Andy Griffith
b. Andrew Samuel Griffith, 1 June 1926, Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA. Andy Griffith was an actor best known for the '60s comedy show which was named after him. He attended the University of North Carolina where he studied to be a preacher, but switched his interests to pursue drama and music. With his southern drawl, Griffith easily landed roles requiring a southerner, and he starred in the 1955 Broadway production of NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS. His most acclaimed film role was the 1957 A FACE IN THE CROWD. He made his move to television in 1960 with THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, which also starred Don Knotts and child actor Ron Howard, who would go on to fame as a director as an adult. The show ran until 1968 and spun off a sequel titled MAYBERRY R.F.D. In the late '80s Griffith starred in a successful programme titled MATLOCK, in which he played a lawyer. Griffith's recording career was not nearly as celebrated as his acting, yet he did record a number of albums and singles (in addition to comedy records and soundtracks from his television shows). He had one charting single in 1955, Make Yourself Comfortable, on Capitol Records, which reached number 26 in the USA.