He began college studying to be a Moravian preacher, but he changed his major to music and became a part of the school's Carolina Playmakers. He attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and graduated with a bachelor of music degree in 1949. He performed as a cast member of the play for several years, playing a variety of roles, until he finally landed the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, the namesake of North Carolina's capital. Griffith was delighted when he was offered a role in The Lost Colony by Paul Green, a play about Roanoke Island still performed today. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout high school until graduation in 1944. Griffith was raised Baptist and looked up to Ed Mickey, a minister at Grace Moravian Church, who led the brass band and taught him to sing and play the trombone. A growing love of music, particularly swing, would change his life.

He was a shy student, but once he found a way to make his peers laugh, he began to come out of his shell and come into his own.Īs a student at Mount Airy High School, Griffith cultivated an interest in the arts, and he participated in the school's drama program.

By the time he entered school, he was well aware that he was from what many considered the 'wrong side of the tracks'. In 1929, when Griffith was three, his father began working as a carpenter and purchased a home in Mount Airy's 'blue-collar' south side. With neither a crib nor a bed, he slept in dresser drawers for several months. As a baby, Griffith lived with relatives until his parents could afford to buy a home. Griffith was born the same day (June 1, 1926) as motion picture icon Marilyn Monroe. Griffith was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the only child of Carl Lee Griffith and his wife, Geneva (Nunn). He was a Tony Award nominee for two roles, and gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead character in the 1960–1968 situation comedy The Andy Griffith Show and in the 1986–1995 legal drama Matlock.

Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, television producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer.

Football story by andy griffith