Andy Griffith: 1926-2012

Actor Andy Griffith is best known for portraying "Andy Taylor" from 1960 to 1968 on "The Andy Griffith Show." Griffith, seen here in this 1992 file photo, was 86 when he died July 3, 2012, in North Carolina.

Ron Howard and Andy Griffith as Opie and Andy Taylor from TV series "The Andy Griffith Show" are seen here in this file photo. The two played father and son in the popular TV series, which ran on CBS from 1960 to 1968.

Andy Griffith as defense attorney Ben Matlock in the TV series "Matlock," which ran for nine seasons on NBC and ABC.

Don Knotts, who played deputy Barney Fife in the show, and Andy Griffith are seen here in this 1967 file photo. The two were best friends and business partners.

Andy Griffith played Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, whose rise to fame as a media star proved a bitter tale of the power of television to persuade, cajole and bamboozle in Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd" (1957). The film, which co-starred Patricia Neal, made Griffith a star.

Andy Griffith went from the Army to the Coast Guard in "Onionhead" (1958), playing a ship's cook, with Felicia Farr was his main squeeze. After the enormous success of "No Time for Sergeants," the failure of "Onionhead" prompted a career change toward television, with "The Andy Griffith Show."

Andy Griffith and Nick Adams in the comedy "No Time for Sergeants" (1957), in which Griffith played a hayseed recruit. Griffith originally played the role live on "The United States Steel Hour" in 1955. The story was adapted for Broadway and Griffith reprised his role (and starre dopposite Don Knotts). In 1957 a movie version was produced, again with Griffith.

Actor Andy Griffith is seen here in this photo from video on Medicare.gov. The actor, who made political commercials for a number of North Carolina officials, starred in ads about Medicare in July 2010.

Actor Andy Griffith is seen here in this 1994 file photo. From 1986 to 1995, Griffith starred in the legal drama "Matlock" as Ben Matlock, a country lawyer who always won his cases.

Actor Andy Griffith is seen here in this 1987 file photo. Also a singer, Griffith recorded "The Andy Griffith Show" theme song and recorded some gospel music albums in the 1990s and 2000s.

Andy Griffith, left, and Don Knotts speak on stage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held on March 7, 2004, at The Hollywood Palladium, in Hollywood, Calif.

Actors Billy Bob Thornton and Andy Griffith on stage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held at The Hollywood Palladium, March 7, 2004, in Hollywood, Calif.

Actor Andy Griffith and actor Don Knotts pose backstage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held on March 7, 2004, at The Hollywood Palladium, in Hollywood, Calif.

Actor Andy Griffith poses backstage at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held on March 7, 2004, at The Hollywood Palladium, in Hollywood, Calif.

President Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Nov. 9, 2005, to actor Andy Griffith in the East Room of the White House. The medal is the nation's highest civilian award, and recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

George Lindsey, Goober pyle — Douglas A. Sonders

Andy Griffith poses at the Freedom Awards Ceremony at the White House in Washington on Nov. 9, 2005.

Andy Griffith and President George W. Bush at the Freedom Awards Ceremony at the White House in Washington on Nov. 9, 2005.

Actor Andy Griffith is seen here in this 1995 file photo. He was born in a small North Carolina town very much live the fictional Mayberry of his TV shows and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Actor Andy Griffith is seen here in a 1983 file photo.

Actors Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, right, and Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife, in a scene from the "The Andy Griffith Show" on Jan. 24, 1963.

Actor Andy Griffith sitting in front of a bronze statue of Andy and Opie from the "Andy Griffith Show," after the unveiling ceremony on Oct. 28, 2003, in Raleigh, N.C.

Actor Andy Griffith in Toluca Lake, Calif., in this March 6, 1987 file photo.

This undated file photo provided by Fox Searchlight Pictures shows actor Andy Griffith on the set of "Waitress."

Andy Griffith posing in Los Angeles to promote his upcoming CBS-TV film, "Murder in Coweta County" in this Jan. 31, 1983, file photo.

This undated file image shows cast members from "The Andy Griffith Show," from left, Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife, Ron Howard as Opie Taylor and Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor.