Andy Griffith Dead At 86

The iconic TV star passed away July 3 — so sad.

Andy Griffith, best known for starring on the classic TV sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, died July 3 in his North Carolina home.

Born in 1926, Andy began his acting career in 1957 and appeared on a number of hit TV shows, including Matlock, Fantasy Island, and Hawaii Five-O.

What many people don’t know, however, is that Andy was also an accomplished Southern-gospel singer. In fact, he nabbed a Grammy in 1997 for his album I Love To Tell The Story: 25 Timeless Hymns.

HollywoodLife.com spoke with a former associate of Andy’s at the William Morris Endeavor, who shared with us a beautiful aspect of Andy’s life that fans didn’t get to see:

“Andy was madly in love with his wife; they did almost everything together,” we’re told. “Whenever we would send him a script to read, he would always ask us to send a copy for her. The two of them would sit side by side and read the script together. He never wanted to stop working, even though he had plenty of money to retire. He loved performing and couldn’t imagine not doing it.”

“He also got more fan mail than any other celebrity at the agency,” the insider adds. “Unlike other actors, he always wanted us to send it to him. He’d actually respond to the letter and send signed photos. Strangely, a lot of prisoners would write to him, and he would write back to them.”

We also spoke with Andy’s cousin, Gail Griffith, who had this to say:

“My dad and Andy were cousins, and he talked like him and looked like him,” Gail told us. “We watched [The Andy Griffith Show] until my dad passed away in 1981, and watching Andy brought my dad back into my life. I was 21. It made me feel like my dad was still here. I could always look up to [Andy] because he reminded me of my dad — his mannerisms. It’s just really sad and sad to hear about it.”

We all enjoyed Andy Griffith’s work in some form or another, so drop a comment with your best Andy memories below.

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

[TMZ]

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Andy had a kind face. I enjoyed watching him in Matlock.He will be missed.God rest his Soul in christ.

So sad to hear. I always loved watching his shows and appreciated the example he was of honesty, character, and loyalty. My condolences to his family.

RIP Another really great actor and person gone.So sad.I hope he died peacefully and no pain.

How did he die

I am watching Matlock right this minute. I loved everything about this man from the Mayberry days to today. RIP Mr. Griffith.

He was a great man, that brought quality, timeless entertainment to television. Being a mother, it was always reassuring to know that my child could sit and watch The Andy Griffith Show, with not a second thought as to what was being said or displayed to my child. Unfortunately, with today’s programming, it’s a constant worry about what inappropriate things that my child might continually see, hear, or both ! The Kardashians and Glass House have a long way to go to actually being REAL entertainment. Andy was a genuine actor, that represented the good things of our lives…respect for others, honesty, and the need to help someone other than ourselves. Our world was better with Andy Griffith in it.

what a shock we are watching andy on mattlock on wgn. i cannot believe he is gone,at least god took the best and andy is singging with the heavenly chorus and sitting at god”s right hand. rest in peace our prayers to his family.

It was a trill too see Andy pull it out after Barnie mess up thing an how Floyd was set straight to think he had come up with a great idea planted by Andy