Beer And Andy Griffith: Fact Or Fiction?

Andy Griffith played the role of Sheriff Andy Taylor in 'The Andy Griffith Show' from 1960 to 1968. The show was based in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, and centred on the sheriff, his deputy Barney Fife (played by Don Knotts), his son Opie (Ron Howard), and Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier). The show was a hit, and though Griffith was never nominated for an Emmy during its run, he worked on the development of every script. In one episode, Griffith's character can be seen drinking what appears to be beer, but this was not a part of the script and was, in fact, a continuity error.

Andy Griffith's career in music

Andy Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Griffith's early career was as a monologist, delivering long stories such as "What It Was, Was Football", a monologue released as a single in 1953 on the Colonial Records label. Griffith sang as part of some of his acting roles, most notably in A Face in the Crowd and in many episodes of both The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock.

In addition to his recordings of comic monologues in the 1950s, he made an album of upbeat country and gospel tunes during the run of The Andy Griffith Show, which included a version of the show's theme sung by Griffith under the title "The Fishin' Hole". In later years, he recorded successful albums of classic Christian hymns for Sparrow Records. His most successful was the release I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns (1996), which was certified platinum by the RIAA. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Griffith's other notable albums include:

• Destry Rides Again (1959 Original Broadway Cast Album, Decca Records)
• Andy and Cleopatra on Capitol Records (1964)
• Just for Laughs (1958)
• Shouts the Blues and Old Timey Songs (1959)
• Songs, Themes and Laughs from the Andy Griffith Show (1961)
• Somebody Bigger Than You and I (1972)
• American Originals (1993)
• Precious Memories: 33 Timeless Hymns (1995)
• Sings Favorite Old-Time Songs (1997)
• Just as I Am: 30 Favorite Old Time Hymns (1997)
• Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith (1998)
• Favorite Old Time Songs (2000)
• Absolutely the Best (2002)
• Back to Back Hits (2003)
• The Christmas Guest (2003)
• Bound for the Promised Land: The Best of Andy Griffith Hymns (2005)
• The Collection (2005)
• Pickin' and Grinnin': The Best of Andy Griffith (2005)

Griffith also appeared in country singer Brad Paisley's music video "Waitin' on a Woman" (2008).

Andy Griffith's early life

Andy Griffith, born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, was the only child of Carl Lee Griffith and Geneva (née Nunn). As a baby, he lived with relatives until his parents could afford to buy a home. He slept in dresser drawers for several months as they could not afford a crib or a bed. In 1929, when Griffith was three, his father began working as a carpenter and purchased a home in Mount Airy's blue-collar south side.

Griffith grew up listening to music and was aware of his family's humble origins. He was a shy student but found his confidence once he discovered that he could make his peers laugh. As a student at Mount Airy High School, he developed an interest in the arts and participated in the drama program. He also loved music, especially swing, and was raised Baptist. He was taught to sing and play the trombone by Ed Mickey, a minister at Grace Moravian Church. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout high school until he graduated in 1944.

Griffith was delighted to be offered a role in The Lost Colony, a play about Roanoke Island that is still performed today. He performed as a cast member for several years, playing a variety of roles until he landed the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, for whom North Carolina's capital is named. After high school, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1949. He initially studied to be a Moravian preacher but changed his major to music and became part of the school's Carolina Playmakers. He was president of the UNC chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America's oldest fraternity for men in music. He also played roles in several student operettas, including The Chimes of Normandy (1946) and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers (1945), The Mikado (1948), and H.M.S. Pinafore (1949).

Andy Griffith's health issues

Andy Griffith's first serious health issue was in April 1983 when he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, which left him unable to walk for seven months due to paralysis from the knees down. In May 2000, he underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery. In September 2007, he had hip surgery after a fall. Griffith died in July 2012, at the age of 86, from a heart attack. His death certificate listed hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipidemia as underlying health conditions.

Andy Griffith's other acting roles

Andy Griffith played the role of Sheriff Andy Taylor in the sitcom *The Andy Griffith Show*, which aired from 1960 to 1968. The show centred on the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, where Taylor, a widower, was the sheriff and town sage. Griffith's character was known for his prudent and common-sense approach to life and law enforcement, always managing to thwart the petty criminals who caused mischief in his jurisdiction.

Griffith also had a long stay on television as a lawyer in the title role of *Matlock* (1986-1992, 1993-1995). Before *The Andy Griffith Show*, Griffith gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film *A Face in the Crowd* (1957) and *No Time for Sergeants* (1958). He also starred in the Broadway production of *Destry Rides Again* in 1959.

Griffith's other acting roles include appearances in *Playhouse 90*, *Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.*, *The Mod Squad*, *Hawaii Five-O*, *The Doris Day Show*, *Here's Lucy*, *The Bionic Woman*, and *Fantasy Island*, among many others. He also lent his voice to the character of Santa Claus in the animated film *The Very First Noel* (2006).

Andy Griffith's death

On July 3, 2012, at the age of 86, Andy Griffith passed away at his Roanoke Island home in Manteo, North Carolina. The previous day, he had suffered a heart attack. According to his death certificate, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipidemia were listed as contributing health issues.

Griffith's family had previously arranged for him to be buried on Roanoke Island, and he was laid to rest there within five hours of his death. A funeral spokesperson confirmed that the burial had been planned in advance and that the location of the burial on the island was being kept private.

Andy Griffith was a well-known American actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer. He was born on June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and had a career that spanned seven decades in music and television. He was known for his Southern drawl and folksy, friendly characters. Griffith rose to prominence with starring roles in the film "A Face in the Crowd" (1957) and the Broadway play "No Time for Sergeants" (1955). However, he became a household name for his role as Sheriff Andy Taylor in the CBS television series "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968). He also starred in the legal drama "Matlock" (1986-1995).

In addition to his acting career, Griffith was a talented singer and recorded several albums, including a Grammy Award-winning gospel album, "I Love to Tell the Story – 25 Timeless Hymns" (1996). He was also a writer, delivering long monologues and releasing them as singles in the 1950s.

Griffith's legacy includes his induction into the Television Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Andy Griffith Museum in his hometown of Mount Airy, which houses the world's largest collection of his memorabilia.

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