![]() In Matlock, Griffith played a country lawyer who worked in Atlanta, Georgia, a character made popular for his Southern drawl and his flawless case record. Matlock ran successfully from 1986 to 1995 - on both NBC and ABC. Griffith would also go on to co-star with famous names like Jeff Bridges in the feature-length comedy "Hearts of the West", and also appeared alongside Tom Berenger in "Western comedy spoof Rustlers' Rhapsody".Īfter an unexpected condition that resulted in temporary leg paralysis, Griffith would make a triumphant return to the small screen in "Matlock", as the titular character, Ben Matlock. However, Griffith's initial alternative TV offerings were considerably less-successful shows like "Headmaster", "The New Andy Griffith Show", and "The Yeagers", among others. At this time Griffith would start his own production company, which he called Andy Griffith Enterprises, in 1972. Griffith would famously leave "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1968 while the show itself was still wildly popular. For a lion's share of the '70s, Griffith would be cast in roles for TV films which included "Go Ask Alice", "The Strangers in 7A", "Winter Kill", and what would be his very first role as a villain in "Pray for the Wildcats". Griffith would later reprise an old role for the film version of "No Time for Sergeants" (1958), a film which also starred Don Knotts, which would be the start of a lifelong collaboration.Īs an actor, Griffith would gain further recognition for his role in the 1957 critically acclaimed "A Face in the Crowd", and, later, his work on the situation comedy "The Andy Griffith Show", in which he starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor alongside a young Ron Howard. ![]() This particular role earned Griffith a 1956 Tony Award nomination for "Distinguished Supporting or Featured Dramatic Actor" - which he ended up losing to Ed Begley. Griffith, after making a name for himself recording, starred in Ira Levin's one-hour teleplay, "No Time for Sergeants", a role which was expanded in Ira Levin's full-length theatrical version on Broadway. Brown/Getty Images Film and Television Career After this, Griffith would go on to teach high school music for three years before he made the decision to pursue a career in entertainment.įrederick M. While attending college, Griffith involved himself in drama as well as musical theater, graduating in 1949. Griffith found his place within his community as a pre-divinity student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1944). Griffith played a variety of characters until landing a benchmark role as Sir Walter Raleigh - the man whom North Carolina's capital was named after. Early on in his acting efforts, Griffith earned a role in "The Lost Colony", by Paul Green, which was a play about Roanoke Island that is still popular and even performed today. Griffith attended Mount Airy High School, where he cultivated interest in the dramatic arts early on - he participated in the school's drama program. Despite his humble beginnings, Griffith grew up with a deep appreciation for music that would carry on throughout his life and culminate in a fruitful career in music as well as film and television. Coming from a family with considerably less means than many at the time, Griffith would often sleep in dresser drawers. As a child, Griffith was taken in by his relatives until the point at which his parents had the means to buy a house. ![]() His parents were Carl Lee Griffith and Geneva Griffith. ![]() Andy Samuel Griffith was born on Jin Mount Airy, North Carolina.
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