Título: Andy Griffith
Seção: Early life and education
Background: Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926  - July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, Southern gospel singer, and writer, whose career spanned seven decades of music and television. Known for his southern drawl, his characters with a folksy-friendly personality, and his gruff, gregarious voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee for two roles, and gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead roles of Andy Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) and Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock (1986-1995).

Conteúdo: Griffith was born on June 1, 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, the only child of Carl Lee Griffith and his wife, Geneva (Nunn). As a baby, Griffith lived with relatives until his parents could afford to buy a home. With neither a crib nor a bed, he slept in dresser drawers for several months. In 1929, when Griffith was three, his father began working as a helper or carpenter and purchased a home in Mount Airy's "blue-collar" south side.  Griffith grew up listening to music. By the time he entered school, he was well aware that he was from what many considered the "wrong side of the tracks". He was a shy student, but once he found a way to make his peers laugh, he began to come out of his shell and come into his own.  As a student at Mount Airy High School, Griffith cultivated an interest in the arts, and he participated in the school's drama program. A growing love of music, particularly swing, would change his life. Griffith was raised Baptist and looked up to Ed Mickey, a minister at Grace Moravian Church, who led the brass band and taught him to sing and play the trombone. Mickey nurtured Griffith's talent throughout high school until graduation in 1944. Griffith was delighted when he was offered a role in The Lost Colony by Paul Green, a play about Roanoke Island still performed today. He performed as a cast member of the play for several years, playing a variety of roles, until he finally landed the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, the namesake of North Carolina's capital. 

user: Where did Griffith go to school?

assistant: Mount Airy High School,

user: When did he first start to perform?

assistant: As a student at Mount Airy High School, Griffith cultivated an interest in the arts, and he participated in the school's drama program.

user: When was he born?

assistant: June 1, 1926

user: Where was he born?

assistant: Mount Airy, North Carolina,

user: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: As a baby, Griffith lived with relatives until his parents could afford to buy a home.

user: Which relatives did he live with?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: When did he graduate from school?

assistant: 1944.

user: Did he perform in anything at school?

assistant: As a student at Mount Airy High School, Griffith cultivated an interest in the arts, and he participated in the school's drama program.

user: What was his role in the drama program?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did he do anything else in his early career?

assistant: He began college studying to be a Moravian preacher, but he changed his major to music and became a part of the school's Carolina Playmakers.