Andy Griffith
Biography
Andy Samuel Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA. He passed away on July 3, 2012, at the age of 86. Griffith was known for his Southern drawl, characters with a folksy-friendly personality, and his gruff but friendly voice. He was a Tony Award nominee for two roles. He gained prominence starring in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd in 1957 and No Time for Sergeants in 1958. He later became better known for playing lead television roles, including Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968 and Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock from 1986 to 1995.
Career overview
Andy Samuel Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA. He was known for his Southern drawl, his characters with a folksy-friendly personality, and his gruff but friendly voice. Griffith was a Tony Award nominee for two roles. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd in 1957 and No Time for Sergeants in 1958.
Following his early film work, Griffith became better known for his television roles. He played the lead role of Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968. Later in his career, he starred as Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock from 1986 to 1995. Throughout his entertainment career, Griffith accumulated eighty-seven known acting credits. He passed away on July 3, 2012, at the age of eighty-six.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
92 titles- Dads (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Sheldon Leonard's Wonderful Life (2011) as Self
- Play the Game (2009) as Grandpa Joe
- Waitress (2007) as Old Joe
- Christmas Is Here Again (2007) as Santa Claus (voice)
- The Very First Noel (2006) as Melchior (voice)
- Daddy and Them (2001) as O.T. Montgomery
- Family Law (1999) as Colin Sawyer
- A Holiday Romance (1999) as Jake Peterson
- Dawson's Creek (1998) as Andrew Lanier
- Classic Commercials: Volume 3 (1998)
- Scattering Dad (1998) as Hiram
- Spy Hard (1996) as General Rancor
- Gramps (1995) as Jack MacGruder
- The Gift of Love (1994) as Phil Doucet
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Ben Matlock
- Matlock (1986) as Ben Matlock
- Matlock (1986) Executive Producer
- Under the Influence (1986) as Noah Talbot
- Return to Mayberry (1986) as Andy Taylor
- Return to Mayberry (1986) Executive Producer
- Diary of a Perfect Murder (1986) as Ben Matlock
- Crime of Innocence (1985) as Judge Julius Sullivan
- Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985) as Colonel Ticonderoga
- Fatal Vision (1984) as Victor Worheide
- The Demon Murder Case (1983) as Guy Harris
- Murder in Coweta County (1983) as John Wallace
- For Lovers Only (1982) as Vernon Bliss
- Best of the West (1981)
- Murder in Texas (1981) as Ash Robinson
- The Yeagers (1980) as Carroll Yeager
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Commander Robert Munroe
- From Here to Eternity (1979) as Gen. Barney Slater
- Salvage 1 (1979) as Harry Broderick
- Salvage (1979) as Harry Broderick
- Centennial (1978) as Professor Lewis Vernor
- The Love Boat (1977) as Larry Cooper
- Deadly Game (1977) as Police Chief Abel Marsh
- The Girl in the Empty Grave (1977) as Police Chief Abel Marsh
- Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) as Esker Scott Anderson
- Donny & Marie (1976) as Self
- The Captain and Tennille (1976) as Self - Guest
- Six Characters in Search of An Author (1976) as The Father
- Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) as Narrator
- Street Killing (1976) as Gus Brenner
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Andy Taylor (uncredited)
- Mitzi & 100 Guys (1975) as Self
- Hearts of the West (1975) as Howard Pike
- Adams of Eagle Lake (1975) as Sheriff Sam Adams
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Pray for the Wildcats (1974) as Sam Farragut
- Winter Kill (1974) as Sheriff Sam McNeill
- Savages (1974) as Horton Madec
- Go Ask Alice (1973) as Priest
- The Bobby Darin Show (1973)
- The Strangers in 7A (1972) as Artie Sawyer
- The New Andy Griffith Show (1971) as Andy Sawyer
- The Headmaster (1970) as Andy Thompson
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969) as Self
- Angel in My Pocket (1969) as Reverend Samuel D. Whitehead
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour : Christmas Special 1969 (1969)
- Here's Lucy (1968) as Andy Johnson
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- The Doris Day Show (1968) as Mitch Folger
- The Mod Squad (1968) as George Carter
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Andy Taylor
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) Executive Producer
- Rowan & Martin at the Movies (1968) as Self
- The Dean Martin Christmas Show (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest
- Good Morning World (1967) as Andy Griffith
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) as Andy Taylor
- The Danny Kaye Show (1963) as Self
- General Foods Opening Night (1963)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Second Time Around (1961) as Pat Collins
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Andy Taylor
- Onionhead (1958) as Alvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead
- No Time for Sergeants (1958) as Will Stockdale
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- A Face in the Crowd (1957) as Larry 'Lonesome' Rhodes
- No Time for Sergeants (1955) as Will Stockdale
- The United States Steel Hour (1953)
- The Danny Thomas Show (1953) as Andy Taylor
- What It Was Was Football (1953) as voice
- What It Was Was Football (1953) Writer
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Andy Griffith best known for?
Andy Griffith is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Waitress (2007), The New Perry Mason (1973), Urban Legend (1998), The Eyes (2026).
When and where was Andy Griffith born?
Andy Griffith was born on June 1, 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA. They passed away on July 3, 2012.
How many credits does Andy Griffith have?
Andy Griffith has accumulated over 92 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2019.
What is Andy Griffith's background in cinema and television?
Andy Samuel Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA. He passed away on July 3, 2012, at the age of 86. Griffith was known for his Southern drawl, characters with a folksy-friendly personality, and his gruf...