For a majority of the human race, being in a relationship or getting married comes with no more baggage than what we all expect from such a relationship. The story is however different for spouses of celebrities who have to deal with the excessive attention accorded to them and the scrutiny of the public, that is what Cindi Knight dealt with as the wife of Andy Griffith.
Even though Cindi Knight appeared in a couple of projects that inspired many to regard her as an actress, it was her relationship with Andy Griffith whom she was married to for 29 years before his death in 2012 that has made her a bonafide public personality. Notwithstanding, here’s a look at her brief stint in front of the camera lights.
A Synopsis of Cindi Knight’s Professional Career
Cindy Knight began her professional career in the acting scene but did not spend a lot of active years in the industry as an actress. So far, she has two credits to her name which are for her appearance in Murder in Coweta Country (a film released in 1983 where she played Julia Turner) and Matt Houston, a TV show.
She hasn’t made any credited appearance on any project ever since. More so, during her active career, Cindi didn’t receive any awards as she only played guest-starring roles in the aforementioned movie and TV series. This is quite unlike her husband Andy, who had 72 credits to his name across film and television, starring in projects like Waitress, Family Law, Matlock, Scattering Dad, and several others.
His many appearances earned him numerous accolades which include induction into the Television Hall of Fame, Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and North Carolina Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Grammy Award, Legend Award, and most prominently, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to Television.
Intriguing Things To Know About Cindi Knight’s Married Life With Andy Griffith
When it comes to long-lasting marriages, Hollywood is not the place one should look for inexhaustible examples. The industry is notorious for its rampant breakups but even in this sea of failed relationships and marriages, there are a few outliers who give the rest of the world hope in the existence of love.
For Andy Griffith, it came at his third try after he had been married twice with both marriages failing. He met Cindi Knight while he was shooting Murder in Coweta County, one of the projects Cindi appeared in as a credited actress. Following their meeting on the set of the film, they began to date and became known to friends and family as lovers.
Their love for each other did not wane so they sought to commit to each other as husband and wife. Cindi Knight became the wife of Andy Griffith on the 12th of April, 1983 after dating for a year.
Cindi stood by the side of her late husband all through the dark days they faced as a result of the TV icon’s deteriorating health conditions. Andy had his first major health scare in 1983, a few months after he tied the knot with the actress. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which left him paralyzed from knees down for a period of seven months.
The disease which is caused by the damage of the peripheral nervous system by the immune system leads to a rapid onset of muscle weakness, associated with a change in pain sensation. Cindi Knight took care of her ailing husband during the health challenge. As if what the then-newly married couple had been through wasn’t enough, the Grammy award-winning Gospel artist underwent quadruple heart-by-pass surgery at the Sentra Norfolk General Hospital, seven years later.
Thankfully, the surgery was successful and the pair continued waxing strong as a couple. However, in September 2007, Cindi’s late husband had a terrible fall which resulted in him undergoing a hip surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center situated in Los Angeles.
Following the ups and downs they faced in their marriage, Andy Griffith often referred to Cindi as his partner during his lifetime. While the Matt Houston actress professed him as the love of her life. Throughout the time they were together, Cindi Knight and Andy Griffith never had children of their own. Nonetheless, she became a stepmother to his two children from previous marriages.
Their union was one without any scandal and it remained so throughout their time together which spanned a total of 29 years, ending only at the death of Andy Griffith on the 3rd of July, 2012.
Who Are Her Family Members?
Until Andy Griffith, Cindi Knight was never married to anyone. Her husband, however, had previously been married twice. On August 22, 1949, Andy Griffith married Barbara Bray Edwards, whom he met while studying at the University of North Carolina. Soon after, they ventured into a musical-comedy act and were always hitting the road. Before long, their relationship turned sour and they signed the divorce papers in 1972, after staying together for close to 23 years.
During the course of their marriage, the former couple adopted two children; a son who was born in 1957 and christened Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. and a daughter named Dixie Nann Griffith. Tragically, Sam Griffith who worked as a real estate developer, passed away in 1996 at the age of 37, after years of battling with alcohol addiction. Cindi’s stepdaughter, Dixie, on the other hand, keeps a very low profile and has always avoided coming into the spotlight. She reportedly works as a volunteer at Denver Hospice alongside her mom, Barbara.
Prior to the death of his son, Cindi Knight’s ex-husband entered his second marriage with a Greek actress called Silica Cassuto. Just like his first marriage, this also ended in divorce in the year 1981, but the movie star eventually found true happiness with Cindi whom he subsequently tied the knot with.
Following the death of Andy Griffith at 7 am on July 3rd, 2012, his family made headlines as they buried the TV legend five hours after his death at his residential home in Manteo, Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina. This raised eyebrows, as many wished to pay their last respect to the Hollywood Walk of Famer. Cindi Knight, however, stated that the burial had been planned beforehand and Andy was prepared for the day he would be called home.
See Also: Kerri Higuchi – Family, Facts On The Actress And John Cho’s Wife
Life After The Death of Her Husband
While Cindi Knight is still a young woman who could give marriage another chance following the death of her husband, she has opted to remain single and has stayed away from the media spotlight. Thus, she is not active on any social media platform. However, in March 2013, the actress made the news following her decision to demolish her late husband’s property at Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
This caused an upset among the late actors’ family and friends who cited that Andy wished for his state of the art mansion to be preserved as a museum, just like Elvis Presley’s property, Graceland in Memphis. It was further revealed that Cindi Knight actually obtained the permit to tear down the smaller building and not the mansion which she built alongside her ex-husband. At the moment, details about her recent whereabouts are not available on the media.
