Actor and TV icon Andy Griffith passed away today. A cause of death has not been released. He was 86.

Griffith is best known to most as the Sheriff of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show which aired on CBS between 1960 and 1968. He would also charm audiences for nearly another decade as defense attorney Ben Matlock in Matlock which aired first on NBC and then ABC. Griffith was also a fine musician. Occasionally, Griffith would play guitar with The Darling Boys (played by The Dillards) on The Andy Griffith Show. He also possessed a rich voice which he deployed in gospel music.

Politically, Griffith was a Democrat. In 2008, Griffith’s co-star Ron Howard recruited him along with Henry Winkler for an unofficial ad in support of Barack Obama. As someone who is not a fan of Obama, I have to say that this was the most effective ad produced on behalf of Obama. Griffith came across as he always did – gentle and reassuring. While I can’t prove it, Griffith probably helped Obama capture North Carolina because of that ad. In 2010, Griffith ruffled some feathers when he appeared in a government ad in support of Obamacare. Nevertheless, he left this world with a smile.