TV Icon Andy Griffith Has Died

TMZ is reporting that television icon Andy Griffith has died at age 86.

Griffith is best known for his portrayal of Andy Taylor, Sheriff of the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The town was based on Griffith's real life birthplace, Mount Airy, NC. The character of Sheriff Taylor first appeared in an episode of the Danny Thomas sitcom "Make Room For Daddy" in the late 1950's. Thomas' production company went on to produce Griffith's TV series in the 1960's.

Griffith also had a successful run Broadway in the 1950's production of "No Time For Sergeants". One of his Broadway co-stars, Don Knotts, went on to star alongside Griffith on "The Andy Griffith Show" for several seasons. Griffith and Knott's also starred in the film adaptation of 'Sergeants' in 1958.

Griffith hit television gold again in the 1980's starring as a grumpy Atlanta attorney in "Matlock" on NBC.

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