orig. Andrew Samuel Griffith
born June 1, 1926, Mount Airy, N.C., U.S.
U.S. actor.
He made his Broadway debut in No Time for Sergeants (1955). He also starred in its screen version (1958) after making a strong film debut in A Face in the Crowd (1957). He starred in many television shows, using his native Blue Ridge drawl to portray homespun characters such as the sheriff in the popular comedy series The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68). He later starred in the dramatic series Matlock (1986–91).