When Jim Nabors' Gomer was replaced by George Lindsay's Goober on TV's 'The Andy Griffith Show'

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Actor Jim Nabors was so popular with his portrayal of Gomer Pyle on TV's classic country sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-68), that he was spun off into his own series, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. (CBS, 1964-69). But when Nabors left the Griffith series, the void was filled by George Lindsay playing Goober Pyle, Gomer's cousin.

A Closer Look at Nabors

Actor and singer Jim Nabors was born in Sylacauga, Alabama, in 1930.

The youngest of three children, James Thurston Nabors was born on June 12, 1930, in Sylacauga, Alabama. His childhood was framed by a rural Alabama life, much of which he later drew from to create his signature character, Gomer Pyle.

Plagued by poor health, which prevented him from playing sports in school, Nabors took to the stage.

Shortly after, Nabors found fame playing the beloved gas station attendant, Gomer Pyle, first on The Andy Griffith Show, and later on the CBS spinoff Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. A versatile performer, Nabors recorded more than 30 albums. He died on November 30, 2017, at age 87.

A Closer Look at Lindsay

George Lindsey was born in Fairfield, Alabama, and was raised in the small town of Jasper, where he graduated from Walker County High School in 1946. He later attended military school, and what is now known as the University of North Alabama.

Lindsay later enlisted in the United States Air Force, and then was a teacher at Hazel Green High School in Hazel Green, Alabama, while waiting to be accepted by the American Theatre Wing (ATW) in New York City in 1956.

After graduating from ATW, he performed in two Broadway productions, and then in 1962 moved to Los Angeles where he was cast in various TV shows like The Twilight Zone, and Daniel Boone, among others.

Then came Lindsay's role as Goober on The Andy Griffith Show, a character he reprised for Mayberry RFD (CBS, 1968-1971), the three-season sequel.

Reunited

In 1985, NBC (and not CBS) reunited the original cast of The Andy Griffith Show for a TV-movie titled, Return to Mayberry. In this film, Jim Nabors and George Lindsay (both of whom have since passed away) returned for the last time to play their on-screen cousin roles of Gomer Pyle and Goober Pyle.