Every culture and corner of the globe handles death differently. Here in the US, the typical funeral takes place a week after death, two weeks tops. The deceased's friends and family have time to make and execute travel plans and gather to mourn their collective loss together. So why was Andy Griffith buried on the same day he died?
Andy Griffith was a celebrated television star who first earned the admiration of the American public as Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1968. He then cemented himself as a TV icon as Ben Matlock on the popular legal drama Matlock from 1986 to 1995.
Why Was Andy Griffith Buried on the Same Day He Died?
With countless fans across the US and particularly in the South, Griffith's funeral might have been attended by thousands—but he would've hated it.
After Andy Griffith died in 2012, it was announced that there would be no funeral or service celebrating the TV star's life or mourning his death. Instead, he was buried in his beloved chosen home of Manteo, North Carolina, within 5 hours of passing away from a heart condition.
A few years later, Daniel de Visé released Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American, the 2015 book shedding more light on Griffith's unusual burial.
Griffith Didn't Want a Funeral Swarmed With Fans and Paparazzi
As de Visé wrote, Griffith trusted a small group of friends with his plan before his death. He asked that they ensure he was buried immediately after death, "before the paparazzi could storm Roanoke Island to capture his remains on film."
“The ever-loyal denizens of Dare County did their part: the sheriff grounded helicopters, to keep camera crews away from the Griffith estate. The hectic timetable meant that only a few of Andy’s local friends could attend the makeshift service.”
Andy Griffith had two children. His son, Andy Griffith Jr, died in 1996. His remaining child, a daughter named Dixie, was not able to attend her father's burial. She explained to de Visé that, although she would've liked to pay her respects in person, she understood her father's motivations for a rushed final farewell.
“He didn’t want a funeral. He didn’t want a circus. He didn’t want a media frenzy,” Dixie said. "... I understand if that was his wish, and I have to be respectful of what he wanted.”
