TV Legend Andy Griffith Dead at 86

The TV community lost a legend today as Andy Griffith passed away at the age of 86. According to Deadline, Griffith's former co-star Ron Howard revealed that Griffith's health had been in decline "for some time," so the actor's death was not sudden or unexpected.

Griffith had a long career in entertainment, but he was most famous for two TV roles. The first was his role in "The Andy Griffith Show," which was where he and Howard worked together. The show was a huge hit in the 1960's, and also helped make comedian Don Knotts a household name as well.

Griffith returned to TV in his second big role in the 1980's, playing the titular detective in "Matlock." The show was popular during its run, but is also famous for having a mostly older audience, lending joke material to many sitcoms throughout the 1990's.

Ron Howard probably said it best in his statement following Griffith's death:

"His love of creating, the joy he took in it whether it was drama or comedy or his music, was inspiring to grow up around. The spirit he created on the set of The Andy Griffith Show was joyful and professional all at once. It was an amazing environment. And I think it was a reflection of the way he felt about having the opportunity to create something that people could enjoy. It was always with respect and passion for the opportunity and really what it could offer people in a very unpretentious and earthy way. He felt he was always working in service of an audience he really respected and cared about. He was a great influence on me. His passing is sad. But he lived and a great rich life."

Griffith started his career with comedic monologues, including a classic about college football. Check out the monologue below: