Longtime actor Andy Griffith passed away almost nine years ago to the day. A legion of fans adored The Andy Griffith Show star, but those same fans can’t visit his private gravesite to pay their respects.
You can visit The Andy Griffith Museum in his hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina. In fact, the quaint little mountain town is the inspiration for Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show. Therefore fans of the classic television show often make the pilgrimage to his hometown to visit.
Further, The Andy Griffith Show fans can visit the Los Angeles gravesite of Barney Fife actor Don Knotts. They can also visit Aunt Bee actress Frances Bavier’s grave and Floyd the Barber actor Howard McNear‘s mausoleum. Yet visiting the main character of the show’s grave is a different matter.
Andy Griffith grew up in Mount Airy, but spent his later years in a Roanoke Island estate on the coast. That’s where his family buried him, on the estate’s private property following his death. As a notoriously private individual, it’s safe to assume he preferred to eternally rest in private as well.
It’s unfortunate for any The Andy Griffith Show fans who want to pay their respects to the beloved actor. But being buried on private land isn’t even close to being the oddest part of the actor’s death. The timeframe from being alive to in the ground on the other hand is for sure one of the stranger stories you’ll hear about a celebrity’s passing.
The Andy Griffith Show’ Star Was Buried Within Hours of His Death
In just a few days, it will be the nine-year anniversary of the star and namesake of The Andy Griffith Show‘s death. Andy Griffith passed away aged 86 on July , 2012. His death may not have been a surprise because of his health issues, but how quickly his family buried him definitely raised some questions.
Griffith suffered a heart attack while in his coastal Roanoke Island, North Carolina home. The shocking aspect of his passing though revolved around his burial, which occurred less than five hours after he passed away. The Andy Griffith Show actor was buried in the Griffith family cemetery on private property like previously mentioned. Yet there still seems to be a lot of confusion as to to why such a quick burial.
Since Andy Griffith had millions of fans, you’d think the actor may have had a formal funeral. Popular celebrities like Griffith frequently have public viewings and memorial services, but that wasn’t the case with Griffith. His family specifically asked for his body to be buried right away. Unfortunately, there aren’t many details on the matter though.
The Andy Griffith Show star lived a rather private lifestyle. The actor and his family may have preferred to not have any kind of public service. In addition, it could have been a personal request from the celebrity. It’s a possibility he didn’t want any of the pomp and circumstance that accompanies numerous celebrity deaths.
It’s hard to understand the reasoning behind the decision. Especially when you take into account that once most fans found out about Griffith’s passing, the actor was already six feet in the ground.
