Andy Griffith, who starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor alongside Don Knotts and Ron Howard in 'The Andy Griffith Show', has died. He was 86.
Former UNC President Bill Friday told North Carolina's WITN News that his close friend passed away at home around 7 AM this morning.
Griffith gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's 'A Face in the Crowd' before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in his namesake comedy from 1960–1968 and legal drama 'Matlock' from 1986–1995.
The actor also appeared in several other shows through the years including 'Playhouse 90', 'Gomer Pyle', 'USMC', 'The Mod Squad', 'Hawaii Five-O', 'The Doris Day Show', 'Here's Lucy', 'The Bionic Woman', 'Fantasy Island', and more.
He last appeared on television in a 2001 episode of 'Dawson's Creek'.
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from George W. Bush, who said: "TV shows come and go, but there's only one Andy Griffith."
Griffith leaves behind his third wife, Cindi Knight, whom he wed in 1983.
Andy Griffith, who starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor alongside Don Knotts and Ron Howard in 'The Andy Griffith Show', has died. He was 86.
