BREAKING: Legendary TV Star Andy Griffith Dead at 86

It is being reported this morning that television icon Andy Griffith has passed away.

Andy’s close friend, former UNC President Bill Friday, broke the news to WITN News in North Carolina, saying that Griffith passed away at his home in Manteo, North Carolina this morning.

In addition to starring in his classic show, “The Andy Griffith Show”, “Mayberry R.F.D.,” and “Matlock”, Griffith was a Grammy award-winning southern gospel singer.  He began his career as a comedic monologist with the 1953 release of “What It Was, Was Football,” a massive hit both on radio and in stores, and earned two Tony nominations for his roles in the Army-based comedy “No Time for Sergeants” (which later became a feature film, starring himself and longtime friend and costar Don Knotts), and the musical “Destry Rides Again.”  He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.

Andy Griffith was 86 years old.