GEORGE LINDSEY who starred on “Hee Haw” and “The Andy Griffith Show” dead at 83 in NAshville, Tenn.
Lindsey replaced Jim Nabors as his cousin “Goober” Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1964 to 1968 and its successor, “Mayberry RFD,” from 1968 to 1971.
He played the very same character on “Hee Haw” from 1971 until 1993.
Andy Griffith mourned, “George Lindsey was my friend. I had great respect for his talent and his human spirit.
“In recent years, we spoke often by telephone. Our last conversation was a few days ago…I am happy to say that as we found ourselves in our 80s, we were not afraid to say, ‘I love you.’
“That was the last thing George and I had to say to each other: ‘I love you’.”
Lindsey was 83, and leaves behind two children and two grandchildren.
“America has grown up with me,” Lindsey once said. “Goober is every man; everyone finds something to like about ol’ Goober!”
