Andy Samuel Griffith was born on 1 June 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina USA, and was a renowned American actor, television producer, writer and singer. Andy rose to prominence after being cast in “A Face in the Crowd”(1957) but what really helped him carve his niche was bagging the role of the lead character in the eponymous situation comedy, “The Andy Griffith Show”(1960-68). Andy Griffith passed away in March 2012, after a career in the entertainment industry spanning more than 50 years
So just how rich was Andy Griffith? Andy’s net worth is estimated to amount to $65 million, his net worth sky-rocketing after his breakthrough. The fact that Andy was actively involved in acting, producing, music and writing explains the accumulation of this impressive figure.
Andy Griffith Net Worth $65 Million
Andy Griffith’s family was working class; Andy was an only child who was left with his relatives ’til his parents could manage to pay for a house. He attended Mount Airy High School where he took a keen interest in arts, drama and music. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Music degree, and was the head of the UNC chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, America’s oldest committee for men in music. Later, he went on to teach music and drama at Goldsboro school and also took to writing.
After appearing in a number of teleplays and musicals, Andy made his debut in “A Face in the Crowd” in 1957, which was a success at the box office. In 1960, Griffith got his big break on TV in “The Andy Griffith Show”(1960-1968) which he was roped into for the main lead, Sherriff Andy Taylor, for the CBS television network; the show was ranked the 9th best show in American television history by TV Guide, and won six Primetime Emmy Awards. However, in 1968 he quit the show to pursue a career in movies, but after working in a number of films, Griffith returned to television as Ben Matlock, in the legal drama “Matlock”, which was nominated for four Emmys. Griffith started his own production company, Andy Griffith Enterprises in 1972.
In his music career, Andy actually sang in some episodes of his self-titled TV show, but also released several albums, and won a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album in 1997. He also recorded a number of religious-type albums, the most successful being I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns, which was certified platinum by RIAA and also won a Grammy.
In his personal life, Andy Griffith married Barbara Bray Edwards in 1949, and they adopted two children, Andy Samuel Griffith and Dixie Nann Griffith, but then divorced in 1972. He was then married to Greek actress Solica Cassuto from 1973 to 1981. Griffith married Cindi Knight on 12th April 1983, a union that lasted until his death.
Aside from the entertainment industry, Andy endorsed the presidential campaign of Barack Obama and was attributed the credit for Attorney-General Mike Easley’s victory as he appeared in Easley’s campaign commercial. Andy also appeared in several commercials for Ritz crackers, Medicare, AT&T etc.
Andy Griffith had several relatively severe health problems – in 1983 he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and was paralysed for weeks. In 2000 he had a quadruple heart by-pass, and in 2007 underwent hip surgery after a fall. He died aged 86, on 3rd July 2012 from a heart attack at his house in Manteo, Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
