Andy Griffith was born in 1926 in Mount Airy, N.C. Throughout his expansive career as an actor, Griffith received acclaim for his work with The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock.
Before his death in 2012, the actor earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom. While Griffith went on to have a successful career, the actor came from a humble background. When he was a young child, Griffith slept in drawers because he did not have a crib or bed.
The career Andy Griffith wanted when he was young
Nowadays, it would be hard to imagine Griffith being anything other than an actor, especially due to his beloved role as Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show. However, throughout his childhood, Griffith dreamed of becoming a Moravian preacher.
The actor was raised Baptist, but he had a special interest in music at a young age. Griffith learned to sing and play the trombone with help from a minister at Grace Moravian Church. When Griffith began attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1944, he planned to study divinity so he could be a Moravian preacher.
Eventually, Griffith’s passion for the arts led him to change his major to music. Throughout his college experience, he was involved in theatre with the university, most notably the famous Carolina Playmakers company.
After graduating from college, Griffith taught music at a high school in North Carolina before pursuing a career in acting.
Andy Griffith slept in drawers as a child
Growing up, Griffith’s parents were saving to buy a house and Griffith lived with relatives. During this time of his life, Griffith did not have a crib or a bed.
“Before his parents bought a house, Andy Griffith had no crib or bed to sleep in. He spent the first few months of his life sleeping in drawers,” the Chicago Tribune reported.
Mayberry, the town featured in The Andy Griffith Show, was based on the town Griffith was born and raised in. Griffith continued to have a love of the state he was born in throughout his life. While he never became a Moravian preacher, Griffith and his wife joined Grace Moravian Church in 2009.
“Actor Andy Griffith first became associated with Grace Moravian Church while living in Mount Airy in the early 1940s, and now that relationship has come full circle with his officially joining its congregation,” the Mount Airy News published.
The actor received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
To many, Griffith’s work ethic and success proved to be inspirational. As recognition for his work as an actor and his impact on the entertainment industry, President George W. Bush presented Griffith with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
“Andy Griffith is one of America’s best-known and most beloved entertainers,” The White House said in an official statement. “He is a man of humor, integrity, and compassion. The United States honors Andy Griffith for demonstrating the finest qualities of our country and for a lifetime of memorable performances that have brought joy to millions of Americans of all ages.”
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