Andy Taylor is the High Sheriff of Mayberry, NC. He is a widower and the father a son named Opie. Andy lost his wife before the series opens of an undisclosed cause. Andy's Aunt Bee acts as his housekeeper.

As a lawman, Andy prefers to settle Mayberry squabbles and problems through mediation and conciliation rather than the strong arm of the law. Andy is respected by his fellow citizens and they often defer to his judgement. His hobbies include fishing and playing the guitar.

Andy has two memorable romantic relationships during the course of the series run: one with Ellie Walker, a pharmacist, and the other with Helen Crump, a schoolteacher. Andy's relationship with Ellie lasted only the first season. He dated occasionally until his romance with Helen Crump blossomed in the middle of the third season. Andy and Helen were romantically involved through the final eighth season. They were married and moved to Raleigh in the first episode of the show's spinoff series Mayberry RFD. The couple later returned as guest stars with their newborn son Andrew Samuel Taylor.