"MAAAAAHTLAAAWWWK!"

Andy Griffith, the star of Matlock, which was broadcast religiously on RTE throughout the 80s and 90s, was buried on Tuesday "less than five hours after the actor died" CNN reported…

According to The Hollywood Reporter: "Griffith, who was 86, died at about 7 a.m. Tuesday at his home in Dare County, N.C., according to North Carolina’s WITN-TV. Emergency medical crews had responded to a call for help, but no cause of death was given. In a statement Tuesday, his family said he "has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island."

Needless to say, it's unusual for a person to be buried so soon after his or her death, Larry F. Stegall, executive director of the state's Funeral Directors Association, told CNN. 'It's not very common,' he said. 'I don't recall having heard of it, and I've been here 32 years'."

Griffith is best known (in the states) for starring in The Andy Griffith Show from 1960-68 and on Matlock (AKA Grandpa Simpson's favourite) from 1986-1995.