160 Fun Facts About Andy Griffith

Which North Carolina town, Andy Griffith's birthplace, inspired the fictional Mayberry?

Andy Griffith's childhood home of Mount Airy, North Carolina, served as the primary inspiration for the beloved fictional town of Mayberry in 'The Andy Griffith Show.'

Andy Griffith earned a degree in what field from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

He graduated in 1949 and went straight into teaching before comedy records and Broadway took him elsewhere.

Which 1957 film marked Andy Griffith's dramatic debut and helped him gain prominence?

Andy Griffith's powerful performance as Lonesome Rhodes in the 1957 film 'A Face in the Crowd' was his dramatic debut and a significant step in his career.

Which widowed small-town sheriff was the title character of a CBS sitcom that ran from 1960 to 1968?

The show gave the town a population of roughly 2,000 to 5,000 people, and it was still ranked number one when its star walked away.

What was the profession of Andy Griffith's character, Ben Matlock, in the TV series 'Matlock'?

He always won his cases, and despite his thrift charged a $100,000 retainer, usually payable up front.

What was the 1953 comedic monologue single that first brought Andy Griffith national recognition?

The B-side had the same rural narrator explaining Romeo and Juliet; Capitol Records bought the master and reissued it that December.

How many seasons did 'The Andy Griffith Show' originally run on CBS?

It produced 249 half-hour episodes, 159 in black and white and 90 in color.

Who was Andy Griffith's first wife, whom he married in 1949?

They married on August 22, 1949, and adopted a son and a daughter.

Andy Griffith's 1997 Grammy-winning album, I Love to Tell the Story, was a collection of what?

It won Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album, his only Grammy from three nominations.

Who played Opie, the sheriff's only child, in 'The Andy Griffith Show'?

Billed as Ronny Howard, he later directed Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind.

Andy Griffith died at his home in Manteo, on which part of the North Carolina coast?

He had performed there for years in the outdoor drama The Lost Colony, and he is buried on the island.

Before entertaining full-time, Andy Griffith briefly taught which subjects at high school?

One of his students at Goldsboro High School was Carl Kasell, later the voice of NPR's newscasts.

Andy Griffith earned a 1960 Tony nomination for the title role in which musical?

He lost to Jackie Gleason; it was his second nomination and his only other New York stage appearance after a 1955 play.

What was the last film Andy Griffith appeared in, released in 2009?

The cast also included Rance and Clint Howard, Ron Howard's father and brother, both of whom had appeared on his old sitcom.

Which 'Andy Griffith Show' co-star also appeared with him on stage and screen in 'No Time for Sergeants'?

Don Knotts, who famously played Barney Fife, had a long professional relationship with Andy Griffith, appearing with him in 'No Time for Sergeants' on both Broadway and in the film adaptation before 'The Andy Griffith Show.'

In what year was Andy Griffith born?

He was the only child of a carpenter, born June 1 in a small North Carolina town.

Andy Griffith was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame as part of which class?

He was still starring in Matlock at the time; the show ran until 1995.

Which of these was a spin-off series from 'The Andy Griffith Show'?

Its backdoor pilot aired as the season-four finale in May 1964, with Frank Sutton as drill instructor Sergeant Vince Carter.

What medical condition did Andy Griffith suffer from in 1983 that temporarily paralyzed his lower legs?

In 1983, Andy Griffith was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis of his lower legs and required extensive physical rehabilitation.

In the outdoor drama The Lost Colony, which historical figure did Andy Griffith eventually play?

Paul Green's play about the failed 16th-century Roanoke settlement is still performed every summer.

Which Greek actress was Andy Griffith's second wife?

They were married from 1973 to 1981.

Who composed the whistled theme of 'The Andy Griffith Show', and did the whistling himself?

The tune is called 'The Fishin' Hole'; Herbert Spencer received a BMI co-composer credit despite not being involved in writing it.

What was the original network that aired 'Matlock' before it moved to ABC?

It moved networks in November 1992 and ran until May 1995.

Andy Griffith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in what year?

George W. Bush presented it; the same class included Muhammad Ali and Alan Greenspan.

Which real-life bluegrass band portrayed the Darling family on 'The Andy Griffith Show'?

The Missouri band had only just arrived in Los Angeles when the William Morris Agency booked them onto the show.

Andy Griffith's final guest-starring television role, in 2001, was on which teen drama?

The series was shot in Wilmington, the same city where his own legal drama had moved production a few years earlier.

Which character from 'The Andy Griffith Show' was known for locking himself in jail when he was drunk?

Otis Campbell, the town drunk, was a recurring character known for his habit of voluntarily locking himself in Mayberry's jail until he sobered up.

Andy Griffith's first significant Broadway role, before 'Destry Rides Again,' was in which play?

Andy Griffith gained significant recognition for his role as Will Stockdale in the 1955 Broadway play 'No Time for Sergeants,' a role he later reprised in the film adaptation.

Frugal lawyer Ben Matlock, despite his high fees, loved which food?

A Diagnosis: Murder crossover later invented an alternate backstory for the obsession.

Andy Griffith's third and final wife, whom he married in 1983, was named Cindi how?

Andy Griffith married his third wife, Cindi Knight, on April 12, 1983, and they remained married until his death.

In which city did Ben Matlock run his private law practice?

He lived in a modest suburban farmhouse and had started out as a public defender.

Under what folksy 'country parson' persona did Griffith record his 1953 comedy monologues?

The character tried to make sense of a college gridiron game and later of Romeo and Juliet in the same rural dialect.

When "Matlock" changed networks in 1992, production moved to which state to spare Andy Griffith a commute?

The new home was EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington; the show had shot in California for its entire first network run.

What instrument did Andy Griffith play as a child and later in the band at Grace Moravian Church?

As a child, Andy Griffith played the slide trombone and continued to play it in his church band.

On which 1997 series did Andy Griffith reprise Ben Matlock in a crossover?

The Dick Van Dyke series shared producers with his own show, which made the crossover easy.

In what year did Andy Griffith pass away?

He died of a heart attack at 86 and was buried within hours at his island home.

Which former co-star often appeared on 'Matlock' as Les 'Ace' Calhoun, Ben's neighbor?

Calhoun had first appeared as a client in season three; the two actors stayed close until Knotts died in 2006.

Andy Griffith's Lonesome Rhodes in 'A Face in the Crowd' rises to fame via what medium?

He is discovered in an Arkansas jail by a small-market radio producer played by Patricia Neal.

How many Emmys did Don Knotts and Frances Bavier win for The Andy Griffith Show combined?

Neither the star nor the show itself ever won one.

Andy Griffith's 1960 Grammy-nominated comedy album folksily retold which Shakespeare play?

He was nominated again in 1999 for the gospel album Just As I Am.

Which small label first released Andy Griffith's 1953 comedy single before Capitol bought the master?

Capitol reissued it that December, and the record reached the national top ten.

Andy Griffith lent his voice to which animated holiday special in 1976?

He took over narration from Jimmy Durante, who had retired after a stroke.

The exterior shots of Mayberry for 'The Andy Griffith Show' were filmed at what location in California?

The exterior sets for Mayberry, including the iconic courthouse and main street, were filmed at the 'Forty Acres' backlot in Culver City, California.

Andy Griffith's folksy characters traded on his distinctive Southern what?

Paired with a gruff-but-friendly voice, it defined his folksy-friendly characters; the same man earned two Tony nominations on stage.

In the 'Matlock' pilot, who played Ben Matlock's daughter Charlene before being replaced?

Charlene lasted one season before being written out to open her own practice in Philadelphia.

Andy Griffith was inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in what year?

The same year he earned a second Grammy nomination for the gospel album Just As I Am.

As a UNC student, Griffith sang in operettas such as The Mikado and The Gondoliers by which duo?

He also appeared in The Chimes of Normandy and H.M.S. Pinafore before graduating in 1949.

After Griffith left in 1968, which revamped continuation took his time slot to keep his audience?

Producer Sheldon Leonard's move worked; the successor ran three seasons and Griffith guest-starred on it.

What was the 1986 reunion telemovie for 'The Andy Griffith Show'?

In it the now-adult Opie is about to become a father; two further reunion specials followed in 1993 and 2003.

In the 2007 film 'Waitress', Andy Griffith played the crusty owner of what kind of business?

His character takes a shine to Keri Russell's pie-making waitress; the film later became a Broadway musical.

How many episodes of 'The Andy Griffith Show' were made in total?

159 were in black and white and 90 in color.

Which sitcom's episode served as the backdoor pilot for the 1960 Mayberry series?

Andy Taylor arrested Danny Williams for running a stop sign in 'Danny Meets Andy Griffith'.

Roughly how many people were said to live in Mayberry?

Griffith said the show, though shot in the '60s, had 'a feeling of the '30s'.

Along with I Love Lucy and Seinfeld, the show shares what ratings distinction?

It was never placed lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings.

Which two actors replaced Griffith and Howard as leads in 'Mayberry R.F.D.'?

The retitled show ran 78 episodes over three seasons.

Which veteran comedy writer created the pilot for Griffith's series?

The pilot cast Griffith as a justice of the peace and newspaper editor in a small town.

Which character did Frances Bavier play in the 1960 backdoor pilot?

Ron Howard already appeared as Opie in that same episode.

Which company was the show's sole sponsor?

Ford supplied cars as promotional consideration and was mentioned in the credits.

Where were the show's woodsy scenes, including the 'fishin' hole' credits, filmed?

It lies north of Beverly Hills; the studio work was done at Desilu.

Which actor wrote lyrics for the theme in 1961, creating 'The Fishin' Hole'?

He also guest starred as Jubal Foster in 'The Keeper of the Flame'.

Which director handled the first three seasons except the premiere?

Producers were Aaron Ruben (1960-65) and Bob Ross (1965-68).

Which two mayors served Mayberry over the course of the series?

Mayor Pike was relaxed but indecisive; Roy Stoner was more assertive.

Who played Ellie Walker, Andy's girlfriend in the first season?

Nurse Peggy McMillan, played by Joanna Moore, became his girlfriend in season 3.

Who played Deputy Warren Ferguson, Barney's replacement in season six?

Warren appeared in about half of the sixth season.

Which actor played wild mountain man Ernest T. Bass?

Morris also directed eight episodes and voiced Leonard Blush.

Which unseen Mayberry character worked as the telephone operator?

Barney's unseen love interest Juanita Beasley waitressed at the diner.

Besides Griffith, Howard, Bavier and Knotts, who was the only actor to appear in all eight seasons?

She played townswoman Clara Edwards.

Where did Barney go when Don Knotts left the show, per the storyline?

Knotts returned for five guest appearances in the color seasons.

Who played drill instructor Sergeant Vince Carter on 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'?

The spinoff ended its run as the second-highest-rated show, behind only Laugh-In.

Which country-variety show featured George Lindsey as Goober for years after 1971?

Mayberry R.F.D. itself was cancelled in the 'rural purge'.

What was the name of Griffith's character in his ten-episode 1971 follow-up series?

Goober, Barney and Emmett treated him as if he were Andy Taylor.

Why did Frances Bavier not appear in 'Return to Mayberry'?

Aunt Bee is portrayed as deceased, and Bavier died three years after the film.

Which political campaign did Griffith and Howard support in a 2008 Funny or Die skit as Andy and Opie?

Griffith also endorsed Bev Perdue for North Carolina governor that year.

Which episode did TV Guide rank No. 24 on its 100 Greatest Episodes list in 1997?

TV Guide later ranked the show ninth on its 50 Best Shows list.

Which cereal put Griffith as Sheriff Taylor on its box beside a lemon pie recipe in 1966?

Very little merchandise was produced during the show's original run.

Which country band released a 2003 song called 'Mayberry' paying tribute to the show?

Drake also referenced the theme song in his 2009 track 'Best I Ever Had'.

Which network erected bronze statues of Andy and Opie in Mount Airy and Raleigh?

The Raleigh statue stands in Pullen Park.

Why did 16 third-season episodes fall into the public domain?

A 2007 lawsuit still gave CBS indirect copyright over them as derivative works.

As a baby, where did Andy Griffith sleep for several months?

His parents could not yet afford a crib or a bed.

Griffith began college intending to become a minister in which church?

He changed his major to music and joined the Carolina Playmakers.

Which future NPR newsreader was among Griffith's students at Goldsboro High School?

Griffith taught music and drama there after graduating from UNC.

Which Shakespeare play did the 'Deacon' explain on the B-side of the football single?

He performed both monologues on TV variety shows.

Which anthology series aired Griffith's 1955 teleplay 'No Time for Sergeants'?

Ira Levin wrote both the teleplay and the Broadway version.

Which actor beat Griffith to the 1956 Tony for 'No Time for Sergeants'?

Griffith did win the 1956 Theatre World Award for Broadway debuts.

Which 1958 military comedy cast Griffith as a US Coast Guard sailor?

It was neither a critical nor a commercial success.

Who co-starred with Griffith in the 1959 Broadway musical 'Destry Rides Again'?

The show ran 472 performances; Griffith lost the Tony to Jackie Gleason.

Which actress made her film debut opposite Griffith in 'A Face in the Crowd'?

She played the teenaged baton twirler who captivates Lonesome Rhodes.

Which 1974 TV film marked Griffith's first villainous role since 'A Face in the Crowd'?

He played another villain in Savages the same year.

Griffith's only Primetime Emmy nomination came for which 1981 TV film?

He played the father of a murder victim.

Which music legend played the sheriff opposite Griffith's villain in 'Murder in Coweta County'?

The 1983 TV film won Griffith further acclaim.

In 'Washington: Behind Closed Doors', Griffith played a former president loosely based on whom?

The 1977 miniseries was inspired by the Watergate scandal.

Which police chief character did Griffith play in two failed 1977 NBC pilots?

The Girl in the Empty Grave and Deadly Game drew strong ratings but no series.

Which 1975 comedy cast Griffith opposite Jeff Bridges as a crusty 1930s western actor?

Both of his mid-70s feature films flopped at the box office.

Which Leslie Nielsen spoof featured Griffith as a comical villain in 1996?

He also played a mysterious grandfather in Gramps with John Ritter in 1995.

Which two relatives of Opie's actor joined Griffith in the cast of 'Play the Game'?

Clint had played Leon, the kid with the peanut butter sandwich, on the old show.

Which record label released Griffith's platinum hymns albums?

'I Love to Tell the Story' won a Grammy in 1997.

In which country star's 2008 video 'Waitin' on a Woman' did Griffith appear?

It came a year after his role in the film Waitress.

A Wisconsin man legally took Griffith's name in 2006 to run for what office?

A judge ruled the name change was protected political speech, not a trademark violation.

Which North Carolina governor's 2000 win was dubbed the 'Mayberry Miracle' after Griffith's endorsement?

Griffith declined a 1989 offer to run against Senator Jesse Helms.

Griffith met his third wife Cindi Knight when she was a cast member of what?

Griffith himself had performed in the outdoor drama for years.

Griffith underwent what surgery in May 2000?

It was performed at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia.

Which SNL episode did Griffith cameo on, hosted by Ron Howard?

Howard was by then in the early years of his directing career.

Who created 'Matlock', a series similar in format to Perry Mason?

Hargrove also created the 1980s Perry Mason TV films.

Which law school is Ben Matlock a graduate of?

He worked as a public defender before opening his Atlanta practice.

Which car did Ben Matlock drive, always in gray?

It nodded to Griffith's long association with Ford dating back to the sheriff's squad car.

What retainer fee did Ben Matlock typically charge?

He often waived it if he believed strongly in a client's innocence.

Which actress starred in the gender-flipped 'Matlock' reboot that premiered in 2024?

It debuted on CBS on September 22, 2024.

Who played Matlock's first private investigator, stock-market whiz Tyler Hudson?

Tyler often went undercover in various guises to gather information.

Which 'Matlock' character was a district attorney who became Ben's good friend?

Julie Sommars played her from the first season through the ninth.

Which West Virginia city was Don Knotts born in?

He later graduated from West Virginia University there in 1948.

Which sitcom character did Don Knotts play from 1979 to 1984?

Three's Company gave him a second signature role.

On whose variety show did Knotts play the 'extremely nervous man' in Man in the Street interviews?

He stayed with the show through the 1959-60 season.

What did Knotts's wartime ventriloquist act reportedly do with his dummy Danny?

Castmate Al Checco said Knotts grew to hate the dummy.

Which soap opera gave Knotts his first TV break from 1953 to 1955?

He also recurred on Howdy Doody as 'Tim Tremble' from 1954.

Which episode convinced Griffith that Knotts should be the comic and he the straight man?

It was the second episode of the series.

Where did TV Guide rank Barney Fife on its 50 Greatest TV Characters list in 1999?

Knotts himself ranked 27th on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars list.

Why did Knotts really leave the series in 1965?

Griffith changed his mind, but Knotts honored a film commitment.

What is the Mayberry sheriff's full name?

He has held the elected office of sheriff since roughly 1952 or 1953.

Which sidearm was Andy Taylor issued but rarely carried?

He kept it unloaded on a shelf at home and grabbed a rifle when he needed a weapon fast.

Which 1951 sci-fi classic featured Frances Bavier as Mrs. Barley?

She had more than a dozen film roles before Mayberry.

Aunt Bee logged how many years in Mayberry, more than any other character?

She stayed on for Mayberry R.F.D. until 1970.

From which West Virginia town does Aunt Bee arrive in the first episode?

She replaced Andy's housekeeper Rose, who married and left.

What did Andy and Barney secretly call Aunt Bee's pickles?

Her marmalade, they said, smelled like ammonia; they hid both opinions to spare her feelings.

Gomer's surname was borrowed from which Andy Griffith Show actor?

Writer Everett Greenbaum based him on an incompetent gas station attendant he met.

Which Marine base does Andy accompany Gomer to in the Gomer Pyle pilot?

The pilot was filmed in 1963 but not aired until 1964.

In 'Return to Mayberry', Andy returns from a job as what in Cleveland?

He comes home to see Opie become a first-time father.

What job has the sober Otis Campbell taken in 'Return to Mayberry'?

The film was the highest-rated TV movie of 1986.

In which body of water do Gomer and Goober see a 'monster' in 'Return to Mayberry'?

It was a publicity stunt by businessman Wally Butler.

Which actress played Sam's cousin who replaced Aunt Bee as housekeeper in 'Mayberry R.F.D.'?

Aunt Bee left after the second season of the retitled show.

Which song did Jim Nabors sing before the Indianapolis 500 for decades?

He sang it almost every year from 1972 to 2014.

At which Santa Monica nightclub did Griffith discover Jim Nabors?

Nabors' act there already resembled the Gomer character.

What was Goober's surname when George Lindsey first joined the show in 1964?

He was renamed Goober Pyle to tie him to cousin Gomer.

Which radio Western character did Howard McNear originate before Floyd the barber?

A 1963 stroke left much of his left side paralyzed; Floyd was later shown seated.

Which Winnie the Pooh character did Hal Smith voice in four shorts?

He later took over the voice of Pooh himself and voiced Goofy from 1967 to 1983.

Mount Airy is home to the world's largest open-face quarry of what stone?

Its granite was used in the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Along which waterway does Mount Airy sit?

The town lies about three miles south of the Virginia line in the Blue Ridge foothills.

'A Face in the Crowd' was based on a Budd Schulberg short story with what title?

Lonesome Rhodes was a composite of Will Rogers, Huey Long, Arthur Godfrey and Tennessee Ernie Ford.

What faux product does Lonesome Rhodes pitch as a male enhancement supplement?

The film joined the National Film Registry in 2008.

Which magazine printed 'What It Was, Was Football' with illustrations in 1958?

Capitol ultimately sold nearly 800,000 copies of the record.

Which 1950 film featuring Betty Lynn was later remade with Steve Martin?

Lynn also toured the China Burma India Theater with the USO at 18.

Aneta Corsaut and which future superstar made their film debuts in 'The Blob'?

She later played Judge Cynthia Justin on Matlock.

In which episode did Helen Crump first appear?

She married the sheriff in the first episode of Mayberry R.F.D.

Which Broadway play did Griffith see Jack Dodson in before hiring him as Howard Sprague?

Dodson first played insurance agent Ed Jenkins in 'Lost and Found'.

Which recurring 'Happy Days' role did Jack Dodson play?

Mickey Malph was an optometrist.

Which jazz standard did Earle Hagen write in 1939 as a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges?

It later became the theme for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Which series earned Earle Hagen an Emmy in 1968?

Sheldon Leonard insisted on original music for every episode of I Spy.

In which Oklahoma town was Ron Howard born?

His father Rance took the stage name Howard in 1948; the family name was Beckenholdt.

Which 1962 musical film did Ron Howard appear in during his Opie years?

He was tutored at Desilu Studios while filming.

Which 1977 film was Ron Howard's directorial debut?

He left Happy Days in 1980 to focus on directing.

Where does Barney Fife keep his single bullet, on Andy's orders?

Andy makes him carry his revolver unloaded, with one round 'in case of an emergency' - though Barney tends to load it anyway and fire it by accident.

How are Andy and Barney said to be related in a few early first-season episodes?

It began as a joke implying nepotism got Barney his deputy's job; the writers quietly dropped it, just as Barney's middle name kept changing between episodes.

What is Barney Fife's full first name?

His middle name, by contrast, was a running continuity error that changed every time it was mentioned.

For which home-made treat, a favourite of Barney's, is Thelma Lou especially celebrated?

Played by Betty Lynn, Thelma Lou appeared in 26 episodes beginning with 'Cyrano Andy'; her surname is never given.

At whose funeral in 1960 did Barney first meet Thelma Lou?

She is also said to have graduated from Mayberry Union High in the same class as Barney and Andy.

Which character did George Lindsey originally read for before being cast as Goober?

The part went to Jim Nabors; both actors were Alabamians, Lindsey from Jasper and Nabors from Sylacauga.

Which episode is the only one in which Gomer and Goober appear together?

It was Goober's first appearance; both Pyle cousins worked at Wally's Filling Station.

What health crisis struck Howard McNear, Floyd the barber, midway through the third season in 1963?

He was left with limited use of his arms and legs, so later scenes were staged with Floyd seated or propped up.

Ernest T. Bass proudly calls himself the best what 'in the county'?

He vandalises property by hurling rocks through windows and takes great personal pride in it.

How many of the show's 249 episodes were filmed in black and white?

The remaining 90 were in colour; the series ran from October 1960 to April 1968 over eight seasons.

How soon after his death in 2012 was Andy Griffith buried, with no services held?

By prior arrangement he was laid to rest quietly in a cemetery on the North Carolina island where he had long lived.