The Behind-The-Scenes Tension That Plagued The Andy Griffith Show

The cast of "The Andy Griffith Show" was apparently stirring up more drama behind the scenes than in front of the camera during its iconic run. The hit sitcom aired from 1960 to 1968 and starred TV legend Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor. The entertainment industry may continue to praise Griffith for his television achievements, but those closest to him tell a different story. Allegations surrounding his anger issues, infidelity, and drinking problems that impacted those around him have plagued his reputation for years. 

Daniel de Visé, the author of the "Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American" biography, detailed just how animated Griffith could be when he was upset. "He could have this explosive temper," he told Closer. "He punched out a car window and put his fists through doors." There were also several reports of heated arguments with his first wife, Barbara Bray Edwards. "Barbara had a drinking problem, and Andy drank a lot. He and Barbara squabbled, and Andy had other relationships," de Visé added.

Griffith's co-stars on "The Andy Griffith Show" were not immune to his mood swings. "Most of us were deathly afraid of Andy," castmate George Lindsey wrote in his memoir, "Goober in a Nutshell" (via OK! USA). "Every Monday night, he would call you if he liked your performance. If the call didn't come, I dreaded going back to work on Tuesday morning." The star lost his temper on set and reportedly punched a hole in the wall while filming Season 2. Sources also revealed Griffith destroyed parts of the set when he found out that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Insiders claim the actor ended up seeing a therapist for years to help him with anger management. 

The set of "The Andy Griffith Show" was full of tension when the cameras stopped rolling. While some walked on eggshells around the show's frontman Andy Griffith, others tried to lay low and avoid chaos. Frances Bavier, known for playing Aunt Bee Taylor, reportedly steered clear of actors who caused on-set drama. Former child actor Ron Howard, who played the young Opie Taylor on the show before growing up to be a highly successful Hollywood director, recalled Bavier's distant personality in a 2006 interview with the Archive of American Television. "Frances very much kept to herself," he said. "She was a New York stage actress, and I think she always loved the job and appreciated it was a big success, and was extremely professional. But I don't think she ever felt a part of what these boys were up to and their shenanigans."

To this day, fans of "The Andy Griffith Show" still talk about the cast and speculate what it was like to work with Griffith. A 2024 Reddit thread titled "Why was Andy so angry in all the color episodes?" discussed why the star appeared visibly agitated during later seasons of the show. Griffith was very close to fellow castmate Don Knotts, who played deputy Barney Fife, but Knotts left the show after five seasons in 1965, which left Griffith without his relatable sidekick for the show's later color seasons. "I think his alcoholism got worse then, and that was a huge contributor to his anger issues," one Redditor speculated. "Don Knotts leaving probably contributed to his drinking as well because they truly were good friends, and Don just wanted to move on and do other things."