The Three Wives Of Andy Griffith: What Happened To Barbara Edwards, Solica Cassuto, And Cindi Knight?

The question of "What happened to Andy Griffith's wife?" is more complex than it seems, as the beloved television icon was married three times during his life. As of December 2025, the fate of each woman—from his college sweetheart to his devoted widow—offers a fascinating look into the private life of the man who brought Sheriff Andy Taylor and Matlock to life. While one tragically passed away years after their divorce, another completely vanished from the public eye, and his final wife continues to preserve his enduring legacy.

This deep dive explores the current status and full biography of all three women, shedding light on their individual lives and their connection to the legendary actor, whose career spanned over six decades in Hollywood and North Carolina.

Andy Griffith’s Wives: A Complete Biography and Timeline

Andy Griffith’s romantic life involved three marriages, each spanning a significant portion of his career. His relationships with Barbara Bray Edwards, Solica Cassuto, and Cindi Knight were pivotal, but their lives took dramatically different paths after their time with the star.

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1. Barbara Bray Edwards (First Wife)

• Full Name: Barbara Bray Edwards
• Born: August 17, 1926, in Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.
• Profession: Actress (before marriage)
• Marriage Date: August 22, 1949
• Divorce Date: 1972
• Children: Adopted two children: Andy Samuel "Sam" Griffith Jr. and Dixie Nann Griffith
• Died: July 23, 1980, in Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

2. Solica Cassuto (Second Wife)

• Full Name: Solica Cassuto (also spelled Solica Casuto)
• Born: Circa 1950 (estimated) in Greece
• Profession: Greek Actress and Singer
• Marriage Date: 1973
• Divorce Date: 1981
• Children: None together
• Current Status: Unconfirmed (believed to be alive but out of the public eye)

3. Cindi Knight (Third Wife and Widow)

• Full Name: Cindi Knight
• Born: May 20, 1953, in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
• Profession: Actress/Dancer
• Marriage Date: April 12, 1983
• Children: None together
• Current Status: Alive (as of December 2025), keeps a private life

What Happened to Andy Griffith’s First Wife: Barbara Bray Edwards?

Barbara Bray Edwards was Andy Griffith’s college sweetheart and first wife, a relationship that predated his rise to fame with The Andy Griffith Show. Their marriage, which began in 1949, was his longest, lasting for nearly 23 years.

Barbara Edwards died in 1980, eight years after her divorce from Andy Griffith. She passed away on July 23, 1980, in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 53. Reports indicate that her death was due to natural causes.

During their marriage, the couple adopted two children: a son, Andy Samuel "Sam" Griffith Jr., and a daughter, Dixie Nann Griffith. Barbara had stepped away from her own aspirations as an actress to focus on family life. The divorce in 1972 marked a major turning point in Andy Griffith's personal life, leading to his subsequent marriages.

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The Mystery Surrounding Solica Cassuto, The Second Wife

Andy Griffith’s second marriage to Greek actress and singer Solica Cassuto remains the most mysterious chapter in his romantic history. The two met through acting connections and married in 1973, just a year after his divorce from Barbara.

Their marriage was brief, lasting only eight years before they divorced in 1981. Solica Cassuto, unlike Griffith’s other wives, was not widely known in American entertainment circles.

What happened to Solica Cassuto after the divorce is largely unknown, as she disappeared from the public eye. Following the end of her marriage to the star, she reportedly stopped acting and retreated from public life entirely. As of December 2025, there are no official records confirming her death, leading to the general belief that she is still alive. Sources estimate her age to be around 75 years old, assuming a birth year of 1950, though official records are scarce due to her private nature.

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Her decision to maintain an extremely low profile has fueled curiosity and speculation among fans of The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock for decades, making her the most elusive of the actor's former partners.

Cindi Knight Griffith Today: Preserving the Legacy

The final and most enduring love story of Andy Griffith’s life was with Cindi Knight, a former actress and dancer. They met in 1983 on the set of a project and married the same year, remaining together until his death in 2012.

Andy Griffith often spoke of Cindi as his true love, stating that he "had been alone for a long time when I met an extraordinary woman named Cindi Knight." Cindi Knight gave up her own acting aspirations to care for her husband, particularly after he suffered a heart attack early in their marriage.

Cindi Knight is alive and well as of December 2025, continuing to keep a low profile while preserving Andy Griffith’s memory. She is his devoted widow and the executor of his estate. While she has largely avoided the spotlight, she is believed to reside between their home in the Outer Banks town of Manteo, North Carolina, and Toluca Lake in Los Angeles, California.

Her life today is dedicated to maintaining the privacy and legacy of the man she affectionately called "Griffith." Her commitment to his memory and her continued residence in the North Carolina home they shared symbolizes the deep bond they held for nearly three decades.

Topical Authority: Andy Griffith’s Children and Final Years

The lives of Andy Griffith’s wives are intrinsically linked to his family life, particularly his children adopted with his first wife, Barbara Edwards: Sam and Dixie Griffith.

His son, Andy Samuel "Sam" Griffith Jr., tragically passed away in 1996. His daughter, Dixie Griffith, has also maintained a relatively low profile, though she has occasionally spoken about her father’s legacy and the impact of The Andy Griffith Show on American culture.

In his final years, Andy Griffith was cared for by Cindi Knight at their home in Manteo, North Carolina, where he passed away on July 3, 2012, at the age of 86. The steadfast presence of Cindi Knight during his later life and until his death cemented her role as the most significant partner in the final chapter of the Mayberry legend’s life.

The divergent paths of Barbara, Solica, and Cindi offer a complete answer to the question of "what happened to Andy Griffith's wife," revealing a life filled with both long-lasting love and unexpected heartbreak.