Andy Griffith, star of The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock died this morning at his home in Dare County, North Carolina around 7 a.m.

This morning, 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 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.

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To me, TV just ain't what it used to be.

I believe the best era of television was when I was growing up in the 1960's, with shows like "Andy Griffith",  "Gunsmoke" and many others. Today I can't find anything as good those two examples with hundreds of channels to choose from.

Some of my favorite Andy Griffith shows were the one's with the "Darlings", who in real life are a bluegrass group called "The Dillards".

The Darlings are a family from up in the hills near Mayberry and Sheriff Andy Taylor enjoys playing a little music with them whenever they happen to get together.


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