Andy Griffith Had Stumped for Obama, Affordable Care Act

He may have established himself with legions of fans as the amiable sheriff of Mayberry, but actor and Grammy-winning gospel singer Andy Griffith won critical acclaim for films ranging from the 1957 classic "A Face in the Crowd" to the offbeat 2007 "Waitress."

Griffith died today in Roanoke Island, North Carolina, the New York Times is reporting. He was 86.

"Andy Griffith was considerably more complex than Andy Taylor and his fellow denizens of Mayberry," the Times writes, and "brought a canny authenticity to dark roles."

Griffith and former co-star Ron Howard filmed a commercial for then-candidate Barack Obama, and in 2010, he was hired by the administration to cut another in praise of the Affordable Care Act. That drew the ire of Republicans. The act survived a Supreme Court challenge in a .

What was your favorite Andy Griffith role? Share your thoughts about the actor's passing in the comments.