He Never Got The Credit
Andy Griffith entertained stage, film, and TV audiences for decades. His hit shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock proved both his comedic and dramatic chops. Unfortunately, he never got the credit he deserved—until it was already too late.
1. His Parents Gave Him Away—Kinda
Andy Samuel Griffith would become one of the most successful TV stars of his generation—or anyone’s generation for that matter. But, when he was born to Carl Lee and Geneva Griffith in June of 1926, he couldn’t have been further from fame. Growing up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, his parents were so poor that they had him live with relatives at first.
Living with his parents didn’t turn out to be much better.
2. He Slept In A Drawer
Griffith’s father managed to scrape up enough money to buy a home…albeit an empty one. Griffith’s first bed wasn’t a cozy crib, but rather a dresser drawer that his parents repurposed. As he grew older, Griffith found comfort and escape from his “blue-collar” upbringing by listening to music. Before long, he discovered his true talent.
3. He Had A Knack For Jokes
By all accounts, Griffiths was a quiet and “shy” kid at first who tried to shrink away from his humble roots on the “wrong side of the tracks” in Mount Airy. But, as soon as he discovered his hidden talent, that all changed. The budding actor learned that he had a knack for getting his classmates to laugh. He just needed a stage to showcase his talents.
United States Steel Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
4. He Found His Voice—And His Calling
Throughout high school, Griffith threw himself into the arts, enrolling in the drama program and deepening his love of music. He also had a unique mentor in Ed Mickey, a minister in his church. Mickey taught Griffith to play instruments and helped him find his singing voice. However, Mickey’s influence almost led Griffith away from performing.
State Archives of North Carolina, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Almost Became A Preacher
After graduating from high school in 1944, Griffith found himself at the University of North Carolina (UNC). At first, in large part thanks to his high school mentor’s influence, Griffith pursued theology in the hopes of becoming a Moravian preacher. However, it didn’t take long for his true passion to take over, and he graduated with a degree in music instead.
In fact, he had become part of one of the most exclusive music groups in the country.
State Archives of North Carolina, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Was A Leading Man On Campus
While a student at UNC, Griffith wasn’t just hitting the books—he was lighting up the stage. He led the university's chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a prestigious (read: the oldest) music fraternity. He also played starring roles in student operettas like The Mikado, The Gondoliers, and HMS Pinafore.
His education wasn’t over yet, though.
7. He Schooled More Than Audiences
Before he became a big star, Griffith was a humble music and drama teacher. After graduating from UNC, he spent some time teaching the next generation of entertainers at Goldsboro High School in North Carolina. And clearly, he was doing something right. One of his students was the future NPR heavyweight, Carl Kasell.
In fact, it seemed like Griffith had given up on his dream of becoming an entertainer himself.
8. He Had A Tough Marriage
In 1949, long before he shot to fame, Griffith was settling into a quiet family life. He married Barbara Bray Edwards and, together, they adopted two children. Sadly, their son Sam would go on to struggle with addiction and pass on in 1996. By that time, however, Griffith and Edwards’ marriage had already dissolved, the couple finalizing their divorce in 1972.
Through it all, however, he never forgot how to laugh.
Avery Willard, Wikimedia Commons
9. He Found The Funny In Football
Griffith’s breakout hit wasn’t, in fact, on screen. It was on vinyl. In 1953, he released What It Was, Was Football, a comic monologue about a clueless and “naïve” preacher trying to understand a football game. The seemingly semi-autobiographical skit made it all the way to nine on the charts and introduced the name Andy Griffith to millions of fans.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
10. He Marched From TV To Broadway
Griffith parlayed the success of his comedy monologue all the way to the little screen—and the big stage. In 1955, he starred in No Time for Sergeants on TV, and then took it to Broadway. Playing a country boy navigating life in the Air Force, Griffith earned raved reviews for his comedic timing and charm. In fact, the critics couldn’t get enough of him.
Rogers & Cowan, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Captivated With A Single Look
Griffith was such a hit with audiences and critics alike that he barely had to say a word on stage. As The New York Times put it, he just had to “walk on the stage and look the audience straight in the face”. His portrayal of Will Stockdale in No Time for Sergeants was that naturally magnetic. Unfortunately, not everyone agreed.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Lost The Tony
Griffith’s breakout Broadway role in No Time for Sergeants proved impressive, but as it turns out, it wasn't quite impressive enough. It earned him a Tony nomination in 1956. But, instead of clinching the win, he lost the award to Ed Begley, beginning a trend that would always see him finishing as second-best. Still, he managed to take home a decent consolation prize: the Theatre World Award for outstanding Broadway debuts.
It was another debut, however, that would truly catapult him to fame.
Warner Bros., No Time for Sergeants (1958)
13. He Was Right For The Role
When director Elia Kazan was trying to cast the lead in his highly-anticipated film, A Face in the Crowd, he knew he had found his star when he spotted Griffith. “We went around a lot of clubs, picking up entertainers,” Kazan explained. “I had heard Andy Griffith on record, then I saw him on TV[…]He was the real native American country boy and that comes over in the picture”.
But he wasn’t actually the perfect casting choice.
Newtown Productions, A Face in the Crowd (1957)
14. He Was Plastered The Entire Time
Griffith’s debut film role as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes in A Face in the Crowd pushed him outside of his comfort zone. The morally ambiguous, highly-explosive character was everything that Griffith was not. Director Kazan later revealed that he had to keep Griffith plastered “all through the last big scene because it was the only way he could be [aggressive]. In life, he wants to be friends with everybody”.
And he was friends with everybody.
Newtown Productions, A Face in the Crowd (1957)
15. He Met A Lifelong Friend On Set
When Griffith revived his No Time for Sergeants character Will Stockdale for the big screen in 1958, it marked the third time that he played the character in three different media. But, for the film, he had something he had never had before: a best friend. The film teamed Griffith up with Don Knotts, sparking one of the most influential friendships—and comedy partnerships—in entertainment history.
But first, he’d have to learn to make it on his own.
Warner Bros., No Time for Sergeants (1958)
16. He Was Broadsided By Broadway
In 1959, Griffith saddled up for Destry Rides Again. Following his starring role in No Time for Sergeants, it marked just his second Broadway role—and his last. Starring alongside Dolores Gray, he played the title character in the musical and once again dazzled audiences. But when it came time for the Tony Awards, he once again came up short, losing to Jackie Gleason.
Another big career setback awaited him in the second act.
17. He Ditched The Big Screen
With two major film successes and a few Broadway hits to his name, Griffith signed on to 1958’s Onionhead with high hopes. But, instead of propelling his career forward, it nearly ended it. Onionhead turned out to be such a commercial and critical disaster that Griffith decided to walk away from film altogether.
That decision turned out to be the right one.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
18. His Small-Town Sheriff Was A Big-Time Hit
Following his departure from the big screen, Griffith returned to TV and landed a role as a small-town sheriff in an episode of Make Room for Daddy. Thanks to his versatile acting chops, the small-town role had big-time potential. Unbeknownst to viewers at the time, the episode would serve as a “backdoor pilot” for Griffith’s career-defining TV show.
Rogers & Cowan, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Landed His Own Show
Griffith’s Make Room for Daddy guest appearance was actually the beginning of his own show; The Andy Griffith Show. The light-hearted sitcom played right into Griffith’s strength and offered him a reprieve from the emotionally grueling roles he had taken on the big screen. However, for Griffith, the drama simply continued behind the scenes.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
20. He Battled With Bee
For the 249 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith portrayed the ever-patient straight man, Sheriff Andy Taylor. Off-screen, however, one of his co-stars tested the limits of his tolerance. Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee on the hit series, resented her role and focused all of her ire on Griffith. It seemed like there was nothing he could do to make her happy.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
21. He Tried To Befriend Bee
Years after The Andy Griffith Show ended, Griffith and Ron Howard, who had played Griffith’s son in the series, visited Bavier in her North Carolina home. But, instead of a warm welcome, they got her cold shoulder. Bavier turned her former co-stars away, leaving Griffith befuddled. It wasn’t until Bavier became terminally ill that she reached out to Griffith, expressing her sorrow that she had been so cool towards him.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
22. He Did Five Years With His Bestie
At the outset of The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith believed that he would be the show’s primary source of humor. However, after just a few episodes, he couldn’t deny that his best friend, Don Knotts, was the real comic relief to his straight man act. Unfortunately, Griffith had convinced Knotts that the show would only run for five seasons. So, when Knotts signed a deal with another studio, he had to let him go.
Decades later, Griffiths looked back fondly on his time with his best friend, calling it “the best five years of [his] life”.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
23. He Couldn’t Fake It
On The Andy Griffith Show, Elinor Donahue played Griffith’s love interest in the show’s first season. The only problem: there was precisely zero chemistry. Donahue herself later said that she felt nothing during her scenes with Griffith. And Griffith also later admitted that he struggled to show affection on camera, making their on-screen romance about as hot as a mid-winter day in Alaska.
But when Griffith did fall in love, he fell hard.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
24. He Married A Greek Actress
In the early 1970s, shortly after his divorce from Barbara Bray Edwards, Griffith found love again. This time, he cozied up to Solica Cassuto, a Greek actress. The couple tied the knot in 1973 and remained together until 1981. The details of their marriage are scarce, however, we have a pretty good idea why their romance cooled off.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
25. He Got Cozy With Corsaut
With Donahue, Griffith had had trouble faking love on screen. But with his co-star Aneta Corsaut, he might not even have needed to act. The pair, who played an item on the show, were often seen flirting behind the scenes. Their chemistry, as it turns out, wasn’t just for the cameras.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Had A Not-So-Secret Affair
In the 2015 book Andy & Don: The Making of a Friendship, one of Griffith’s rare skeletons came tumbling out of the closet. The very open closet. Turns out, Griffith’s connection with Corsaut went far beyond set-side flirtation. The two carried on a full-blown affair throughout their five years together on the show. Worse yet; everyone knew about it!
Corsaut wasn’t the only cast member that Griffith was getting close with.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
27. He Inspired The Next Generation
Ron Howard, who played Griffith’s young son, Opie, on The Andy Griffith Show, never forgot Griffith’s encouragement. In a 2016 interview, he recalled sharing a creative idea at age seven and being thrilled when the writers used it in the show. When he shared the news with Griffith, the veteran TV star quipped back in his Southern-drawl, “It’s the first that was any [darn] good. Now let’s rehearse!”
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
28. He Broke Character—And His Hand
Griffith didn’t just play a lawman in his eponymous show—he occasionally acted like one. During the second season of The Andy Griffith Show, fans noticed the actor sporting a heavy bandage that appeared to be more than a costuming choice. Turns out, Griffith had punched a wall off-screen and broken his hand. On the show, Sheriff Taylor blamed the injury on enforcing the law.
Pretty soon, he’d have a real reason to punch a hole in a wall.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
29. He Got Snubbed—Again
Despite being the heart of The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith could only watch as his co-stars raked in the awards. His best friend, Don Knotts, and even his “frenemy”, Frances Bavier, walked away from the series with some trophies for their troubles. Griffith, however, never even received an Emmy Award nomination for his work.
Clearly, it was time to move on.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
30. He Pulled The Plug On Mayberry
By 1967, Griffith had had enough of the fictional town of Mayberry. Even though CBS wanted another season of The Andy Griffith Show, he declined to seek out new opportunities in film. Even so, Griffith remained part of the series, helping to executive produce the altered storyline. He did, however, make a few guest appearances—including one where he finally tied the knot with Helen Crump.
However, success would be harder to find the second time around.
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
31. He Kept Striking Out
After leaving The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith struggled to find another hit. He launched a production company in 1972 and starred in a string of short-lived series like Headmaster, The New Andy Griffith Show, and Salvage 1. None of them managed to recapture the Mayberry magic that had made him a household name.
Still, an even bigger career setback was waiting in his third and final act.
32. He Abandoned A Hollywood Deal
After years away from the big screen, Griffith decided to make his triumphant return with a multi-movie deal with Universal Studios. Angel in My Pocket was supposed to be the first of several films that Griffith did under his new contract. But, when he saw the final cut, he disliked it so much that he refused to honor the rest of the deal.
He wasn’t done with feuding with studio executives either.
State Archives of North Carolina, Wikimedia Commons
33. He Had A Two-Episode Hit
Griffith returned to TV with the short-lived Adams of Eagle Lake. But, almost as soon as the cameras started rolling, Griffith and the network clashed. Network executives wanted car chases and explosive action, while Griffith wanted quiet, thoughtful storytelling. After just two episodes filmed in Griffith’s style, he pulled the plug on the project. It was a real shame: both episodes earned high ratings.
Finally, however, he was about to get the recognition he deserved.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
34. He Finally Got Emmy Recognition
Griffith’s only Primetime Emmy nomination came not for Sheriff Taylor or Ben Matlock—but for a dramatic role. In 1981’s Murder in Texas, Griffith played the grieving father of a victim of a heinous act. The uncharacteristically heavy role earned Griffith a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Of course, he didn’t win. But he got something else.
State Archives of North Carolina, Wikimedia Commons
35. He Had A Fatal Vision
When Griffith stepped into the role of a sharp attorney in the 1984 miniseries Fatal Vision, he had no idea that he just landed on his next big, career-defining role. Television network executives took notice of Griffith’s performance, with NBC’s Brandon Tartikoff seeing potential for more. However, Griffith almost didn’t survive to hear Tartikoff’s offer.
36. He Spent Seven Months Paralyzed
In 1983, just as he was about to make his comeback, Griffith fell victim to a rare—and potentially fatal—illness. Doctors diagnosed Griffith with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a disorder that left him temporarily paralyzed from the knees down. He was unable to walk for seven months, but he was about to waltz into the role of a lifetime.
37. He Took The Case
After seven months of recovery from Guillain–Barré syndrome, Griffith made a triumphant return to television. He took on the role of Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock, which aired from 1986 to 1995. It had been nearly two decades since his days on The Andy Griffith Show—but this courtroom crusader suited him just fine.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
38. He Stood Tall—Literally
Matlock was an unusually physical role for Griffith. His character, Ben Matlock, had a habit of cornering culprits on the stand—and Griffith delivered these big courtroom moments like a true TV titan. Despite still recovering from partial leg paralysis, he spent hours standing in knee braces, delivering his dramatic “gotcha” monologues with poise and power.
But he couldn’t do it for long.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
39. He Was A One-Take Wonder
Griffith’s signature Matlock courtroom takedowns weren’t easy—but he made them look effortless. Griffith carried notes and spent his weekends rehearsing the long speeches so that when the cameras rolled, he rarely missed. According to co-star Nancy Stafford, Griffith usually nailed the monologue in a single take—earning him applause from the entire crew.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
40. He Had An Odd Snacking Habit
Matlock was a huge hit with audiences and they soon associated Ben Matlock with a love of hot dogs. But the guy who played Matlock, Griffith, preferred a healthier snack. Behind the scenes, he always requested apple slices and peanut butter. In fact, he insisted that he always have apple slices and peanut butter on set.
That wasn’t the only way he differed from his TV persona.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
41. He Didn’t Love Matlock At First
Despite playing the role for nearly a decade, Griffith wasn’t initially sold on Ben Matlock. In fact, he didn’t like the guy at all. He found the character’s “vanity” and “cheapness” off-putting. But like many of his fans, he grew to love the curmudgeonly Southern lawyer—quirks and all.
Even if he had to rewrite the character.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
42. He Wanted Matlock To Get Messy
Griffith sometimes clashed with Matlock producer Dean Hargrove over the direction of the show. The veteran TV star wanted to push his character’s arc into darker, more realistic, territory. Hargrove, on the other hand, wanted to keep Matlock likeable. Ultimately, the two struck a compromise that allowed Griffith to exercise his dramatic chops without altering the show’s core mystery plotlines.
Griffith gave everything to the role.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
43. He Was A Frequent Flyer
During Matlock’s run on NBC, Griffith put in the miles. He commuted weekly between California and North Carolina, where he lived with his family in Manteo. For six years, he’d hop a plane after wrapping on Friday and be back on set by Monday—an exhausting routine he maintained until 1992. So what happened next was bittersweet.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
44. He Got The Ax
After six solid seasons, Matlock finally saw a dip in its ratings. Worse yet for Griffith, the new NBC brass was looking to shake off shows with what they deemed to be an “older” appeal. Without much consultation, the executives decided to pull the plug on Griffith's hit series. However, instead of wallowing around, Griffith saw an opportunity.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
45. He Got The Last Word
Griffith wasn’t ready to hang up his Matlock seersucker suit quite yet. After NBC cancelled the show, Griffith helped broker a deal to move Matlock to ABC. He even came up with the clever idea to shoot in North Carolina to cut costs—and save him flying home on weekends. Griffith’s idea saw the show run for another three seasons, sending Matlock off in style.
Griffith was finding some peace of his own.
Viacom Productions, Matlock (1986–1995)
46. He Found His “Knight” In Shining Armor
In 1983, Griffith married Cindi Knight, an actress he met while she was performing in The Lost Colony—a play he’d once starred in himself. Unlike with his previous marriages, the third time really did seem to be the charm for Griffith as he remained married to Knight for the rest of his life.
47. He Finally Won Something
While Griffith became famous for playing lawmen and lawyers, he never strayed far from his first love: music. Over the years, he released gospel and country albums, including I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns. The 1996 record struck a chord with fans, went platinum, and even netted him something that his acting career never did: a Grammy.
Though, it’s not entirely clear which Andy Griffith won.
48. He Sued Himself…Sort Of
In 2006, a Wisconsin man legally changed his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith and ran for sheriff. Griffith—the real one—was not amused. He sued the man for capitalizing on his fame, saying that the fake Griffith was playing off of his The Andy Griffith Show character. But in 2007, a judge ruled in favor of the impostor, citing the First Amendment. The real Griffith had lost to…himself?
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
49. He Overcame Everything—Until He Didn’t
Griffith hadn’t just made a career of playing strong characters—he was one. So, in 2000, when he underwent quadruple bypass surgery he bounced back to health. However, seven years later, he fractured his hip in a fall. But the real blow came in 2012 when he suffered a heart attack. The next day, the legendary TV star who had made millions feel at home quietly passed.
50. He Left The Stage Quietly
When Griffith passed at the age of 86, the world mourned one of the greatest TV stars of all time. But there was no star-studded send-off. Honoring his wishes, his family held no public funeral. Within just five hours of his passing, he was buried on Roanoke Island. It was an unpretentious and understated farewell for TV’s most underappreciated star.
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