Actor Andy Griffith, who found fame with his own show in the sixties and in detective series Matlock in the eighties, has died at the age of 86
He passed away at his home in North Carolina around 7am today according to Bill Friday, who is a close friend of the actor.
Griffith played Sheriff Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show for CBS from 1960-1968. On the show, Ron Howard played his son, Opie.
He found his greatest success again with legal drama Matlock, from 1986 to 1995. He played the title character, Ben Matlock who later gained hero status among the older folk in The Simpsons.
In 2000, Griffith underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery and in 2007 had hip surgery after a fall. He was married three times and was described as "a private man" who had been known to turn down autograph requests.
