George Lindsey, TV's Goober Pyle, dies

Obituaries

Actor George Lindsey, best known for his role as Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 83 after a brief illness.

Lindsey (top right) reprised his role as Goober with Jim Nabors (top left), Don Knotts (bottom left), Andy Griffith (bottom center) and Ron Howard in "Return to Mayberry," in 1987.

Lindsey was the beanie-wearing Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1964 to 1968 and its successor, "Mayberry RFD," from 1968 to 1971. He played the same jovial character -- a service station attendant -- on "Hee Haw" from 1971 until it went out of production in 1993. "America has grown up with me," Lindsey said in an Associated Press interview in 1985. "Goober is every man; everyone finds something to like about ol' Goober."

George Lindsey, a regular on "Hee Haw," cuts up with guest, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda on Oct. 16, 1977.

Linsey appeared with actors Don Knotts and Betty Lynn who played Thelma Lou, left, at a reception at the Governor's Mansion in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, June 27, 2001. Ten original cast members of the The Andy Griffith Show were in Nashville for the "Mayberry Reunion Weekend."

This May 1982 file photo shows George Lindsey in character. Although he was best known as Goober, Lindsey had other roles during a long TV career. Earlier, he often was a "heavy" and once shot Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke." His other TV credits included roles on "M**A*S*H," ''The Wonderful World of Disney," ''CHIPs," ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," ''The Real McCoys," ''Rifleman," ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," ''Twilight Zone" and "Love American Style."

Reflecting on his career, he said in 1985: "There's a residual effect of knowing I've made America laugh. I'm not the only one, but I've contributed something."

This Dec. 28, 1984 file photo Lindsey posing for a photo outside of a Los Angeles restaurant. Lindsey was born in Jasper, Ala., the son of a butcher. He moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s and then to Nashville in the early 1990s.

This May 1992 photo provided by the "The Andy Griffith Show" shows Jim Nabors, right, with Lindsey. He joined "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1964 when Jim Nabors, portraying Gomer Pyle, left the program. Goober Pyle, who had been mentioned on the show as Gomer's cousin, thus replaced him.

This March 15, 1975 file photo shows actor George Lindsey at the celebrity superstar games held in Rotunda, Fla.

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Actor George Lindsey, best known for his role as Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 83 after a brief illness.

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