Legendary actor Andy Griffith, best known for his role as Sheriff Andy Taylor in "The Andy Griffith Show," died Tuesday morning at his home in Manteo, North Carolina. He was 86.

Celebrities, television producers, movie directors and even President Barack Obama, expressed their condolences to Griffith's family today. But one of the most touching testimonies came from his wife Cindy Knight Griffith.

“Andy was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord,” Cindy Knight Griffith said in a statement.

“He is the love of my life, my constant companion, my partner, and my best friend. I cannot imagine life without Andy, but I take comfort and strength in God’s Grace and in the knowledge that Andy is at peace and with God.”

Cindy Knight Griffith was the actor's third wife to whom he had been married since 1983.

She was also a TV actress in the 80s and appeared in the "Matt Houston" Tv series and in a TV movie called "Murder in Coweta County," according to the Internet Movie Data Base website.

Griffith's first wife was Barbara Edwards with whom he had two children: Sam, who died in 1996, and Dixie. The marriage ended with divorce. His second marriage to Solica Cassuto also ended in divorce.

The actor was also remembered by Obama and his family.

"A performer of extraordinary talent, Andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps," Obama said in a statement.

Ron Howard, who played Griffith's son Opie on "The Andy Griffith" show when he was five years old and became an acclaimed director and producer, also remembered the actor.

"Andy was a natural leader, extremely intelligent, and -- but, you know, a really thoughtful guy who loved to laugh and created a very humanistic kind of environment. So, there was never a lot of tension on the set but there was always a sense of professionalism," he said in an interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell.

"I hope he's remembered not only for the Andy Griffith show but also for Matlock... the crowd for his music. And even going way back to some of those first monologues which are -- he did on the radio and the recording studio which are still hilarious," Howard said.

"And then take a look at the overview, whether it was comedy or drama, you know, he -- there's a reason that he is so impactful in so many different mediums and styles. And that's because, you know, he cared about what he was doing."

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