Actor Andy Griffith and His Beverly Hills Connection

Renowned television, film and stage actor Andy Griffith died Tuesday at his home in Dare County, NC, the Huffington Post reported.

in Beverly Hills served as the backdrop for many outdoor scenes in The Andy Griffith Show, which was set in the fictitious, idyllic Southern town of Mayberry.

The actor and singer's career in entertainment was long and successful, according to the website:

Griffith was best known for his role as Sheriff Andy Taylor in "The Andy Griffith Show," which ran from 1960 to 1968, and later known for his role as a criminal defense lawyer on "Matlock," which ran from 1986 to 1995. The actor was honored with the TV Land Legend Award in 2004, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005. Griffith was also a singer and musician, and his 1996 album "I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns" went platinum.

Griffith was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the central nervous system and caused him chronic pain in both feet. Griffith also suffered a heart attack in 2000 and had quadruple bypass surgery.

Cause-of-death details have not yet been released.

Griffith is survived by his wife Cindi and daughter Dixie. His son Andrew Jr., known as Sam, died in 1996.

"A performer of extraordinary talent, Andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

"His pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations & shaped my life," actor/director Ron Howard, who played Sheriff Taylor's son Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, posted on Twitter.

To read the entire Huffington Post obituary, click here.

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