Andy Griffith died of a heart attack, death certificate says

Andy Griffith, who died on Tuesday at age 86, passed away as the result of a heart attack that occurred 24 hours earlier, according to his death certificate.

The certificate was filed Thursday with the vital records office in Dare County, N.C., and its contents reported by the Associated Press.

The actor best known for his roles on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Matlock” died at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and had suffered from several diseases in his later years, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and hyperlipidemia (a form of high cholesterol).

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In keeping with the wishes of the family, Griffith was buried in the Griffith Family Cemetery near his home on Roanoke Island about five hours after his death.

Griffith was survived by his wife and two children.

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Join Patrick Kevin Day on Google+ or Twitter. Email: patrick.day@latimes.com

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