Andy Griffith Would Have Turned 100 Today-Birthday Milestone Sparks a Wave of Mayberry Nostalgia
Andy Griffith, the beloved star of the 1960s TV sitcomThe Andy Griffith Show and the ‘80s drama series Matlock, is being celebrated on what would have been his 100thbirthday.
The actor, who was born June 1, 1926, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, will be honored in his hometown 14 years after his death.
The official Mount Airy, NC Facebook page listed events that will take place in celebration of the late star's birthday milestone. In addition to free movie screenings of Griffith's films, there will be a new artifact unveiled at the Andy Griffith Museum. Mayor Jon Cawley will also dedicate June 1 as "Andy Griffith Day" in honor of the TV legend's 100th birthday.
Griffith became a household name playing widowed sheriff Andy Taylor on his self-titled sitcom for eight seasons, from 1960 to 1968. Ron Howard played his son Opie Taylor on the series, which was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina.
While he moved to Hollywood in the 1960s to produce The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith never strayed far from his hometown roots. In 1960, he told The San Francisco Examiner that he never wanted to lose his accent.
"Every so often, I take my wife, Barbara, and the youngsters back home to our farm in Manteo, NC, and just refresh myself," Griffith said, per MeTV. "Yep, that's what I do. I love going down home because everyone there is kin to one another in my area. Everyone is just wonderful to us. They act as though I'd never been away."
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Howard credited Griffith for the Mayberry magic. In an essay for The New York Daily Newspublished following Griffith's death at age 86, Howard recalled, "There was an honesty that Andy demonstrated. He could convey the humor, the foibles, the particulars of rural America without demeaning it."
Howard noted that Griffith's iconic career wasn't limited to the CBS sitcom.
"Don't forget about Face in the Crowd or his success on Broadway or his recording career and Matlock," Howard recalled. "He did so much great work in TV and movies. Over seven decades."
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:04 AM.