1 / 14 photos Andy Griffith

Born June 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Griffith had to live with relatives until his parents could afford to get a home of their own, even sleeping in drawers because there was no crib. (Photo by Hulton Archive)

Early in Griffith's career he recorded monologues, from the perspective of a humble and naive country boy, most notably his What it Was, Was Football, which as a single reached number nine on the charts in 1954. It helped launch his long career in entertainment. In this shot Griffith's recording partner is unidentified, and needs to go outside. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives)

Andy Griffith sits behind a desk with American television host Steve Allen, on the set of the television series The Steve Allen Show around 1952. (Photo by Hulton Archive)

Andy Griffith, Imogene Coca, and Elvis Presley perform a parody of Country & Western television shows on The Steve Allen Show, which aired July 1, 1956 (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Griffith playing guitar as Patricia Neal watches in a scene from the film A Face In The Crowd, 1957. Griffith had a successful recording career as well, with one of his Christian hymns albums being certified platinum by the RIAA in the 1990's. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)

Griffith sits as hairdresser Buddy King and makeup artist Newt Jones prepare him for a scene on the set of director Mervyn LeRoy's film, No Time For Sergeants which was released in 1958 and along with Griffith featured Don Knotts. (Photo by Hulton Archive)

Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle, Ron Howard as Opie Taylor and Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show, circa 1963. The series aired from 1960 to 1968. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection)

On the set of The Andy Griffith Show where Sheriff Taylor must once again come to Deputy Barney Fife's rescue. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive)

One longs for simpler times and for the comfort of the paternal figure of Andy Taylor, seen here fishing for crappie with onscreen son Opie (Ron Howard).

Griffith sits on a sofa with his first wife, Barbara Edwards, around 1965. (Photo by Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive)

Andy Griffith as lawyer Ben Matlock, in Matlock, which ran from 1986-1995. (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank)

Andy Griffith and Don Knotts during a ceremony honoring Knotts with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. Griffith's star was unveiled in 1976. (Photo by Jim Smeal)

Andy Griffith receives the Medal of Freedom from U.S. President George W. Bush during a ceremony at the White House November 9, 2005 in Washington DC.  (Photo by Mark Wilson)

Andy Griffith, June 1, 1926 - July 3, 2012