Andy Griffith dies at the age of 86

LA: Friend and former UNC President Bill Friday has said Andy Griffith has died, while the Dare County Sheriff's Department confirms  that they rushed to his home in North Carolina this morning.  The actor was best known for The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD, and Matlock and for playing Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes in Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd.

Emergency medical crews responded to Griffith's home this morning, Dare County Sheriff J.D. Doughtie told WAVY.com.

Griffith, who was born in Mt. Airy, N.C., was launched to fame as Sheriff Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show for the CBS television network from 1960-1968. On the show, Ron Howard played his son, Opie. He starred on other shows and in films, but found his greatest success again with legal drama Matlock, from 1986 to 1995. He played the title character, Ben Matlock.

In 2000, Griffith underwent quadruple heart-bypass surgery and in 2007 had hip surgery after a fall.