Solica Cassuto gained media attention after she got married to Andy Griffith in 1973. He was an actor and comedian known for The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock among other appearances. Away from her husband’s fame, she maintained relevance as a Greek-American actress and southern gospel singer.
Born in the 50s, the actress found love in the arms of Andy Griffith however, their union only survived for eight years before they parted ways. While there have been lingering questions about what happened thereafter here’s all we’ve garnered.
A Look at Her Biography and Career
Solica Cassuto was born in Athens, Greece sometime in the 50s. Details regarding her exact date of birth are elusive to the media however she was married to Andy Samuel Griffith who was born on the 1st of June 1926 to his parents Carl Lee Griffith and Geneva Nannie Nunn.
Solica grew up in a Christian home alongside other family members whose identities are yet to be established. Though an actress, it’s not known if she had formal training in any film institute what is known however is that most of her educational pursuit was in her native land.
As regards her career, she was active in the church choir ministry before pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. As per sources, Solica is one of the building blocks of the Greek entertainment industry although her works have not been captured. She reportedly moved to the United States in search of a better opportunity in her career.
Solica Cassuto Was Married to Andy Griffith for Eight Years
Solica and Andy were a couple for eight years before their relationship hit the rock. Information regarding how and when the ex-couple met is not known however, sources reveal that they exchanged vows in a simple ceremony held in the backyard of Griffith’s home on June 11, 1975.
The pair lived together as husband and wife for eight years before calling things quits in 1981. Just like the start of their love journey, what caused their separation is not known even though Ken Berry captured it in the book Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show that he was yet to meet an unlikely couple like Solica and Andy. According to him, they were different in every sense. He went on to explain that Solica was free-spirited while Andy was a conservative.
Her Ex-Husband Was Previously Married Before Meeting Her
While Solica Cassuto has never been married before getting hitched to the actor, we garnered that he was previously married to Barbara Bray Edwards on August 22, 1949, and during their marriage, they adopted two children namely Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. – a real estate developer born in 1957 and Dixie Nann Griffith.
Unfortunately, after spending 23 years as a couple, Andy and Barbara parted ways. Their divorce was linked to the distance their career brought between them as they gradually grew out of love.
Read Also: Jennifer Misner Is Dustin Diamond’s Ex-Wife: 10 Unknown Facts
Did Solica Cassuto Remarry After Her Divorce?
After Solica’s divorce from Andy, she simply crawled into her shell which makes it difficult to uncover if she ever remarried nonetheless from our findings she never did. Contrarily, her ex-husband Andy Griffith found love again in the arms of Cindi Knight – a lady he met back in 1978 at a volleyball game. While nothing sparked between them at that time, their second meeting on the set of Murder in Coweta County was the icing on the cake.
The connection between the two happened immediately that they started dating after a few months and then got married the next year on April 12, 1983. Their marriage was held in a private ceremony and witnessed by close friends and family.
Cindy Knight is an actress who is known for her role in the movie Matt Houston (1982). She was born on 2nd May 1953 and was almost 30 years younger than Andy who was approaching 60 years when they got married. Nonetheless, age wasn’t an important factor for the pair who spent 29 years together as a couple before death snatched him.
Her Ex-Husband Died in 2012 at the age of 86
Andy Griffith was plagued by a lot of diseases while he lived. He was first diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome which caused him temporal paralysis in the lower part of his body and nerve infection.
A few years after this, Solica Cassuto’s ex-husband went through quadruple heart-bypass surgery on May 9, 2000, at the Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. As a result of his deteriorating health condition, he had to quit acting in 2003 to focus on recovering fully which probably never happened.
While fans thought he was recovering, news of his hip surgery in 2007 just left many weakened. According to his wife Cindy, walking by himself became so hard after the surgery. As a result, he was often confined to a seat or his bed. Five years after the hip surgery precisely on the 3rd of July 2012, Andy Griffith had a cardiac arrest that claimed his life in his coastal home in Manteo, Roanoke Island in North Carolina.
Andy Griffith was buried 4 hours after his death happened that morning. Even though this was questioned by fans and a lot of sympathizers who were still sending their condolences, his family revealed that it was his wish.
How Much Is She Worth
Solica as stated was a Greece-American actress and one of the building blocks of the entertainment industry. Thought there are no exact figures for net income, she has been estimated to be worth at least $1 million. On the other hand, her ex-husband Andy Griffith was $60 million rich at the time of his death.
Where is Solica Cassuto?
The Greek-American actress became known for her marriage to Andy Griffith in 1973 however after their divorce she simply faded off the screen which makes it difficult to give information regarding her whereabouts and what she’s up to.
At the moment, there are no reports about her death which means the 73 -year-old is still alive and kicking and is still remembered as the ex-wife of late Andy Griffith.
