( CNN ) -- Stars , officials and loved ones weighed in Tuesday with their tributes to TV actor Andy Griffith , who died at age 86 in his home state of North Carolina : . -- Cindi Griffith , Andy Griffith 's wife : `` Andy was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord . '' -- President Barack Obama : `` Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Andy Griffith this morning . A performer of extraordinary talent , Andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps . He brought us characters from Sheriff Andy Taylor to Ben Matlock , and in the process , warmed the hearts of Americans everywhere . Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy 's family . '' White House mourns the death of Andy Griffith . -- Jim Nabors : `` I was saddened this morning to learn of the passing of my good friend Andy Griffith.Â He was a legend . My thoughts and prayers are with Andy 's family . '' -- Ron Howard : `` His pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations & shaped my life , '' the film director , who played Opie Taylor on `` The Andy Griffith Show , '' said on his Twitter page . `` I 'm forever grateful RIP Andy . '' -- Barbara Eden : `` His talent created an aura of reality on the set , '' said Eden , who appeared on `` The Andy Griffith Show '' before starring in `` I Dream of Jeannie . '' `` He was so honest and so centered , sometimes you did n't know if you were having a discussion with him or if you were doing the lines . '' -- North Carolina Gov . Beverly Perdue : `` North Carolina has lost its favorite son . Throughout his career , he represented everything that was good about North Carolina : a small town boy and UNC graduate who took a light-hearted approach to some of the attributes he grew up with and turned them into a spectacularly successful career . And regardless of where that career took him , he always came back to North Carolina and spent his final years here . '' -- Nancy Stafford , Andy Griffith 's co-star on `` Matlock '' : `` I 'm heartsick ... .I am forever grateful for the 5 wonderful years I worked with Andy . They were a highlight of my life -- I 've never laughed so hard or learned so much ! He has left an indelible mark on my life -- and the lives of countless millions . He was a consummate professional , an American treasure , and a dear man . '' -- Larry King : `` Sad to hear news of Andy Griffith 's death , '' the former CNN talk show host tweeted . `` He was a terrific actor , a great comedian , an endearing person . He lived a long & fruitful life . '' -- Country singer Brad Paisley : `` An actor who never looked like he was acting , a moral compass who saved as many souls as most preachers , and an entertainer who put smiles on more faces than almost anyone ; this was as successful a life as is pretty much possible . Andy Griffith made the world a better place , and I was so proud to call him a friend . '' -- Actor Jeff Daniels : `` Growing up , I watched ( `` The Andy Griffith Show '' ) religiously , '' Daniels tweeted . `` One of the reasons why I now do what I do . RIP Andy . '' What we love about Andy Griffith . Remembering Andy Griffith with Lyrics . Actor Andy Griffith dead at 86 . 'Andy Griffith ' theme song part of Americana .
Andy Griffith ` ` created an aura of reality on the screen , '' Barbara Walters says . Griffith ` ` was prepared for the day he would be called up to his Lord , '' his wife says . He ` ` warmed the hearts of Americans everywhere , '' President Obama says . Film director Ron Howard : Griffith 's ` ` pursuit of excellence ... shaped my life ''