Andy Griffith Dies at 86

Andy Griffith, an actor best known for his role as a small-town sheriff Andy Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show," died Tuesday at 86-years in North Carolina, Reuter's reports.

"At approximately 7:00 AM, July 3, 2012, Andy Griffith passed away at his home on Roanoke Island, Dare County, North Carolina, said Dade County Sherrif J.D. "Dough" Doughtie, via a written statement. "The family will release further information shortly. We appreciate your concern and I extend my condolences to the family."

Griffith grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, which is believed to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry, where the Andy Griffith Show took place. The governor of the state, Beverly Perdue, called Griffith North Carlina's "favorite son," and CNN's website quotes her as saying, "Throughout his career, he represented everything that was good about North Carolina: a small town boy and UNC graduate who took a light-hearted approach to some of the attributes he grew up with and turned them into a spectacularly successful career. And regardless of where that career took him, he always came back..."

In addition to that role during the 1960s, Griffith also played the role of defense lawyer Matlock in the 1980s and '90s. Besides a successful television career, however, Griffith was nominated for two Tony awards -- once for the 1955 Broadway play "No Time for Sergeants," and again for 1960's "Destry Rides Again."

Furthermore, Griffith received a Grammy for his 1996 album, "I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns." The religious album was a fitting project for Griffith who majored in music during college and once seriously considered being a member of the clergy. In fact, the album earned him induction into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007. He's also a member of Televison Hall of Fame.

Griffith was married three times, and is survived by two children from his two children from his first marriage. He had a third child who passed away at 36 due to a drug overdose.