Few American shows has gotten the same amount of recognition as The Andy Griffith Show. Airing in 1960, the comedy series was an instant success, and is still seen as one of American’s all-time best shows.
The show starred Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, Ron Howard as Opie Taylor and Don Knotts as Barney Fife. A total of 149 episodes aired, with the show still being number one in America when ending in April 1968.
The original cast were of course very popular among the viewers. But on April 13th, in episode 27 of the 4th season, a classic and almost legendary figure would show up.
George Lindsey made his debut as the good-nature but slow-learner Goober Pyle.
George Lindsey was born on Dec. 17, 1928 in Fairfield, Alabama as the only child of Alice Smith Lindsey and George Ross Lindsey.
He was raised in Jasper, Alabama, where he also attended high school, excelling in sports such as football and basketball.
It was during that time George Lindsey met with the theatrical world for the first time, acting in several productions.
He enrolled at different colleges and ended up at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama). Lindsey didn’t have a lot of money, but after managing to become a quarterback in the school’s football team, he was granted a scholarship which made it possible for him to finish his studies.
He performed with the college theater group on a regular basis and following his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S Air Force and was stationed in Puerto Rico.
Lindsey later returned to school, studying at the American Theater Wing in New York for two years. At that time, he worked as a comedian in nightclubs and cafés. It turned out to be a life changing gig, with an agent seeing his work, signing him.
He ended up in the production of All American and Wonderful Town at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.Lindsey would soon move on, moving across the country to show business Mecca of the world, Hollywood. He started of working mostly in Western TV series such as The Riflemen and Gunsmoke in 1964. Also, he made appearances in several Disney productions and in three episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.
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In a 2010 interview with The Huffington Post, Lindsey spoke highly on working with Andy Griffith on the show.
According to himself, they were the best acting ensemble on TV, starring along Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Frances Bavier and Ron Howard among others.
“He was a great leader and the best script constructionist that I’ve ever worked with. And he was easy to work with, Linsey told the Huffington Post on working with Griffith. “If you knew your lines, that’s all you needed… and I worked with another guy that was brilliant and that’s Don Knotts. They were terrific professional actors, and I was honored to be in their company.”
