Editing Andy Griffith (section)

==Career==

===From rising comedian to film star===
Griffith's early career was as a [[monologue|monologist]], delivering long stories such as "[[What It Was, Was Football]]", which is told from the point of view of a naïve country preacher trying to figure out what was going on in a [[American football|football]] game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carolinafan.com/ar/02/020926_what_it_was.html |title=What It Was, Was Football |publisher=Carolinafan.com |date=September 26, 2002 |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> The monologue was released as a single in 1953 on the [[Colonial Records]] label, and was a hit for Griffith, reaching number nine on the charts in 1954.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo_view.pl?SYN053537 |title=details for What It Was, Was Football—Deacon Andy Griffith |publisher=Dmdb.org |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref>

Griffith starred in [[Ira Levin]]'s one-hour [[teleplay]], ''[[No Time for Sergeants (United States Steel Hour)|No Time for Sergeants]]'' (March 1955)&nbsp;— a story about a country boy in the [[United States Air Force]]&nbsp;— on ''[[The United States Steel Hour]]'', a television [[anthology series]]. He expanded that role in [[Ira Levin]]'s full-length theatrical version of [[No Time for Sergeants#Broadway play|the same name (October 1955)]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in New York City.<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2543 "No Time for Sergeants"]. [[Internet Broadway Database]]. Retrieved January 14, 2010.</ref> The role earned him a [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] nomination for "[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play|Distinguished Supporting or Featured Dramatic Actor]]" nomination at the [[10th Tony Awards|1956 Tony Awards]], losing to [[Ed Begley]]. He did win the 1956 [[Theatre World Award]], however, a prize given for debut roles on Broadway. "Mr. Griffith does not have to condescend to Will Stockdale" (his role in the play), wrote [[Brooks Atkinson]] in ''[[The New York Times]]''. "All he has to do is walk on the stage and look the audience straight in the face. If the armed forces cannot cope with Will Stockdale, neither can the audience resist Andy Griffith."<ref>{{cite news|author = Brooks Atkinson|date=October 21, 1955|title=Alvin Premiere for "No Time for Sergeants |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Griffith later reprised his role for the film version (1958) of ''[[No Time for Sergeants (1958 film)|No Time for Sergeants]]''; the film also featured [[Don Knotts]], as a [[corporal]] in charge of [[fine motor skill|manual-dexterity]] tests, marking the beginning of a lifelong association between Griffith and Knotts. ''No Time for Sergeants'' is considered the direct inspiration for the later television situation comedy ''[[Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.]]''<ref>{{cite book | last1=Debolt | first1=A. | last2=Baugess | first2=J.S. | title=Encyclopedia of the Sixties: A Decade of Culture and Counterculture &#91;2 volumes&#93;: A Decade of Culture and Counterculture | publisher=ABC-CLIO | year=2011 | isbn=978-1-4408-0102-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4WFjKG6vmUC&pg=PA256 | access-date=September 29, 2021 | page=256}}</ref> – a spin-off of ''The Andy Griffith Show''.

His only other New York stage appearance was the [[Title character|title role]] in the 1959 musical ''[[Destry Rides Again (musical)|Destry Rides Again]]'', co-starring [[Dolores Gray]]. The show, with a score by [[Harold Rome]], ran for 472 performances and more than a year. Griffith was nominated for "[[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Distinguished Musical Actor]]" at the [[14th Tony Awards|1960 Tony Awards]], losing to [[Jackie Gleason]]. He also portrayed a [[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]] sailor in the feature film ''[[Onionhead]]'' (1958). It was neither a critical nor a commercial success.

===Dramatic role in ''A Face in the Crowd'' (1957)===
[[File:Andy Griffith-Neal-Remick.jpg|thumb|Griffith with [[Lee Remick]] (l) and [[Patricia Neal]] (r) on the set of ''A Face in the Crowd'' (1957)]]
In 1957, Griffith made his film debut starring in the film ''[[A Face in the Crowd (film)|A Face in the Crowd]]''. He plays a "country boy" who is manipulative and power-hungry: a [[vagabond (person)|drifter]] who becomes a television host and uses his show as a gateway to political power. The film was directed by [[Elia Kazan]] and written by [[Budd Schulberg]] and co-stars [[Patricia Neal]], [[Walter Matthau]], [[Tony Franciosa]], and [[Lee Remick]] (in her film debut).

A 2005 DVD reissue of ''A Face in the Crowd'' includes a mini-documentary on the film, with comments from Schulberg and cast members Griffith, Franciosa, and Neal. In his interview, Griffith recalls Kazan prepping him to shoot his first scene with Remick's teenaged [[baton twirling|baton twirler]], who captivates Griffith's character on a trip to [[Arkansas]]. Griffith also expresses his belief that the film is more popular in recent decades than it was when originally released.<ref>{{cite AV media  | people = Andy Griffith; Patricia Neal; Anthony Franciosa; Budd Schulberg; Leo Braudy; Jeff Young  | date = 2005  | title = Facing the Past (included on A Face in the Crowd DVD) | medium = DVD  | time = 21:00-21:30; 27:30-27:45  | publisher = The Criterion Collection}}</ref>

===Television roles===

====Early television roles====
Griffith's first appearance on television was in 1955 in the one-hour teleplay of ''No Time for Sergeants'' on ''The United States Steel Hour''. That was the first of two appearances on that series. In 1960, Griffith appeared as a [[County (United States)|county]] [[sheriff]], who was also a [[justice of the peace]] and the [[copy editing|editor]] of the local newspaper, in an episode of ''[[Make Room for Daddy]]'' starring [[Danny Thomas]]. This episode, in which Thomas's character is stopped for running a stop sign in a little town, served as a [[backdoor pilot]] for ''The Andy Griffith Show''. Both shows were produced by [[Sheldon Leonard]].

====''The Andy Griffith Show'' (1960–1968)====
[[File:Andy Griffith Julie Adams Andy Griffith Show 1962.JPG|thumb|left|Andy Griffith and [[Julie Adams]] in 1962]]
Beginning in September 1960, Griffith starred as [[Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show)|Sheriff Andy Taylor]] in ''The Andy Griffith Show'' for the [[CBS#Television years: expansion and growth|CBS television network]]. The show took place in the fictional town of [[Mayberry]], North Carolina, where Taylor, a widower, was the sheriff and town sage. The show was filmed at Desilu Studios, with exteriors filmed at [[RKO Forty Acres|Forty Acres]] in [[Culver City, California]].

From 1960 to 1965, the show co-starred [[character actor]] and comedian&nbsp;— and Griffith's longtime friend&nbsp;— Don Knotts in the role of [[Deputy sheriff|Deputy]] [[Barney Fife]], Taylor's best friend and comedy partner. He was also Taylor's cousin in the show at first, though later they dropped that cousin relationship and talked simply of knowing one another since boyhood. In the series premiere episode, in a conversation between the two, Fife calls Taylor "Cousin Andy", and Taylor calls Fife "Cousin Barney." The show also starred child actor [[Ron Howard]] (then known as Ronny Howard), who played Taylor's only child, Opie Taylor. It was an immediate hit. Griffith never received a writing credit for the show, but he worked on the development of every script. Knotts was frequently lauded and won multiple [[Emmy Award]]s for his comedic performances, as did [[Frances Bavier]] in 1967, while Griffith was never nominated for an Emmy Award during the show's run.

[[File:Andy Griffith Lee Meriwether 1971.JPG|thumb|right|Publicity photo with [[Lee Meriwether]] for ''[[The New Andy Griffith Show]]'', 1971]]
In 1967, Griffith was under contract with CBS to do one more season of the show. However, he decided to quit the show to pursue a movie career and other projects. The series continued as ''[[Mayberry R.F.D.]]'', with [[Ken Berry]] starring as a widower farmer and many of the regular characters recurring, some regularly and some as guest appearances. Griffith served as executive producer (according to Griffith, he came in once a week to review the week's scripts and give input) and guest starred in five episodes (the pilot episode involved his marriage to [[Helen Crump]]).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062587/fullcredits "Full Cast and Crew for ''Mayberry R.F.D.'']. [[IMDb]]. Retrieved January 14, 2010.</ref> He made final appearances as Taylor in the 1986 reunion [[television movie|television film]], ''[[Return to Mayberry]]'', with fellow co-star, Don Knotts. Two reunion specials followed in 1993<ref name=1993reunion>{{cite news|last=King|first=Susan|title=Nostalgia star of Andy Griffith reunion|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IUJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=1165,1773529&dq=matlock+knotts|access-date=July 3, 2012|newspaper=Gainesville Sun|date=February 7, 1993|location=Gainesville, FL|page=7D}}</ref> and 2003,<ref name=2003-reunion-a>{{cite news|last=Gilbert|first=Matthew|title=Remembering the warm glow of Mayberry|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2003/11/11/remembering_the_warm_glow_of_mayberry/|access-date=July 4, 2012|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 11, 2003|location=Boston, MA}}</ref> with strong ratings.<ref name=2003-reunion-b>{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|title=Ron Howard says 'The Missing' compels with story, performances|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2003/11/28/ron_howard_says_the_missing_compels_with_story_performances/|access-date=July 4, 2012|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=November 28, 2003|location=Boston, MA}}</ref>

====''Matlock'' (1986–1995)====
After leaving his still-popular show in 1968, and starting his own production company Andy Griffith Enterprises in 1972, Griffith starred in less-successful television series such as ''[[Headmaster (TV series)|Headmaster]]'' (1970), ''[[The New Andy Griffith Show]]'' (1971), ''[[Adams of Eagle Lake]]'' (1975), ''[[Salvage 1]]'' (1979) and ''The Yeagers'' (1980). After spending seven months in rehabilitation for leg [[paralysis]] from [[Guillain–Barré syndrome]] in 1983, Griffith returned to television as the title character, Ben Matlock, in the legal drama ''Matlock'' (1986–1995) on NBC and ABC. Matlock was a [[country lawyer]] in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, who was known for his [[Southern American English|Southern drawl]] and for always winning his cases. ''Matlock'' also starred unfamiliar, struggling actors (both of whom were childhood fans of Andy Griffith) [[Nancy Stafford]] as Michelle Thomas (1987–1992) and [[Clarence Gilyard]], Jr. as Conrad McMasters (1989–1993). By the end of its first season it was a ratings powerhouse on Tuesday nights. Although the show was nominated for four Emmy Awards, Griffith once again was never nominated. He did, however, win a People's Choice Award in 1987 for his work as Matlock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=1987 |title=People's Choice Awards 1987 |access-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>

====Other television appearances====
Griffith also made other character appearances through the years on ''[[Playhouse 90]]'', ''[[Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.]]'', ''[[The Mod Squad]]'', ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[The Doris Day Show]]'', ''[[Here's Lucy]]'', ''[[The Bionic Woman]]'' and ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', among many others. He also reprised his role as Ben Matlock on ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]'' in 1997, and his final guest-starring role was in 2001 in an episode of ''[[Dawson's Creek]]''.

===Films (including television films)===
[[File:A Face in the Crowd publicity photo (Patricia Neal & Andy Griffith).jpg|thumb|right|[[Patricia Neal]] and Griffith in ''[[A Face in the Crowd (film)|A Face in the Crowd]]'' (1957)]]
[[File:N 91 41 Andy Griffith 1984 (7495691570).jpg|thumb|right|Andy Griffith in 1984]]
For most of the 1970s, Griffith starred or appeared in many television films, including ''[[The Strangers in 7A]]'' (1972), ''[[Go Ask Alice]]'' (1973), ''[[Winter Kill]]'' (1974) and ''[[Pray for the Wildcats]]'' (1974), which marked his first villainous role since ''A Face in the Crowd''. Griffith appeared again as a villain in ''[[Savages (1974 film)|Savages]]'' (1974), a television film based on the novel ''[[Deathwatch (book)|Deathwatch]]'' (1972) by [[Robb White]]. He appeared as The Father in a 1976 PBS television adaptation, directed by [[Stacy Keach]], of [[Luigi Pirandello]]'s ''[[Six Characters in Search of an Author]]''. Griffith received his only [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination as [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie]] for his role as the father of a murder victim in the television film ''[[Murder in Texas (film)|Murder in Texas]]'' (1981) and won further acclaim for his role as a [[homicide|homicidal]] [[villain]] in the television film ''[[Murder in Coweta County]]'' (1983), co-starring music legend [[Johnny Cash]] as the sheriff. He also appeared in several [[miniseries|television miniseries]], including the television version of ''[[From Here to Eternity (TV series)|From Here to Eternity]]'' (1979), ''[[Roots: The Next Generations]]'' (1979), ''[[Centennial (miniseries)|Centennial]]'' (1978), and the [[Watergate scandal]]-inspired ''[[Washington: Behind Closed Doors]]'' (1977), playing a former president loosely based on [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].

Most of the television movies in which Griffith starred were also attempts to launch a new series. ''[[Winter Kill]]'' (1974) launched the short-lived ''[[Adams of Eagle Lake]]'', which was canceled in 1975 after only two episodes. A year later, he starred as a New York City attorney for the DA's office in ''Street Killing'', which also failed to launch a new show. Two television films for NBC in 1977, ''The Girl in the Empty Grave'' and ''Deadly Game'', were attempts for Griffith to launch a new series featuring him as Police Chief Abel Marsh, a more hard-edged version of Andy Taylor; despite strong ratings, both were unsuccessful in leading to a new TV show.

During this period, Griffith also appeared in two feature films, both of which flopped at the box office. He co-starred with [[Jeff Bridges]] as a crusty old 1930s western actor in the comedy ''[[Hearts of the West (1975 film)|Hearts of the West]]'' (1975), and he appeared alongside [[Tom Berenger]] as a gay villainous [[colonel]] and cattle baron in the Western comedy spoof ''[[Rustlers' Rhapsody]]'' (1985).

Following another short-lived return to series television, playing a family patriarch in the ''Dynasty''-inspired ''The Yeagers'' in 1980, Griffith continued to make guest appearances in several hit series, including ''[[Hotel (American TV series)|Hotel]]'', ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', where he played a fictional version of western figure [[Judge Roy Bean]] featured in an aspiring singer's fantasy, and an episode of ''[[The Love Boat]]'', which featured a memorable appearance by pop icon [[Andy Warhol]]. He also appeared as an attorney in the NBC miniseries ''[[Fatal Vision (miniseries)|Fatal Vision]]'' (1984), which is considered a precursor to his role in ''Matlock''.

Griffith stunned many unfamiliar with his ''A Face in the Crowd'' work in the television film ''Crime of Innocence'' (1985)...wherein he portrayed a hateful and vindictive judge who routinely sentenced juveniles to hard prison time, followed by lengthy and equally-torturous probation. Also noteworthy in Griffith's darker roles was his character in ''Under the Influence'' (1986), a TV movie in which Griffith played an alcoholic, abusive patriarch. He further surprised audiences with his role as a dangerous and mysterious grandfather in the television film ''Gramps'' (1995) co-starring [[John Ritter]]. He also appeared as a comical villain in the spy movie spoof ''[[Spy Hard]]'' (1996) starring [[Leslie Nielsen]]. In the television film ''[[A Holiday Romance]]'' (1999), Griffith played the role of Jake Peterson. In the film ''[[Daddy and Them]]'' (2001), Griffith portrayed the patriarch of a dysfunctional southern family.

In the feature film ''[[Waitress (2007 film)|Waitress]]'' (2007), Griffith played a crusty [[diner]] owner who takes a shine to [[Keri Russell]]'s character. His last appearance was the leading role in the [[romantic comedy]], [[independent film]] ''[[Play the Game (2009 film)|Play the Game]]'' (2009) as a lonely, widowed grandfather re-entering the dating world after a 60-year hiatus. The cast of ''Play the Game'' also included [[Rance Howard]], Ron Howard's real-life father, who had made appearances in various supporting roles on ''The Andy Griffith Show'', and [[Clint Howard]], Ron's younger brother, who had the recurring role of Leon (the kid offering the ice cream cone or peanut butter sandwich) on ''The Andy Griffith Show''.

===Singing and recording career===
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 [[hymn]]s 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.<ref name=RIAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |title=RIAA Gold & Platinum (May 21, 2010) |publisher=Riaa.com |url-status=dead |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007 }}</ref> The album won [[Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album]] at the [[1997 Grammy Awards]].<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/28/arts/winners-of-the-1997-grammy-awards.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 28, 1997 |title=Winners of the 1997 Grammy Awards |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref>

Griffith appeared in country singer [[Brad Paisley]]'s music video "[[Waitin' on a Woman]]" (2008).<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|title=Brad Paisley on Andy Griffith, star of his 'Waitin' on a Woman' video|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-brad-paisley-remembers-andy-griffith-costar-of-his-waitin-on-a-woman-video-20120703,0,4137394.story|access-date=July 14, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 3, 2012|author=Randy Lewis}}</ref>

===Name dispute===
William Harold Fenrick of [[Platteville, Wisconsin]], legally changed his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith and ran unsuccessfully for sheriff of [[Grant County, Wisconsin|Grant County]] in November 2006. Subsequently, actor Griffith filed a lawsuit against Griffith/Fenrick, asserting that he violated [[Intellectual property|trademark, copyright]], and [[Privacy law|privacy]] laws by changing his name for the "sole purpose of taking advantage of Griffith's fame in an attempt to gain votes". On May 4, 2007, [[United States District Court|US District Court]] Judge [[John C. Shabaz]] ruled that Griffith/Fenrick did not violate [[Law of the United States|federal]] trademark law because he did not use the Griffith name in a commercial transaction but instead in order "to seek elective office, fundamental First Amendment protected speech".<ref name=name_weau>{{cite web|title=Andy Griffith Sues Former Wisconsin Sheriff's Candidate|url=http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/4621396.html|publisher=WEAU.com|access-date=April 2, 2011|archive-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720015317/http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/4621396.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Foley|first=Ryan J.|title=Judge: Candidate named after Andy Griffith didn't harm actor|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qmpPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3999,1672548&dq=william+harold+fenrick|access-date=July 4, 2012|newspaper=The Times-News|date=May 8, 2007|agency=The Associated Press|location=Hendersonville, NC|page=4C}}</ref>