TV Icon Andy Griffith of The Famed Andy Griffith Show, Mayberrry RFD and Matlock Fame Has Died at Age 86, RIP

Mayberry mourns the loss of Sheriff Andy Taylor, Andy Griffith …

There is sad news out of North Carolina today. Americas favorite sheriff, Andy Taylor, has passed away. TV icon Andy Griffith has passed away at the age of 86. According to his family Griffith died this morning at 7 am and he was laid to rest at his home on his beloved Roanoke Island. Rest in Peace.

Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, NC and attended UNC Chapel Hill where he earned a degree in music. However, he was best known and beloved for his role as Sheriff Taylor on the Andy Griffith Show set in fictional Mayberry. Griffith and The Andy Griffith Show lives on for generations as Sister Toldja aptly states, the life lessons of the show are timeless. He would later star as Ben Matlock, the shrewd and crafty Southern lawyer at the hit TV show ‘Matlock’.  Even better, Griffith had guest appearance on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island, and appearances on the Mod Squad and Hawaii Five-0.   However lets understand one thing, it was not just North Carolina that lost an icon, America did as well.

Sheriff Doughtie tells WITN News the family stated that Andy died at seven this morning, peacefully, at his home and that Andy has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island. The funeral home confirms that happened on his family farm.

The actor’s death was first confirmed by former UNC President Bill Friday just before 10:00 a.m. and later by the sheriff. Friday and Griffith were close friends.

Friday told us the 86-year-old actor died at his Roanoke Island home around 7:00 a.m. this morning. The sheriff had confirmed earlier that an ambulance was called to the home this morning.

We are reminded that Andy Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.

A family statement:

The actor died with his wife Cindi at his side. “Andy was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord,” said his wife in a statement. “He is the love of my life, my constant companion, my partner, and my best friend. I cannot imagine life without Andy, but I take comfort and strength in God’s Grace and in the knowledge that Andy is at peace and with God.”

IMDb – Andy Griffith.

Twitter reaction from Ron Howard: “Andy Griffith His pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations & shaped my life I’m forever grateful RIP Andy”. Much more from Ron Howard in an LA Times story,’What I learned from Andy Griffith’.

Sadly, the only remaining adult cast member of the original Andy Griffith show is Jim Nabors. George Lindsey, best known for playing “Goober Pyle” on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ just recently passed away in May 2012.  However, they will all live with us forever in syndication as the show is timeless.

Andy Griffith’s death on Tuesday meant the most prominent cast member of the landmark “Andy Griffith Show” had finally departed.

Costar Don Knotts preceded Griffith in death in 2006 and Frances Bavier (who played Aunt Bea) died in 1989. Many of Mayberry’s older residents have been long gone, such as Floyd the barber (Howard McNear) in 1969 and Otis the drunk (Hal Smith) in 1994.