Matlock is an American mystery legal drama television series created by Dean Hargrove and starring Andy Griffith in the title role of criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock. The show, produced by Intermedia Entertainment Company, The Fred Silverman Company, Dean Hargrove Productions and Viacom Productions, originally aired from March 3, 1986, to May 8, 1992, on NBC, and from November 5, 1992, to May 7, 1995, on ABC.
Original cast (from left): Kene Holliday, Andy Griffith and Linda Purl
Cast of season 2, from left: (top) Kene Holliday, Julie Sommars; (bottom) Kari Lizer, Griffith, Nancy Stafford
Andy Samuel Griffith was an American actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his characters with a folksy-friendly personality, as well as his gruff but friendly voice, Griffith was a Tony Award nominee for two roles. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's film A Face in the Crowd (1957) and No Time for Sergeants (1958) 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).
Griffith in 1960, Andy Griffith Show
Griffith with Lee Remick (l) and Patricia Neal (r) on the set of A Face in the Crowd (1957)
Andy Griffith and Julie Adams in 1962
Publicity photo with Lee Meriwether for The New Andy Griffith Show, 1971
