The Issue: The passing of TV legend Andy Griffith this week from a heart attack at the age of 86.
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Between television and the movies, Andy Griffith’s career in acting spanned over 50 years (“Tears in Mayberry,” July 4).
He will be sorely missed — America has lost a true icon in the entertainment world.
Mayberry will never be the same again.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
Though Andy Griffith was best known for portraying the laid-back, easy-going Sheriff Andy Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show,” I actually liked him better in other roles.
I particularly enjoyed watching him play Matlock, the country defense lawyer who was smarter than he looked and had an uncanny knack for winning his cases.
He was like the Southern Perry Mason.
I also liked his acting in the 1958 film, “No Time for Sergeants,” about a country boy in the Air Force.
I still laugh when I think about how he made the toilet seats salute.
Even though Griffith was as smart as a whip and multitalented (he was an actor, director, writer, producer and singer), he had the acting skills to come off as just a humble country lad.
Kenneth Zimmerman
Huntington Beach, Calif.
I watched reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show” in the 1980s as I was growing up.
Griffith had a terrific Southern accent and was very funny. I also loved watching him on Matlock, where he did a great job playing the title role on the private-eye series.
Andy Griffith is not only one of the greatest comedians of all time — he’s also one of the greatest detective-show stars of all time.
Paul Bacon
Hallandale Beach, Fla.
With his deputy, Barney Fife, Sheriff Andy Taylor is now in charge of heaven’s jail.
Vin Morabito
Scranton, Penn.