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Andy Griffith

Actor

Andy Griffith

Born June 1, 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USADied July 3, 201238 films

Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer. 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, and gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) and No Time for Sergeants (1958) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead roles of Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968) and Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock (1986–1995).

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The best way into Andy Griffith's work
A Face in the Crowd posterFirst watchA Face in the Crowd19577.6as Larry 'Lonesome' RhodesThe rise of a raucous hayseed named Lonesome Rhodes from itinerant Ozark guitar picker to local media rabble-rouser to TV superstar and political king-maker.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Waitress poster6.7Waitress2007Spy Hard poster5.4Spy Hard1996Frosty's Winter Wonderland poster6.6Frosty's Winter Wonderland1976No Time for Sergeants poster7.3No Time for Sergeants1958Return to Mayberry poster6.2Return to Mayberry1986Rustlers' Rhapsody poster5.5Rustlers' Rhapsody1985

Filmography

38 films as actor
  1. 2009Play the GameGrandpa Joe
  2. 2007Christmas Is Here AgainSanta Claus (voice)
  3. 2007WaitressOld Joe
  4. 2006The Very First NoelMelchior (voice)
  5. 2001Daddy and ThemO.T. Montgomery
  6. 1999A Holiday RomanceJake Peterson
  7. 1998Scattering DadHiram
  8. 1997What It Was Was Footballvoice
  9. 1996Spy HardGeneral Rancor
  10. 1995GrampsJack MacGruder
  11. 1994The Gift of LovePhil Doucet
  12. 1986Under the InfluenceNoah Talbot
  13. 1986Return to MayberryAndy Taylor
  14. 1986Diary of a Perfect MurderBen Matlock
  15. 1985Crime of InnocenceJudge Julius Sullivan
  16. 1985Rustlers' RhapsodyColonel Ticonderoga
  17. 1983The Demon Murder CaseGuy Harris
  18. 1983Murder in Coweta CountyJohn Wallace
  19. 1982For Lovers OnlyVernon Bliss
  20. 1979SalvageHarry Broderick
  21. 1977Deadly GamePolice Chief Abel Marsh
  22. 1977The Girl in the Empty GravePolice Chief Abel Marsh
  23. 1976Frosty's Winter WonderlandNarrator
  24. 1976Six Characters in Search of An AuthorThe Father
  25. 1976Street KillingGus Brenner
  26. 1975Hearts of the WestHoward Pike
  27. 1974SavagesHorton Madec
  28. 1974Winter KillSheriff Sam McNeill
  29. 1974Pray for the WildcatsSam Farragut
  30. 1973Go Ask AlicePriest
  31. 1972The Strangers in 7AArtie Sawyer
  32. 1969The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour : Christmas Special 1969
  33. 1969Angel in My PocketReverend Samuel D. Whitehead
  34. 1961The Second Time AroundPat Collins
  35. 1958OnionheadAlvin 'Al' Woods aka Onionhead
  36. 1958No Time for SergeantsWill Stockdale
  37. 1957A Face in the CrowdLarry 'Lonesome' Rhodes
  38. 1955No Time for SergeantsWill Stockdale