Andy Griffith & Aneta Corsaut Reportedly Had An Affair Despite Him Being Married For Over 15 Years With 2 Young Kids

Sep 16, 2021

Andy Griffith was an American actor, comedian and producer and is remembered for his incredible contributions to television history. He is best known for his eponymous TV series “The Andy Griffith Show.” The actor had a friendly demeanor and is also remembered for his Southern drawl and folksy personality. Griffith was a leading man in both “The Andy Griffith Show,” playing Andy Taylor, and in “Matlock” as Ben Matlock. 

In the late 1950s, Griffith appeared on the big screen in Elia Kazan’s “A Face in the Crowd” and the film “No Time for Sergeants.” After his time as a film actor, Griffith became better known for his roles on television. The star was very talented and both of his leading roles were enduring. His time spent as Andy Taylor lasted eight years and the series “Matlock” aired for nine. 

Griffith was born in 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina. He is said to have been a shy child but came out of his shell when he discovered he could make his peers laugh. Griffith participated in the drama program at Mount Airy High School and also cultivated a love for music. He was a gospel singer and was raised in the Baptist church. Griffith graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1949 with a Bachelor’s degree in music, which was also the year that he got married to Barbara Bray Edwards. 

The couple adopted two children, Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. and Dixie Nann Griffith. They were married until 1972 when they decided to get a divorce. Throughout their marriage, there were rumors of infidelity from Griffith and one of those affairs was said to be with his co-star Aneta Corsaut. Read on to hear more about Griffith’s career and how it impacted his marriage. 

In an interview with the Television Academy, Griffith opened up about knowing early on in filming “The Andy Griffith Show” what kind of dynamic would work best between himself and Don Knotts, and what made the series great. He said:

“I knew by that episode that Don should be the comic and I should play straight for him. That made all the difference. Then Mayberry became a living town. We had all the comic characters that came on, and I played straight for them. So Mayberry really was the star of 'The Andy Griffith Show.'"

Griffith also mentioned that the cast of the show shared a real connection, and that was seen on screen as the love amongst the people of Mayberry. The actor told NPR:

"What was really the backbone of the show — we never talked about it — but the backbone of the show and the thrust of the show was love, the deep regard that these people had for one another."

Griffith believed that the chemistry between the cast and crew of “The Andy Griffith Show” is what made the series so successful and memorable. He spoke about that mutual respect and devotion again with the New York Times. "I think it is because we--everyone on the show--have a real sense of community, of kindness toward one another. The basic rule by which we live comes through on the program, kindness comes through. The show also has a number of featured performers, each with a definite character we can write around for any episode. But equally important is the character of Mayberry itself. We try to make it a real little community with its small problems and those of its people put forth comedically," Griffith explained.

Griffith is remembered for his incredible acting, but also his sometimes tumultuous personal life. The actor knew he wasn’t perfect, and hinted as much to the New York Times. "I get enormous satisfaction from my role as Andy Taylor" shared the star while maintaining that Andy Taylor was never the same man as Andy Griffith. 

"No, that's not right," he said. “Andy Taylor contains the best part of myself. The best part. There are others parts of me never seen on the screen. I don't think that would be wise." One of those character flaws might have been his alleged affair with co-star Aneta Corsaut. 

Corsaut first appeared on “The Andy Griffith Show” in 1963 as Helen Crump. She was only meant to be in one episode, which is why they gave the character such an unpleasant name. However, the producers loved Corsaut's performance, and her chemistry with Griffith, so much that they eventually made her a regular cast member.

In his book “Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show,” author Daniel de Visé wrote: 

“Andy couldn’t get enough of Aneta. Eventually, he proposed, even though he was already married. As Aneta hinted in later years, he popped the question at least once and possibly two or three times. She turned him down.”

Neither Corsaut nor Griffith commented publicly on the affair, but it was considered an open secret in Hollywood during the 1960s. The pair never wed despite the rumors of his proposal, and now both actors have passed on.

Are you a fan of Griffith? What do you think of his alleged affair with Corsaut? Let us know your opinion and be sure to send this on to your friends and family.