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Andy Samuel Griffith (born June 1, 1926) was an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan’s epic film A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the 1960-68 situation comedy, The Andy Griffith Show, and in the 1986-95 legal drama, Matlock. Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President George W. Bush on November 9, 2005.

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