Celebrity | Andy Griffith Andy Griffith Cause of Death Revealed Heart attack killed 86-year-old star By Rob Quinn Posted Jul 6, 2012 1:38 AM CDT Updated Jul 6, 2012 4:00 AM CDT Copied This Jan. 31, 1983 file photo shows Andy Griffith posing in Los Angeles to promote his film, "Murder in Coweta County." (AP Photo/Wally Fong, file) The death of Andy Griffith earlier this week was caused by a heart attack, according to a death certificate obtained by the AP. The 86-year-old actor suffered the attack 24 hours before his death, and he also suffered from illnesses including coronary artery disease and hypertension, the certificate states. Griffith, as per his wishes, was buried in his family cemetery in North Carolina within a few hours of his passing. Read These Next A family hike took a tragic turn in Arkansas on Saturday. White House makes Hegseth put his polygraph away. A new book argues the Sacagawea legend is all wrong. A New Zealand neighborhood is being stalked by a feline laundry thief. Report an error