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TV actor Andy Griffith dies at 86 in North Carolina

Home | Stories | Arts and Entertainment | TV actor Andy Griffith dies at 86 in North Carolina
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Published 03 July, 2012 10:38:00 By Michael Holtz -- Public Radio International
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President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Freedom to actor Andy Griffith in 2005. Griffith died Tuesday at the age of 86. (Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters.)

The award-winning actor died Tuesday morning at his home in North Carolina. Fans will always remember him as "America's Favorite Sheriff" during his eight seasons on the "The Andy Griffith Show" in the 1960s.

Beloved TV-actor Andy Griffith died Tuesday morning at his home in Dare County, North Carolina. He was 86 years old.

Bill Friday, former president of the University of North Carolina, confirmed his death to WITN News. Friday, a friend of the actor, said Griffith died around 7 a.m.

Griffith was perhaps best known for his his lead role as Sheriff Andy Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show.” The show ran from 1960 to 1968 and led to several successful spin-off programs. He also produced and starred in the hit legal drama, “Matlock,” from 1986 to 1995. He won a People's Choice Award for his work on the show in 1987.

Griffith was born in Mt. Airy, N.C., and later earned a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a regular on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in the 1950s, according to IMDB.

In 2000, he underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery and in 2007 had hip surgery after a fall. There was no immediate word on a specific cause of death.

Griffith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President George W. Bush.

Found in:   arts & entertainment   movies   television   USA   deaths
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Brandt Hardin 03 July, 2012 02:58:25
Andy brought small-town humor and life into the homes of every American through their television screens. He’ll be missed after his long and full career of entertainment which still fills many households like my own family’s. I created a portrait of Andy and Don Knotts for my Cult of Personality series a few years back, which depicted entertainers who influenced my life in one capacity or another. I shared work of art today on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/07/in-memoriam-andy-griffith.html Feel free to drop by and share your own memories of growing up with Mayberry.
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Rhoda1 05 July, 2012 08:47:59
Deepest sympathy. We lost a good actor. His shows were funny and very always great for broadcasting. We need more show like his to come back on TV and Big screen
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ethylotest 14 October, 2012 10:38:27
Andy was a great actor ! RIP...
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