DARE COUNTY, North Carolina – Actor Andy Griffith, known as ‘America’s Favorite Sheriff’ for his acting role as Sheriff Taylor for the fictional town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show, died this morning at the age of 86 according to a local North Carolina TV station.
Although best known for the Andy Griffith Show which originally aired from 1960-68 (and continues to be re-ran in syndication to this day), Griffith is also well known for playing a legal sleuth in Matlock from 1986-1995.
Griffith had created a lifelong friendship with the then young co-star Ron Howard who played Griffith’s son, Opie Taylor.