Andy Griffith passed away today at the age of 86.

He was widely known has Sheriff Andy Taylor in the Andy Griffith Show and brought much happiness to all who watched the goings on in Mayberry with the Sheriff, Deputy Barney Fife, Aunt Bea, Opie, Gomer, Goober, Floyd, Howard, Otis, Thelma, Helen and many others.

The Andy Griffith spun off Mayberry RFD featuring Ken Berry and some of the regulars from the original series along with Gomer Pyle USMC featuring Jim Nabors. George Lindsey made a nice caraeer playing the Goober like character on Hee Haw after Mayberry RFD went off the air.

In the late 70′s Andy did a show called Salvage 1 but then achieved a rebirth of fame with the TV Show Matlock where he portrayed a very wealthy but cheap southern lawyer. In the later years of the show Don Knotts reunited with Griffith portraying his next door neighbor.

Many may not know that Andy Griffith loved to sing (did so on his show and Matlock on occasion) and recorded many albums including many Gospel songs and had a platinum album in the 90′s.

Goodbye and Thanks to a guy who gave us many hours of television enjoyment that was wholesome family entertainment.