Hola!

I have heard rumors in the past that Andy Griffith was not that nice of a person, at least during the TAGS TV series. I have heard that he was very demanding, unfriendly, and somewhat of a jerk. Has anybody ever heard this before?

Mr. Griffith plays a wide range of character, some of which were quite dark, moody, arrogant and even murderous characters. Really TAGS is the only time I remember him ever playing a nice, friendly character. (I forgot No Time for Sargeants, one of the funniest movies of the 1950s w/ Don Knotts)

My third hand information was from an interview and/or a book by George Lindsey (Goober). I do know that Mr. Griffith does not go to the reunions of his old TV show, nor does he mingle or do anything else anymore. Granted, he is over 80 now (how's his general health?)

Anything to add?

Senor

ive never met him but ive herd many stories about him being not too friendly with fans or some of the people hes worked with some of the kid actors who have worked with him have said he was pretty friendly with them however.

I've actually heard the opposite. That he was for the most part, a very friendly, gracious person. Ron Howard has often said he was like a father to him and I've seen home movies taken on the set where it shows that. I'm sure almost everyone in Hollywood has worked with someone they didn't get along with fully or that wasn't overly friendly.
Guess its the same in Hollywood as it is at anybody's place of work - rarely do you get along with everyone.

I've also seen him on every reunion show and with the cast and writers at the T.V. Land Awards a year or two ago.

I do know he's had several health problems - even before he started acting. Forget what the condition is called, but he was crippled when he was younger and had to learn to walk all over again. Think it was something like Gilliume-Barr syndrome or something (excuse the lousy spelling)!

on the Biography of Andy Griffith nobody ever said anything bad about him.

altough to be fair i though george lindseys book was a big whine feast its written from the point of view of poor me everybody was mean to me thaat i ever worked with wahhhh so you have to take what he at least what he said about andy with a grain of salt even george said he wished he had written a better book

I've wondered if this might be true about Andy Griffith too and have read enough to believe it isn't. I think as he's grown older and had many health problems Andy probably has grown grumpier
and might not want to deal with constant and probably sometimes foolish fan attention. Don Knotts said Andy seemed more tense when he was working on Matlock than the old show. Andy himself said he had a bad temper and was a SOB to be around when he was unhappy. But he told it on himself. He was also best friends with Don Knotts, who has a reputation as a very nice guy. Ron Howard has the same type of reputation and has always spoken very highly of Griffith as a person. I read a book by Alan Rafkin who directed many,
many classic tv shows and who told the dirt on which stars were the easiest and worst to work with and I was surprised to see his opinion of Andy. He did a lot of TAGS. He said of all the shows he worked on, TAGS was the most fun and professional with never any signs of temperment from any of the cast. (I just grabbed the book
from under my bed. I'm a slob.) "Andy was one of the most decent people I've ever known. He was perpetually smiling and usually it was because of something Don Knotts had done to make him laugh.
In fact the only person I ever knew that Andy didn't get along with was Jack Burns..." (That's
also where Andy mentioned being a SOB when he was uptight about the Jack Burns stuff not working.)
I might as well finish what Rafkin wrote. "Andy showed me what it could be like to work on a series and really enjoy myself. We did our work and we did it as a real team, taking our cues from Andy who was gentle sweet and very considerate. If I sound overly complimentary it's only because those qualities are not the kind you find in the stars of most television series." That's what sold me finally. I liked Lindsey's book but he also pointed out he got very arrogant when he became
famous as Goober. In another interview he was very annoyed that he wasn't asked to be on Matlock when others from the old show were. And when asked who
complained on the old show, one time he said it probably was him. George is probably nicer now,
and Andy might be somewhat grumpier but that's how it goes. Sorry for the long post. I got wound up.

Hmmm. I would be surprised to find out that he was a mean person. :(

I've wondered if this might be true about Andy Griffith too and have read enough to believe it isn't. I think as he's grown older and had many health problems Andy probably has grown grumpier
and might not want to deal with constant and probably sometimes foolish fan attention. Don Knotts said Andy seemed more tense when he was working on Matlock than the old show. Andy himself said he had a bad temper and was a SOB to be around when he was unhappy. But he told it on himself. He was also best friends with Don Knotts, who has a reputation as a very nice guy. Ron Howard has the same type of reputation and has always spoken very highly of Griffith as a person. I read a book by Alan Rafkin who directed many,
many classic tv shows and who told the dirt on which stars were the easiest and worst to work with and I was surprised to see his opinion of Andy. He did a lot of TAGS. He said of all the shows he worked on, TAGS was the most fun and professional with never any signs of temperment from any of the cast. (I just grabbed the book
from under my bed. I'm a slob.) "Andy was one of the most decent people I've ever known. He was perpetually smiling and usually it was because of something Don Knotts had done to make him laugh.
In fact the only person I ever knew that Andy didn't get along with was Jack Burns..." (That's
also where Andy mentioned being a SOB when he was uptight about the Jack Burns stuff not working.)
I might as well finish what Rafkin wrote. "Andy showed me what it could be like to work on a series and really enjoy myself. We did our work and we did it as a real team, taking our cues from Andy who was gentle sweet and very considerate. If I sound overly complimentary it's only because those qualities are not the kind you find in the stars of most television series." That's what sold me finally. I liked Lindsey's book but he also pointed out he got very arrogant when he became
famous as Goober. In another interview he was very annoyed that he wasn't asked to be on Matlock when others from the old show were. And when asked who
complained on the old show, one time he said it probably was him. George is probably nicer now,
and Andy might be somewhat grumpier but that's how it goes. Sorry for the long post. I got wound up.i have that same book by alan rafkin cue the bunny on the rainbow if you like jucy gossipy stuff about tv stars this is the book for you

Hola!

I also read that Francis Bavier disliked Andy Griffith, but have heard that she was very difficult to work with and was demanding and bull headed.

Senor

Hola!

I also read that Francis Bavier disliked Andy Griffith, but have heard that she was very difficult to work with and was demanding and bull headed.

Senor


Yes - I've heard nasty things about Francis too. She felt the role of Aunt Bea was "beneath" her. Seems odd because the character was so sweet.

My cousin Mary Ann and her husband Michael were story editors on some very popular shows in the 1980s. They also wrote for other series, including Matlock.

Sadly, I have nothing good to report concerning Andy Griffith's on-set personality. It really wasn't(according to Mary Ann) a question of "professionalism", because everyone is always trying to do his or her best. It was a question of AG being a "starhead" -- someone who just thought he was better, more talented, wiser, and more professional than anyone else. He was rude to all non-regular cast members and to most of the crew.

My cousin was also good friends with Elinor Donahue, who had nothing good to say about her experience with AGS's first season. Donahue is as kind as she is professional(and pretty). But it was his show and he didn't give a hoot about what she thought was right. He saw her as nothing more than someone who lucked out because of her good looks, someone who rode the coattails of Robert Young during the successful 6 seasons of "Father Knows Best". Basically, a piece of fluff. Anyone who has seen Elinor Donahue on FKB or AGS would know damn straight that the last thing she is is an airhead. But Andy-boy treated that way, and because of that she couldn't wait to get out of her contract. Too bad, because Ellie Walker was -- IMHO -- easily the best babe Sheriff Taylor ever had.

I actually had the chance to meet Andy a couple of years ago at a BMI reception in Nashville. Not that this gives me tremendous insight into the man, but during that brief moment when I shook his hand and exchanged a few comments with him, he made me feel like I was the only person in hte room. He grippeb my hand, and paid me his full attention while I stammered out how much I enjoyed the shows and his contributions to the entertainment world.

I have read a lot about Andy, including many things he wrote. I also have met George Lindsey on numerous occasions and think highly of him. I know George much better than I will ever know Andy. So... who was right?

Both of them.

You guys go to school, have jobs, live in families. Everyone has their good days and their bad days. Some of the nicest people you know also have a bit of temper when they are under pressure, and some equally nice folks struggle with a chip on their shoulder. Most of you do, too, as well as myself. Andy and George both cme from poverty and the wrong side of the tracks. Both of them struggled hard to pull out of poverty and to find acceptance. George turned to alcohol. Andy had a temper. They were and remain fine men who struggled with the same kinds of problems you and I do. They were niether one perfect - they still aren't perfect. But Andy wanted badly to create something good, honest, even noble when he created a small town full of quirky people who managed to pull together more times than not to make something good out of a bad situation... much like Andy and George both tried to do with their own lives.

Most people who acieve celebrity do get tired of insensitive fans who want the celebrity to perform on the spot. It would be nice to think they would drop everything to greet every fan, perform every impromptu line or song, sign every autograph with a hige smile plastered on their face, no matter how busy they are, no matter if they are trying to have a private conversation with a friend over a meal, or are trying to get to their next meeting or the doctor's office - whatever. But NONE OF US could live that way - be on call to drop everything for fans at the drop of a hat and put real life on hold while we smile, sign, and pose for pictures.

We don't want to be judged on our worst moments and want people to see us as we really are. We want everyone to give us a break and understand our motives are good even if we do get tired and frustrated and our tempers flare at times.

On set Andy is remembered by most as a kind and generous mentor, who gave even young Ronnie Howard a say in how things went on the show. Did Andy have a tember at times? Yes. Is the sum total of the man much, much greater then the times his temper showed? Yes.

Hola!

I also read that Francis Bavier disliked Andy Griffith, but have heard that she was very difficult to work with and was demanding and bull headed.

Senor

I had read this also. I don't believe everything I read though.

My dad once worked with a guy whose brother worked as a gaffer in Hollywood. He did work with Andy Griffith and said AG was a big jerk - demanding and rude. On the other hand, he said Bruce Willis was a terrific guy - down to earth, funny, and treated everyone great. It's a shame about AG, though. :(

Many years ago I meet the props master from the show, he had nothing but nice things to say about AG.
He did however point out that from time to time he became a little frustrated with his complete lack of control of elements of the show.
But for anyone who has worked on a set, these shows were pumped out fast so you really had no chance to be bratty.
All actors have their moments, after all your playing with your mind at all times..so sometimes when your trying to get it down you can be a little snappy.
Don Knotts loved Andy and made no bones about it in a private conversation we once had, and Don was a honest straight shooter..I would beleave him.

It would seem as if the opinions are varied to say the least, but, it sounds as if , in general, he was a good guy, but let the pressures of the job get to him at times......in other words, pretty much like anyone else.

If you want to know about Andy Griffith then ask someone from Mt. Airey or better yet ask someone from Manteo, N.C. They all have a low opinion of the man. As a matter of fact ask the people from Mt. Airey how many times they asked him to come back for a dedication service or parade. I think they got tired of asking. Or ask the people that run "The Lost Colony" where Andy Griffith got his start in Manteo how many times they have asked him back for a guest apperance.

We live near Manteo and two of our friends have had bad experiences. One worked in the ACE Hardware store in Manteo. He said everyday Mr. Griffith would come in and you better not speak to him because he would either grunt at you or yell.

My other friend saw Mr. Griffith leaving the local supermarket and just wanted to say "Thanks for making T.V. so wonderful for all the family to enjoy" Before she could get the first word out he started yelling "Leave me alone...get away from me" another friend had a similar experience outside a restaurant in Nags Head.

Now I know I can be grumpy but I'm never rude and I work with people every day.

I like the old shows but my opinion of AG is not much.

I alwas heard to he was hard to get along with.

I have seen Nancy Stafford, his Matlock co-star, interviewed and she said that she and Andy Griffith never really got along. Ms. Stafford also happens to be a devout Christian, motivational speaker and author. Andy Griffith has also gone on record as being a Christian, too. Odd. :confused:

It also could be that he didn't get along too well with Matlock creator Dean Hargrove,because in the shows' last NBC season(1991-1992),Andy Griffith replaced Dean Hargrove as co-executive producer with Fred Silverman,and on the ABC shows it was the same way,with Fred Silverman and Andy Griffith as Executive producers.Before,(up until 1991-1992),it was Fred Silverman and Dean Hargrove who were executive producers.

And that could be why Linda Purl left when she did(she left after her brief final appearance in NBC's first season's "The People vs.Matlock"-did THEY get along?),and why Keene Holliday as Det.Tyler Hudson left after the 2-parter NBC episode"The Thief",Clarence Gilyard,Jr.as Det.Conrad McMasters left to do "Walker,Texas Ranger",and Brynn Thayer left when she did.Did ANY of them get along with Andy Griffith?

I have no idea - I don't really know a whole lot about Matlock, to be honest.

Years ago, I saw an interview with Andy Griffith. One of the questions asked was "Which character is closest to how you are; Andy Taylor or Ben Matlock?"
His reply was Ben Matlock; mainly because he admitted that he's not very patient with people and he can be grumpy.

At least he was being honest.

Years ago, I saw an interview with Andy Griffith. One of the questions asked was "Which character is closest to how you are; Andy Taylor or Ben Matlock?"
His reply was Ben Matlock; mainly because he admitted that he's not very patient with people and he can be grumpy.

At least he was being honest.
and Matlock sure was grumpy. But at least he liked his hot dogs. lol

and Matlock sure was grumpy. But at least he liked his hot dogs. lol
:rofl:

The character Andy Taylor even changed during the run of TAGS. In the early seasons, Andy was happy-go-lucky. In the later seasons, he was short with people and grumpy. And that was just the character. I always thought that he probably had a lot of fun when the show first started, but got tired of the show before he was willing to give it up.

Having seen Matlock too, I think he is probably more like Matlock and the later-season Andy Taylor than the early season Andy.

The character Andy Taylor even changed during the run of TAGS. In the early seasons, Andy was happy-go-lucky. In the later seasons, he was short with people and grumpy. And that was just the character. I always thought that he probably had a lot of fun when the show first started, but got tired of the show before he was willing to give it up.

Having seen Matlock too, I think he is probably more like Matlock and the later-season Andy Taylor than the early season Andy.
I think after Don Knotts left, it just wasn't the same for him. Don was his other half. He had nobody to play against.

I think after Don Knotts left, it just wasn't the same for him. Don was his other half. He had nobody to play against.
Yup - I also think that's a huge reason why only the Don Knotts era was/is shown in many of the syndication packages.

I think after Don Knotts left, it just wasn't the same for him. Don was his other half. He had nobody to play against.



After Don Knotts left, the show went to sh*t.

After Don Knotts left, the show went to sh*t.
Plus, no one remembers Warren - or if they do, it's not by name and only as the guy who came in after Don Knotts/Barney Fife left. Jack Burns really was in a no-win situation, trying to fill Mr. Knotts' shoes.

I think after Don Knotts left, it just wasn't the same for him. Don was his other half. He had nobody to play against.

It wasn't the same without Barney.

Knotts wanted for Andy to make him a partner and stay on the show.Andy would not do it because he was affraid it would hurt their friendship.

It wasn't the same without Barney.

Knotts wanted for Andy to make him a partner and stay on the show.Andy would not do it because he was affraid it would hurt their friendship.

It would have cost Andy money, and plenty of it. He had a commitment from the network, so the dollars were all ready there without Don in the mix. Don also would have been cut in on the off network rights so making him a partner just wasn't going to happen. In the end it's business.

It would have cost Andy money, and plenty of it. He had a commitment from the network, so the dollars were all ready there without Don in the mix. Don also would have been cut in on the off network rights so making him a partner just wasn't going to happen. In the end it's business.

Thanks, I never knew many of the details.

TAGS is my favorite sitcom of all time, and will remain so. I have also heard the rumors about the "real-life" Andy, and frankly in many interviews (the one he did years ago with Ralph Emery on TNN comes to mind) some of that personality shows up. As an earlier poster stated, Griffith was likely a complicated individual who at times could be decent, and other times less than admirable. It is apparent that he did cultivate an entourage of actors, whom he remained true friends with, and whom he continued to use in Matlock. His friendships with Don Knotts and Ron Howard are apparently genuine. On the other hand if he didn't like someone, or vice-versa, this was apparently something that stuck. My conclusion is that Andy Griffith is a brilliant artist who is possessed with the stereotypical artistic temperament.

Jack Burns, a New Yorker, was ill-suited to play a deputy in rural North Carolina; not to mention the impossible task of following in Don Knotts' footsteps. The "Warren" character simply wasn't funny, and I find many of those episodes unwatchable. Later Burns' career as a comic took off in the 1970's when he teamed with Avery Schreiber, the taxi routine a classic. After Warren, Barney was more or less "replaced" by Goober, Howard, Emmit, Clara, et al folk depending on the story-line. Though the color episodes were not as good, that seemed to work pretty well, as the show really became about the town itself.

Speaking of Barney's "replacement," there is an interesting episode, the final one of the Don Knotts years. Ironically, it is an episode which didn't feature Knotts and in it Aunt Bea actually refers to Barney's position as deputy in the past-tense. It features Jerry Van Dyke as a banjo player who is fired from a carnival, and at one point decides to put on the deputy uniform, a decision which ultimately creates a few problems for Andy. I always wondered if that episode was meant to audition Van Dyke as the replacment, and didn't work out for whatever reason. I don't know if that is true, but that episode always makes me wonder.

One can say with a certain amount of confidence that George Lindsey and Griffith are not the best of chums. I read somewhere years ago that Lindsey was the original choice to play Gomer, until Griffith saw Jim Nabors perform a stand-up routine. Think of a hick version of Andy Kaufman's ill-at-ease immigrant stand-up who suddenly goes into the Elvis routine. Nabors would play a Gomer-type of character who would eventually begin singing in his famous baritone voice. Anyway, I believe it is possible that despite eventually winning a regular role on the show as Goober, Lindsey may have harbored some bitterness over being bumped from the first role. Then again that theory may be all wet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFwgzOxs0yM

I hate to think of Andy as being a "jerk" but there are moments while watching the show where the guy who plays this lovable kindhearted sheriff has this look of anger and deep intensity on his face even in the most innocuous of scenes. Perhaps he was an alcoholic like Johnny Carson? I don't know much about his background but I know some people can get out of control angry when they drink too much.:( It would explain the mood swings. Or perhaps he was bi polar? Who knows?

Incidentally, his greatest performance was "A Face In The Crowd" where he played a very disturbed and narcissistic sociopath. It was chilling to watch. I thought he deserved the Academy Award for that one.

I have never heard the Andy was mean or difficult to work with. The one on the show I heard that was difficult to work with was Aunt Bee(Frances Bavier).

Speaking of Barney's "replacement," there is an interesting episode, the final one of the Don Knotts years. Ironically, it is an episode which didn't feature Knotts and in it Aunt Bea actually refers to Barney's position as deputy in the past-tense. It features Jerry Van Dyke as a banjo player who is fired from a carnival, and at one point decides to put on the deputy uniform, a decision which ultimately creates a few problems for Andy. I always wondered if that episode was meant to audition Van Dyke as the replacment, and didn't work out for whatever reason. I don't know if that is true, but that episode always makes me wonder.

Jerry Van Dyke actually "was" intended to play the deputy role, but he turned it down to play Dave Crabtree in My Mother the Car.

Everyone on this thread should sometime read the recent book "Andy and Don" by Daniel de Vise. An excellent book that serves as a biography of both, along with a detailed look at their long friendship.

Apparently, Andy was always very loyal to those who were loyal to him, but had little use for people that he thought had betrayed him in one way or another. And, once he decided that someone had done him wrong, he held a grudge about it for years.

Andy grew up on the poor "working class" south side of Mt. Airy and the more "well to do" kids on the north side teased him and made fun of him and wanted nothing to do with him. UNTIL he became famous. There's a story about a busload of people form Mt. Airy traveling to New York to see him in "No Time For Sergeants", after the show they wanted to go backstage to see him and he sent the stage manager out to tell them all to go away. And after that he refused to go to Mt. Airy for years. And I don't blame him.

He also thought that Elinor Donahue had betrayed him by leaving the show after the first year. She was wise enough to see that her role on the show was going nowhere. Andy apparently didn't like doing love scenes. Also, she was about 11 years younger than he was and when on screen they looked more like an uncle and niece than a couple. And, according to Elinor, they were always taking her funny lines away and giving them to Don because he was just a funnier character and got a bigger laugh. But after she left, Andy had little to do with her and barely spoke when they'd see each other at Hollywood social events.

As opposed to Howard McNear (Floyd). Andy always felt that Howard was a true, loyal friend and stuck by him to the very end--even devising special props so that he could continue to be on the show after he had his stroke.

First I should say I have always liked TAGS since I was a kid in the '60's and watched when it was first broadcast. But even back then I could see Andy's personality on the show went from carefree and laid back and jolly:lol: in the b/w years to being surly, grouchy, nasty and seemed to go around with a permanent mad-on:mad: ready to blow up at the slightest irritation at what he now considered all moronic rubes that he ran into.

In more recent years I have also read how Andy was really a nasty and mean jerk in real life. You can even see this small minded side of his personality in some small Matlock mannerisms.

Look, as much as I would like to think Andy was just as nice and sweet as he was in the b/w years, fact is he was a genuine nasty and angry jerk. He even seemed to turn on America itself when he publicly supported the thoroughly anti-American Obama. Andy, it seems just couldn't get over his own angers and grudges he held against anyone including his own country even though they did their best to embrace him:confused: . Now, he's met his own judgment, so be it.:wave:

Ms. Hazel...

Did I say that Andy was as nice and sweet in real life as he was in the b&w years? No, only that the book I read about him explains a lot of why he was the way he was, and that in one case, I don't blame him. But yeah, you're right, there were many incidents over the years where he was--arguably--an angry jerk. Still, I like the characters he played.

That being said, Andy's personal political views have nothing to do with anything. But, since you brought it up, based on what you said about Obama I'll bet that you voted for Donald Trump. If you did, then you just voted for one of the most temperamental, thin-skinned, grudge-holding, angry jerks who have ever lived.

A correction to note, I am all HE-MAN, proud American, & totally against anyone including your beloved commie Obama and Hillary to boot. Yes I proudly voted:cool: for someone who is already, BEFORE even being sworn in, is doing wonders for THIS country that Obama couldn't accomplish in 8 horrid apology world tour years. Just shameful, people like you who voted for the totally anti-constitution democrats, you need to hang your head in shame and re-think your reason for even living here in this, the once (8 years ago) greatest country in the world. I really really wish you commie lib democrats would keep your promise for just once and leave the country as you promised if the greatest president since Ronald Reagan would be proudly elected. I can only hope I can wave bye-bye to you anti-American bums. I understand your Heaven on earth, Cuba, has a new vacancy. I'd just love to see you commies move to an actual commie land to see what fools you are for yourself first hand. That is my fondest wish to you all.:p

Now that I've put you in your place, back to Andy. First off, who the heck are you to think I was addressing my comments about Jerky boy Andy to you.:crazy: Believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around you and you were not even in a single thought in my entire post.:D Hate to break it to you little Missy, but you just ain't that impotent.:lol:

TAGS is my favorite sitcom of all time, and will remain so. I have also heard the rumors about the "real-life" Andy, and frankly in many interviews (the one he did years ago with Ralph Emery on TNN comes to mind) some of that personality shows up. As an earlier poster stated, Griffith was likely a complicated individual who at times could be decent, and other times less than admirable. It is apparent that he did cultivate an entourage of actors, whom he remained true friends with, and whom he continued to use in Matlock. His friendships with Don Knotts and Ron Howard are apparently genuine. On the other hand if he didn't like someone, or vice-versa, this was apparently something that stuck. My conclusion is that Andy Griffith is a brilliant artist who is possessed with the stereotypical artistic temperament.

Jack Burns, a New Yorker, was ill-suited to play a deputy in rural North Carolina; not to mention the impossible task of following in Don Knotts' footsteps. The "Warren" character simply wasn't funny, and I find many of those episodes unwatchable. Later Burns' career as a comic took off in the 1970's when he teamed with Avery Schreiber, the taxi routine a classic. After Warren, Barney was more or less "replaced" by Goober, Howard, Emmit, Clara, et al folk depending on the story-line. Though the color episodes were not as good, that seemed to work pretty well, as the show really became about the town itself.

Speaking of Barney's "replacement," there is an interesting episode, the final one of the Don Knotts years. Ironically, it is an episode which didn't feature Knotts and in it Aunt Bea actually refers to Barney's position as deputy in the past-tense. It features Jerry Van Dyke as a banjo player who is fired from a carnival, and at one point decides to put on the deputy uniform, a decision which ultimately creates a few problems for Andy. I always wondered if that episode was meant to audition Van Dyke as the replacment, and didn't work out for whatever reason. I don't know if that is true, but that episode always makes me wonder.

One can say with a certain amount of confidence that George Lindsey and Griffith are not the best of chums. I read somewhere years ago that Lindsey was the original choice to play Gomer, until Griffith saw Jim Nabors perform a stand-up routine. Think of a hick version of Andy Kaufman's ill-at-ease immigrant stand-up who suddenly goes into the Elvis routine. Nabors would play a Gomer-type of character who would eventually begin singing in his famous baritone voice. Anyway, I believe it is possible that despite eventually winning a regular role on the show as Goober, Lindsey may have harbored some bitterness over being bumped from the first role. Then again that theory may be all wet.

Griffith and Lindsey did not get on that well during their tenure on TAGS. While they would go on camping/hunting trips with Jack Dodson and two other friends of Griffiths the majority of the time was spent with the two butting heads throughout the course of TAGS and into Mayberry RFD. However after the death of Don Knotts Griffith and Lindsey started to become on friendlier terms. As Griffith said in an interview after Lindsey's death "We often called each other to talk about how things we're going. Our relationship now is we can say "I love you" and mean it." I think

I actually had the chance to meet Andy a couple of years ago at a BMI reception in Nashville. Not that this gives me tremendous insight into the man, but during that brief moment when I shook his hand and exchanged a few comments with him, he made me feel like I was the only person in hte room. He grippeb my hand, and paid me his full attention while I stammered out how much I enjoyed the shows and his contributions to the entertainment world.

I have read a lot about Andy, including many things he wrote. I also have met George Lindsey on numerous occasions and think highly of him. I know George much better than I will ever know Andy. So... who was right?

Both of them.

You guys go to school, have jobs, live in families. Everyone has their good days and their bad days. Some of the nicest people you know also have a bit of temper when they are under pressure, and some equally nice folks struggle with a chip on their shoulder. Most of you do, too, as well as myself. Andy and George both cme from poverty and the wrong side of the tracks. Both of them struggled hard to pull out of poverty and to find acceptance. George turned to alcohol. Andy had a temper. They were and remain fine men who struggled with the same kinds of problems you and I do. They were niether one perfect - they still aren't perfect. But Andy wanted badly to create something good, honest, even noble when he created a small town full of quirky people who managed to pull together more times than not to make something good out of a bad situation... much like Andy and George both tried to do with their own lives.

Most people who acieve celebrity do get tired of insensitive fans who want the celebrity to perform on the spot. It would be nice to think they would drop everything to greet every fan, perform every impromptu line or song, sign every autograph with a hige smile plastered on their face, no matter how busy they are, no matter if they are trying to have a private conversation with a friend over a meal, or are trying to get to their next meeting or the doctor's office - whatever. But NONE OF US could live that way - be on call to drop everything for fans at the drop of a hat and put real life on hold while we smile, sign, and pose for pictures.

We don't want to be judged on our worst moments and want people to see us as we really are. We want everyone to give us a break and understand our motives are good even if we do get tired and frustrated and our tempers flare at times.

On set Andy is remembered by most as a kind and generous mentor, who gave even young Ronnie Howard a say in how things went on the show. Did Andy have a temper at times? Yes. Is the sum total of the man much, much greater then the times his temper showed? Yes.

I have read both things about Andy, and I think that this above post says it very well. Personally, I am a school social worker, and I just had a conversation with my wife a few days ago about how I would like my students to remember me. I hope that they remember me positively, but there is no way all of them will, because there are some who caught me on a bad day, and that is the only interaction they had with me. Others, who didnt like what I had to say, may think I didnt do enough for them. I have tried, everyday, but sometimes you just don't get it done.

A person has to be "on" when you deal with the public, every minute of every day. I try to be, but it is exhausting (I have always worked in low income communities) when you are dealing with difficult situations constantly. Then we all have personal lives that spill over, and impact how we interact with others. So if a student talked me on the first few days of school, after all of my small children slept through the night, and my wife and I were getting along perfectly, and I was feeling physically great, they would think I was the nicest guy in the world! I had 5 close family members pass away last year. I bet I was not at my best a lot of the time. I still tried, but I went into a more self-preserving mode. So at the end of the year I was exhausted and burned out. I didnt have the best of me to give, though I tried.

Andy may have come to the same point, on a different scale, but a person becomes exhausted dealing with fame and everything that comes with it.

Andy was married three times, Barbara from 1949-1972, Solica from 1973-1981, and Cindi from 1983-2012 (his death). He adopted two children with his first wife. They may have struggled with infertility, and the sorrow, and in those days, stigma that would have brought. Wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy.

He clearly had a lot of pressures from the fame that his show brought him, as he continues to be a household name, though his show went off the air almost 50 years ago.

His son, Andy Jr., was an alcoholic who died in 1996 at the age of 38. It is miserable for a parent to out-live their child. That would make anyone look at life a little differently, and probably impact their mood, maybe permanently.

In sum, Andy brought us what I consider the pinnacle of Americana, the best television show of all time, full of morality tales, Faith and family values, and left his mark on all of us. The show reminds us of a simpler time, and a world that everyone would love to live in. For that contribution, he will always be remembered, and fondly. I think there was probably a lot of Andy Griffith in Sheriff Taylor, and like anyone, he had his good days and bad.

God Bless his memory.

Kevin

With some uneasiness about speaking ill of an actor whom millions of viewers remember with great affection (and I'm old enough to remember how good Griffith was when he starred in the 1959 Broadway musical "Destry Rides Again"), I have to pass along this memory: Some years ago, I attended a wedding and was seated next to a young man who was introduced as a working TV actor. And indeed, he had lots of good stories. I couldn't resist asking him who, of all the people he'd encountered, he'd found most unpleasant. Without a moment's hesitation he said Andy Griffith, whom he described as nasty, bad-tempered, in fact downright cruel. He said Griffith was the one actor he'd never work with again.

P.S. For the record, there are only two other actors I've ever heard such bad things about, at least as attested to by those who worked with them: Val Kilmer and Henry Fonda.

With some uneasiness about speaking ill of an actor whom millions of viewers remember with great affection (and I'm old enough to remember how good Griffith was when he starred in the 1959 Broadway musical "Destry Rides Again"), I have to pass along this memory: Some years ago, I attended a wedding and was seated next to a young man who was introduced as a working TV actor. And indeed, he had lots of good stories. I couldn't resist asking him who, of all the people he'd encountered, he'd found most unpleasant. Without a moment's hesitation he said Andy Griffith, whom he described as nasty, bad-tempered, in fact downright cruel. He said Griffith was the one actor he'd never work with again.

P.S. For the record, there are only two other actors I've ever heard such bad things about, at least as attested to by those who worked with them: Val Kilmer and Henry Fonda.
Don't remember the young actor's name I gather?

>> Don't remember the young actor's name I gather? <<

Excellent question. Unfortunately, I don't watch enough TV (and didn't at the time) to have recognized his name when we were introduced, so I'm sure it never even registered in the first place. He was young and in no way important -- but of course, it's the way a celebrity treats those beneath him that reveals his true character.

I've actually heard the opposite. That he was for the most part, a very friendly, gracious person. Ron Howard has often said he was like a father to him and I've seen home movies taken on the set where it shows that. I'm sure almost everyone in Hollywood has worked with someone they didn't get along with fully or that wasn't overly friendly.
Guess its the same in Hollywood as it is at anybody's place of work - rarely do you get along with everyone.

I've also seen him on every reunion show and with the cast and writers at the T.V. Land Awards a year or two ago.

I do know he's had several health problems - even before he started acting. Forget what the condition is called, but he was crippled when he was younger and had to learn to walk all over again. Think it was something like Gilliume-Barr syndrome or something (excuse the lousy spelling)!

:yeahthat

A cousin of Andy told me he had nothing to do with any family reunions and he told them not to invite him again. I can relate to that since I often feel the same since I hate getting those invitations also.

I think Andy had his good days and bad days like most humans do. But being literally one of the most famous people of all-time had to be stressful. A fan may only want a moment of his time and not understand why Andy might be so surly, but you have to imagine how many times a day some fan who saw Andy also wanted the same thing. Had Andy not occasionally been gruff he'd have spent the rest of his life in seclusion or signing autographs day in and day out.

As for crew and cast I suppose he had varying dealings with them. Hopefully he wasn't too difficult since they had to work with him daily opposed to fans who wanted to meet him.

Ms. Hazel...

Did I say that Andy was as nice and sweet in real life as he was in the b&w years? No, only that the book I read about him explains a lot of why he was the way he was, and that in one case, I don't blame him. But yeah, you're right, there were many incidents over the years where he was--arguably--an angry jerk. Still, I like the characters he played.

That being said, Andy's personal political views have nothing to do with anything. But, since you brought it up, based on what you said about Obama I'll bet that you voted for Donald Trump. If you did, then you just voted for one of the most temperamental, thin-skinned, grudge-holding, angry jerks who have ever lived.
You are describing Barack Obama to a T.