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Andy Griffith nearly became a minister instead of an actor
"I studied for the ministry for three years back in North Carolina before I got started in show business," said Griffith.
Though we’re lucky enough to live in a timeline where Andy Griffith became a Hollywood actor, some of our alternative selves may not have been so lucky.
In 1969, Griffith played Reverend Samuel D. Whitehead in the Alan Rafkin film Angel in My Pocket. In it, Griffith plays a Pastor relocating to a new church in a town fraught with challenges. As a nod to his previous performance as Sheriff Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, Griffith was humorous when discussing his character’s activities in the film, including officiating a wedding and administering a baptism.
“You might say I committed the newlyweds to a life sentence - and got the baby a full pardon,” said Griffith during an interview with the Laredo Morning Times.
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*available in most MeTV marketsJokes aside, Griffith acknowledged that there was a period of time when he took the ministry quite seriously. As a young man, the actor nearly turned to religion before entering the entertainment industry.
“I very nearly became a minister in reality, instead of just playing one in a motion picture,” Griffith said. “I studied for the ministry for three years back in North Carolina before I got started in show business.”
While Griffith would have made an excellent minister, we’re quite glad he landed in front of the camera.
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