Andy Griffith dead at 86

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As much a part of U.S. culture through the 20th century as anyone could be, Andy Griffith has died.

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Best known as Sheriff Andy Taylor, though not far behind was his role as lawyer Ben Matlock.

Edited to add: The first headline I saw about this read:

Sheriff confirms Andy Griffith dead at 86

And I just couldn't help but think... wait... wasn't HE the sheriff?

Comments

Don't Forget 'No time For Sergeants'

littlerocksilver's picture

That was one of his early successes. I think he had a comedy album called 'What It Was, Was Football'. Of course most of you are far too young to remember either of those.

Portia

His first film...

Andrea Lena's picture

...in 1957 before No Time, he made A Face in the Crowd with Patricia Neal, where he played against type as a man who rises to celebrity but neglects those who helped him succeed. This from Wiki:

The film launched Griffith into stardom, but earned mixed reviews upon its original release. Later decades have seen reappraisals of the movie, and in 2008 A Face in the Crowd was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

I believe it is occasional broadcast on Turner Classic Movies. He did a really great job in Waitress, with Keri Russell. He was a much better actor than many gave him credit. Thank you Edeyn!

  

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena

Very Funny Man

Have you ever heard him do a monolog of comedy, he does 1 about a football game where he is a country Hick not knowing what the game is about and describes what is going on very funny.

HE AND HOWDY DUDDY LOOK VERY MUCH ALIKE, MAYBE ALFRED E. NEWMAN is another look alike
All the old timer are dropping like fly ,our generations funny people.
R I P ANDY

Great comedy

I remember one about Shakespeare's Hamlet; classic comedy gold

Yes, RIP Andy, you will be missed

I can

hear the familiar whistle of the introduction to the Andy Griffin show even now. His portrayal of an intelligent southerner dealing with Mayberry's odd but loveable characters is a cultural icon.
I saw "No Time for Sergeants" not so long ago and it still had me in stitches. :) After seeing that it's not hard to see where "Gomer Pyle USMC" got its inspiration.

Hugs

Grover

June 01, 1926 two American entertainers were born

Andy Griffith died today. Marylyn Monroe however...

Oh and it is the birthday of Robert Morris the fine British actor -- Treasure Island, the Disney version, and Around the World in 90 Days-- who died young of alcoholism and Frank Whittle who invented the jet aircraft engine despite England doing it's damnedest to screw him over and mostly succeeding.

John in Wauwatosa

John in Wauwatosa

Edit to my comment

I can't spell as I spelled Howdy Doody wrong yesterday, so I wanted to correct it . I still think they look alike LOL

Wow! You are right even down to the strings

Though in Andy's case those were guitar strings.

Quite a solid singer and guitar player. And clearly loyal to his friends as evidenced by the many years and different series he worked with Don Knotts in. Seven years in a row Don won Best Comic Actor at the Emmys on ANDY's show yet they stayed friends.

BTW, for EXTRA CREDIT, what other TV show did Sherif Andy & the *town* come out of? Thus making The Andy Griffith Show the most sucessful spinoff show ever.

John in Wauwatosa.

P. S. Years after the fact I got several of his comedy albums at Goodwill. Funny stuff years long their release, particularly What is Was Wuz Football. If I have the title right.

P.P.S. Liked his short lived sci-fi series Salvage. Messed up by TV Hollywood but an interesting premise and quietly funny/serious.

John in Wauwatosa

Extra Credit:

Andrea Lena's picture

The Danny Thomas Show?

  

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena