.' "
–Manny UNO Cortez
Our readers are remembering "Soul Train" founder Don Cornelius today after he was found dead of a gunshot wound. He was 75. Authorities are investigating the incident. We're seeing lots of tributes from our readers who said Cornelius inspired them in so many ways.
Authorities: 'Soul Train' founder dead of gunshot wound
This comment echoed the thoughts of many who said Cornelius' appeal transcended race and culture:
cherriterri: "I grew up in inner-city Chicago and didn't know there were any other radio stations other than WVON. I loved the Ohio Players and once called to request a song when Don was still doing his show on air. LOL. I asked him if it were okay if I were white. He chuckled and said if it was what I wanted to hear, then it was okay. (I think I was about 11 at the time.) He said it didn't matter what color I was (in that awesome deep voice of his) and that music had the power to make everyone the same color. In that short conversation, he confirmed what I believed even then, color just didn't matter. 🙂 I watch 'Soul Train' religiously every Saturday. The man was pure class. He inspired me. Rest in Peace, Don."
The most-liked comment came from a reader who also said they watched "Soul Train" regularly. FULL POST
Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.
[F] Â _Â Â _Â Â _ Â _Â [D] Â _ Â Â Â Â [D] Â _ Â _Â [T] Â Â Â Â _Â Â _Â Â [T]
[F] Â _ Â _ Â _ Â _ Â [D] Â _ Â Â Â Â [G] Â _ Â [T] Â Â Â Â _Â Â _Â Â [H] Â _Â Â _ Â [D]
[T]Â Â [H] Â _ Â Â Â Â Â [W] [H] Â _Â Â _Â Â _ Â Â Â Â [D] Â _Â Â _Â Â _ Â [K]
(This puzzle is based on a comment from Joe. Any guesses? Want to buy a vowel? Solution at the bottom of this post.)Â
"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak gave a recent interview on  "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable" in which he said he and Vanna White sometimes went across the street to grab margaritas. Sajak has in fact admitted to being, in the joking words of reader Crys, "drunk behind the Wheel" on occasion. This is definitely on the lighter side of today's news, but the comments were great.
Pat Sajak's hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' drunk
This comment sums up the main points many users expressed.
mfx3:
1. Anyone who has seen 'Wheel of Fortune' already knew this.
2. If I had to host that show, I'd be drunk too.
3. Who cares? It's not like he was flying a plane or operating heavy machinery.
A couple of readers speculated about White's on-the-job performance. FULL POST
Actress Betty White turns 90 today, and she’s not slowing down any time soon. The former “Golden Girls” star returned to the public eye after a spot in a Snickers commercial that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl. She followed that up with book deals and a gig as the guest host of “Saturday Night Live.” Now we’re showcasing our favorite moments. You’ve Gotta Watch these bawdy Betty moments.
Sex symbol — Betty White answers viewer questions with Larry King in this clip. She takes on everything from Sarah Palin to “Dancing with the Stars.” Watch Larry King ask her if she was a “loose woman.”
[cnn-video url="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/03/17/lkl.betty.white.cnn"%5DRupert Murdoch didn't waste any time using his newfound popularity on Twitter to make waves and take shots at some other major names.
His targets? President Barack Obama and Google.
The media mogul took aim at the president and the leading Internet search engine after the White House announced over the weekend that it would not support legislation mandating changes to Internet infrastructure to fight online copyright and trademark infringement. The White House statement came in response to two petitions circulating on the Internet as well as widespread comments across the Web about the dangers of the legislation.
A major online backlash has developed regarding the Stop Online Piracy Act, with everyone from lawmakers to Web freedom advocates to some of technology's biggest players calling it a greedy and dangerous overreach that could have a chilling effect on free speech and innovation. Google, Yahoo and Facebook are among the Web heavyweights who have joined the chorus against SOPA, which backers hope to have ready for a vote by the end of the year.
The combination of Google and Obama attacking the bill clearly didn't make Murdoch happy. He began unleashing his frustration on Twitter by attacking Obama's relationship with so-called "Silicon Valley paymasters."
[tweet https://twitter.com/rupertmurdoch/status/158317988284596224%5D
Naturally, Murdoch has a dog in the SOPA fight too - his massive media empire. No doubt he doesn't care for all the websites where users can watch and download episodes of his company's TV shows and movies without ever subscribing or paying.
And clearly he isn't happy that all of this is out there. It means a loss of money for him and his advertisers. And for that, Murdoch squarely blames Google.
[tweet https://twitter.com/rupertmurdoch/status/158321072943542272%5D
Here is a look at some of the stories that CNN plans on covering this week:
Martin Luther King Jr. documents go online
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one of 10 national holidays in the United States.
Besides marking the day as a federal holiday for the 26th time, January 16, 2012, begins a new age of online accessibility for those wanting to know more about King and his work.
The King Center Imaging Project, which makes 200,000 of the civil rights leader's documents quickly accessible online, goes live Monday. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and his letter from a Birmingham, Alabama, jail are among the documents available.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change in Atlanta and JPMorgan Chase & Co., working in partnership with AT&T Business Solutions and EMC, are responsible for the project.
Read a TIME.com history of MLK day
Taking King at his words
The memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. has sparked controversy, and perhaps this is fitting. He was a controversial man whose humanity - and words - still speak volumes today.
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