Winston-Salem, N.C. -- The annual Western Film Fair is happening right now through the weekend. The fair attracts fans of Western movie and TV shows from all over the nation.
The festival always attracts celebrities as well. This year, Nancy Stafford is one of the stars attending the events. Stafford is best known for her role in Matlock, where she worked with Andy Griffith. Since her time on Matlock ended, Stafford has worked on a variety of other film and TV projects and also written several books.
She credits Griffith for helping jumpstart her career.
"Andy was amazing. It was the most incredible five years of my life, certainly my career. He was hysterically funny all the time. He set the tone that was amazing on the set. He was always prepared and expected everybody else to prepared. He had a high level of excellence. I learned a tremendous amount from him," Stafford said.
Stafford said she last spoke to Griffith about a month ago to wish him a happy birthday.
"We had a lovely conversation and laughed a lot. I got to tell him I loved him so much and it was just a really wonderful, sweet, sweet conversation. I'm so grateful that I had that," she said.