As long as his health allowed, he was still making people smile. The Hee Haw star showed up at Ray Stevens' CD release
party Feb. 28 at The Rutledge to lend support to his good friend and fellow comedian. Stevens beamed from the stage as he thanked Lindsey for being there.
"He was in a wheelchair that night, and he was really going out of his way to show up for that," says Stevens, who was friends with Lindsey for 35 years. "That's the kind of friend he was."
Actor Andy Griffith said in a statement that accompanied the family's Sunday morning announcement of Lindsey's death: "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. We would talk about our health, how much we missed our friends who passed before us and usually about something funny. I am happy to say that as we found ourselves in our eighties, 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's career was much broader than the confines of Mayberry. Lindsey also appeared in MASH, Gunsmoke, Herbie the Love Bug and C.H.I.P.S. He was in movies including Take This Job and Shove It and Cannonball Run II, was a judge for the Miss USA pageant for years, and lent his voice to an assortment of animated Disney characters in movies including The Aristocats, The Rescuers and Robin Hood. He recorded a comedy album in 1971, Goober Sings!, and was a member of the Hee Haw cast for 20 years.
Lindsey, who lived in Nashville at the time of his death, was born in Fairfield, Ala., Dec. 17, 1928, to parents George Ross Lindsey and Alice Smith Lindsey, and grew up in Jasper, Ala. His mother was disabled, and his father struggled to find work. He was the couple's only child and was primarily raised by his grandparents.
He enjoyed spending time at his Aunt Ethel's gas station, where the mechanics wore felt caps to keep the grease and oil from the cars from dripping in their hair. Their caps inspired the beanie Lindsey wore as Goober on The Andy Griffith Show.
From an early age, Lindsey had a sharp sense of humor and comedic timing and became interested in acting at age 14 after seeing a production of Oklahoma! Also an athlete, he played football in high school and went to college at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) on a football scholarship. While there, he also participated in the school's theatrical productions.
Lindsey graduated in 1952 with a teaching certificate and a degree in biological science and physical education. He joined the Air Force and was stationed at Pinecastle Air Force Base in Orlando, where was recreation director. While in Orlando, he met Joyanne Herbert, who became his wife and the mother of his two children, daughters Camden and George Jr. Lindsey and Herbert were married from 1955 to 1991.
Lindsey was discharged from the military in 1956 and moved back to Alabama, where he was a teacher and a basketball coach at a high school outside Huntsville. From there, he and his wife moved to New York City in the late 1950s, where the teacher and would-be actor enrolled in classes at the American Theater Wing. After graduation, Lindsey found work with small parts in local theaters before launching his professional career with significant roles in Broadway plays All-American and Wonderful Town, which led him to Los Angeles with the dream of being a television actor.
He signed with William Morris Agency and after appearing in small roles on multiple television shows, he landed the part of Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show in 1964 — about two years after he first tried out for the role of Gomer Pyle, which was awarded to Jim Nabors. Lindsey acted on the show until it was canceled in 1968, and from there, he took the Goober character to the spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. The show was canceled in 1971. The comedy album won the attention of executives at country variety show Hee Haw, the actor's professional home for the next 20 years.
"Hee-Haw was a great place for George to continue doing what he loved to do, and nobody can crawl inside his head, but he seemed to be pretty happy doing what he was doing when I was there," Stevens says. "I know I enjoyed doing the Hee-Haw shows. It was a big happy family. I think he had a pretty full life."
Lindsey also toured heavily as a comedian, often opening shows in the late '70s for The Oak Ridge Boys. Joe Bonsall remembers the joke Lindsey opened his set with every night:
"He would say, 'I was backstage splashing toilet water on my face and the lid fell on my head,' " Bonsall says. "And of course he wrote it, he was very proud that he wrote all of his own jokes. The first words you heard out of his mouth when you saw him off stage was a joke. It never stopped with George, and I guess that's what you got to be to be a great comic."
In addition to his work on screen, Lindsey was also heavily involved in charity work. He's a recipient of the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award, and he raised more than $1.7 million for the Alabama Special Olympics through his George Lindsey Celebrity Golf Tournament.
Lindsey "was a very caring man," Bonsall says. "He just cared about stuff and he cared about people. He cared about what people were going through, and he was so good with people. People would come up to him and he would put his arm around them and they would just light up because that was Goober. I always enjoyed our times with him."
Lindsey is survived by son George Lindsey Jr. of Woodland Hills, Calif.; daughter Camden Jo Lindsey Gardner, her husband, Russell, and their sons, Carson Cole Gardner and Andrew Liam Gardner, all of Valencia, Calif.; a cousin, Rebecca Weber of Gadsden, Ala.; and his companion of many years, Anne Wilson of Nashville.
George Lindsey, the actor who portrayed the country-bumpkin mechanic Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show," died Sunday. He was 83.
George Lindsey, left, poses with Andy Griffith for a photo during the taping of "The Darling Fortune," an October 1966 episode of "The Andy Griffith Show." Lindsey's character joined the hit sitcom in 1964.
Left to right, Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, Don Knotts and George Lindsey pose at the TV Land Awards in 2004.
Andy Griffith, left, Lindsey, center, and Howard McNear talk outside a barber shop in a still from "The Andy Griffith Show" around 1966.
Lindsey, left, Vince Van Patten and Cloris Leachman perform in a scene from the movie "Charley And The Angel," which was released in 1973.
George Lindsey and Lulu Roman attend Country's Family Reunion Salute to the Kornfield in May 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Roman was a regular on the TV series "Hee Haw," which also featured Lindsey's Goober character.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: George Lindsey's funeral is set for Friday and burial on Saturday
Lindsey joined the hit sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1964
Lindsey continued as Goober on the sequel series "Mayberry R.F.D." for three years
He embraced the Goober character for another 20 years on TV's "Hee Haw"
Los Angeles (CNN) -- George Lindsey, the actor who portrayed the country-bumpkin mechanic Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show," died Sunday after a brief illness, his family said. He was 83.
Lindsey's funeral is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Nashville. He will be buried in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama, on Saturday, according to the funeral home.
Lindsey's character Goober Pyle joined the hit sitcom in 1964 as the cousin of Gomer Pyle, played by Jim Nabors. When the show ended four seasons later, Lindsey continued as Goober for three years on the sequel series "Mayberry R.F.D."
"George often told me his fondest memories of his life in show business were the years he spent working on 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Mayberry R.F.D.' " said Andy Griffith. "They were for me, too."
Co-star Ron Howard remembered Lindsey as "warm, intelligent and lovable," in a post on Twitter.
"He generated lots of laughs & raised a lot of money for Special Olympics," Howard tweeted.
The Fairfield, Alabama, native never escaped the stereotyping that the Goober Pyle role brought him. Lindsey embraced it for another 20 years as a regular on TV's "Hee Haw," by wearing the familiar hat and clothes of Goober and carried the character on the road for decades of stand-up comedy shows.
Lindsey auditioned for the Gomer Pyle role when the show started in 1962, but he was edged out by Nabors, the family's obituary said. When he saw that first episode on TV featuring Nabors as Gomer, he kicked his television screen because he was upset for losing the part.
"Not only that, but now I didn't have a TV to watch 'Ben Casey' on," Lindsey wrote in his autobiography. He was finally added to the cast as Goober, eventually taking over the job of running Mayberry's gas station when Gomer joined the Marines with his own spinoff, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."
Lindsey turned to acting after stints in the U.S. Air Force and as a high school teacher. He studied at the American Theater Wing in New York for two years while working as a comedian in nightclubs and coffeehouses. An agent from the William Morris Agency saw his work and signed him.
That representation led to stage roles, including the production of "All American" at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre.
Lindsey moved to Los Angeles, where his work was mostly in Westerns, such as "The Rifleman" and "Gunsmoke." He also acted in the "The Real McCoys," "The Twilight Zone" and several Disney productions. He was cast in three episodes of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."
An obituary released by the Nashville funeral home handling Lindsey's arrangements said the actor often joked about what he wanted written on his tombstone.
"One choice goes for the joke: 'I told you I was sick.' The other goes for the heart: 'I hope I made you laugh.' "
Lindsey is survived by his son George Lindsey Jr., daughter Camden Jo Lindsey Gardner, and two grandsons.
George Lindsey, who spent nearly 30 years as the grinning Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," has died. He was 83.
The Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville said Lindsay died early Sunday morning after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements were still being made.
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."
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, replaced him.
"At that time, we were the best acting ensemble on TV," Lindsey once told an interviewer. "The scripts were terrific. Andy is the best script constructionist I've ever been involved with. And you have to lift your acting level up to his; he's awfully good."
In a statement released through the funeral home, Griffith said, "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 eighties, 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.'"
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 "MASH," "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."
He had movie roles, too, appearing in "Cannonball Run II" and "Take This Job and Shove It." His voice was used in animated Walt Disney features including "The Aristocats," "The Rescuers" and "Robin Hood."
Lindsey was born in Jasper, Ala., the son of a butcher. He received a bachelor of science degree from Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) in 1952 after majoring in physical education and biology and playing quarterback on the football team.
After spending three years in the Air Force, he worked one year as a high school baseball and basketball coach and history teacher near Huntsville, Ala.
In 1956, he attended the American Theatre Wing in New York City and began his professional career on Broadway, appearing in the musicals "All American" and "Wonderful Town."
He moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s and then to Nashville in the early 1990s.
"There's no place in the United States I can go that they don't know me. They may not know me, but they know the character," he told The Tennessean in 1980.
At that time, he said the Griffith show "was the first soft rural comedy with a moral."
"We physically and mentally became those people when we got to the set."
He did some standup comedy — ending the show by tap and break dancing.
One of his jokes:
"A football coach, holding a football, asks his quarterback, 'Son, can you pass this?' The player says, 'Coach, I don't even think I can swallow it.'"
Lindsey devoted much of his spare time to raising funds for the Alabama Special Olympics. For 17 years, he sponsored a celebrity golf tournament in Montgomery, Ala., that raised money for the mentally disabled.
The University of North Alabama awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1992, and he was affectionately called "Doctor Goober" by acquaintances after that.
February 14, 2012 -Bobby Jon Drinkard, two-time “Survivor” contestant and host and producer of Alabama’s “On the Job” will bring Alabama’s EMPACT grip truck to this year’s Lindsey Film Festival. The 48-foot tractor trailer, equipped with lighting and grip equipment as well as an 80 square foot editing suite/production office will be available Friday, March 2 from 4-6 pm, and Saturday March 3 from 10-4pm. Read More
February 13, 2012 -Tickets are now on sale for “An Evening with Michael Rooker,” scheduled for Friday, March 2 at 7pm in the Performance Center of the GUC at the University of North Alabama. Tickets are $10.00 and available at The Wine Seller, 324 North Court Street, Florence, and the Follett UNA Bookstore. Fan favorite and Jasper native Michael Rooker ‘s work in film includes such notable titles as “Slither,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Days of Thunder,” and the highly acclaimed “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Rooker is widely known for his many roles in television, most recently as the tough redneck Merle Dixon in AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Rooker is also the voice of multiple video game characters and is a playable character in “Call of Duty: Black Ops.” Read More
January 23, 2012 - The 15th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will pay tribute to actor and fan favorite Michael Rooker. Born in Jasper, Alabama, also the birthplace of festival founder George Lindsey, Rooker’s extensive list of work in film includes such notable titles as “Slither,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Days of Thunder,” and the highly acclaimed “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Rooker is widely known for his many roles in television, most recently as the tough redneck Merle Dixon in AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Rooker is also the voice of multiple video game characters and is a playable character in “Call of Duty: Black Ops.” LindseyFest will hold a special event honoring Rooker on Friday, March 2. The time and location will be announced soon. In the meantime, fans can follow the star on Twitter at @Michael_Rooker, or on his web site, www.michaelrookeronline.com. The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey’s own film career has included several important roles, including the character Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show.” For more information on the 2012 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com, or contact the film festival staff atlindseyfilmfest@una.edu or 256-765-4592.
January 18, 2012 - The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival has announced the selection of films that will screen during the 2012 festival March 1-3. The films, listed below, were selected from more than 120 submissions from around the world. The films will now compete for awards in several categories, and the winners will be announced March 3 at the 15th George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Show.
January 18, 2012 - The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival has announced 14 feature screenplays and six short screenplays that will compete for awards at the 2012 festival, scheduled for March 1-3. The screenplays, listed below, were selected from submissions from around the world. Winning screenplays will be announced March 3 at the 15th George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Show.
June 10, 2011 -The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is now accepting entries for 2012. Entries may be submitted through Withoutabox.com. The Early Deadline for submissions is July 15. The Regular Deadline is set for August 15. The Late Deadline is September 15. An Extended Deadline is set for October 15. The cost of entry increases with each deadline. Read More
June 10, 2011 -Organizers of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival have announced dates for the 2012 festival. The university-based festival showcases student and professional films and screenplays from across the world. The 15th annual festival will take place March 1-3, with screenplays, workshops, panel discussions, parties and other events taking place on the UNA campus and at locations throughout the surrounding Shoals area. For more information, contact the film festival staff at 256-765-4592 or lindseyfilmfest@una.edu.
On April 30, the festival held a special Salute to George Lindsey. Gospel singer and commedianne LuLu Roman paid tribute to her friend and fellow Hee-Haw star, and other friends from across the country sent video messages for George, including Ron Howard, Ernest Borgnine, Tom Cherones, and Rance Howard.
March 25, 2011 - The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will hold a special Salute to George Lindsey on Saturday, April 30 at 7pm. Two-time Grammy winner Ray Stevens, and gospel singer and comedienne LuLu Roman will be on hand to honor George Lindsey. A number of notable entertainment personalities will also appear via filmed tributes. Other guests will honor George Lindsey for the work he has done on television as well as for his philanthropy and his service to the University of North Alabama. The Salute to George Lindsey will take place in the Guillot University Center, University of North Alabama. General Admission tickets are $10.00 and are available at The Wine Seller, 324 N Court Street, Florence, Alabama, and The Follett UNA Bookstore on the campus at UNA, or online at lindseyfilmfest@una.edu. For more information on the Salute to George Lindsey or the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com, or contact the film festival staff at lindseyfilmfest@una.edu or 256-765-4592.
Feature Screenplay: Winslow and the Emperor Short Screenplay: Canvas
Feature Film: Double Loss Professional Documentary: Sloss: Industry to Art Professional Narrative: Scent Student Documentary: The Time Machine Student Narrative: Achille Vanguard: The Birds Upstairs Young Filmmaker: Charlie's Closet
Best of State: Secret to a Happy Ending Best of Show: Achille
Jury Awards Best Story: The Time Machine Best Directing: Scent Best Actress: Monica Scattini (Achille) Best Actor: Lando Buzzanca (Achille) Best Sound Design: Scent Best Score: Achille Best Editing: Scent Best Cinematography: The Birds Upstairs Audience Choice: Michael & the ah of life
George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Finalists for each category: Feature Screenplay: Halfway Home and Winslow and the Emperor Short Screenplay: Dreamer in Exile and Canvas Feature Film: The Secret to a Happy Ending and Double Loss Professional Documentary: Open Secret and Sloss: Industry to Art Professional Narrative: Scott's Dead and Scent Student Documentary: Honeymoon and The Time Machine Student Narrative: Cliquetastrophe and Achille Vanguard: the ah of life and The Birds Upstairs Young Filmmaker: Michael and Charlie's Closet
Times-Daily, March 4, 2011 Anyone with a story to tell can film a movie, according to Banks Helfrich. In town for the annual George Lindsey University of North Alabama Film Festival, the award-winning Florida filmmaker spoke with Staff Writer Michelle Rupe Eubanks about how almost anyone can break into the movie business. Read More
Times-Daily, March 3, 2011 By Sarah Carlson, Staff Writer Not many grown-ups would put much credence into any 6-year-old kid's declaration of wanting to make films, and Luke Broyles admits that. He was 6 once, and he begged his parents, Tim and Donna, for camera equipment to make a film. Read More
March 3, 2011 -From director Champ Williams’ investigation of human destruction of turtles’ habitats in “I Stopped for a Turtle This Morning” to Mark Kendall’s study of a watchmaker’s philosophy of time in “The Time Machine,” documentaries screening at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival this week tell a wide variety of stories about people and their impact on the world. Read More
March 3, 2011 -Films in the Young Filmmakers category at this year’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival share a common focus on relationships. Screening Friday at 4 pm. Read More
Times-Daily, February 28, 2011 By Michelle Rupe Eubanks, Staff Writer Filmmakers will have their moment on center stage at this year’s George Lindsey University of North Alabama Film Festival, according to event organizers. “We have worked hard this year to find ways to help them get to the festival, and we expect to have a record number on hand to present their films,” said Cynthia Burkhead, an English instructor and festival organizer. The annual festival begins Thursday. She said there would be question-and-answer sessions after each block of film screenings, and “we’ve also scheduled a ‘Meet the Filmmakers’ session for Friday, so audiences can spend more time getting to know our guests.” The festival is in its 14th year at UNA, and it remains one of the few film festivals to take place on a university campus. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Read More
February 28, 2011 -The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will kick off Thursday night at 6:15 with a full slate of films made at least partially in Alabama. Read More
February 22, 2011 -Due to unforeseen circumstances, the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival’s March 4 Salute to George Lindsey has been postponed until later this spring. A new date for the event will be announced as soon as it is scheduled. All other festival events will continue as scheduled. For more information on the 2011 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, visit www.lindseyfilmfest.com or contact the festival staff at lindseyfilmfest@una.edu or 256-765-4592. Read More
February 18, 2011 -Filmmaker Banks Helfrich’s latest feature, “the ah of life,” is set to premiere at the 14th annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival March 5 at 11:30 a.m. at the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence. A graduate of Auburn University with a minor in theatre, Helfrich said he looks forwarding to attending the festival next month. Read More
February 17, 2011 -The theme of aging will be explored by two films at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival March 3-5. Giorgia Farina’s short film “Achille” is a “commedia all’italiana” that explores the world of an elderly man who challenges the limitations of his age in the pursuit of happiness. Auburn grad Banks Helfrich’s latest feature, “the ah of life,” tells the story of mathematician Nigel Kline, who, in a world where time is vertical, stumbles upon himself, which lays the foundation for his acceptance of mortality. Read More
February 17, 2011 -Two-time Grammy winner Ray Stevens will join Lulu Roman and Sam Lovullo in A Salute to George Lindsey at this year’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. The event will be held March 4 at 7 p.m. in UNA’s Guillot University Center banquet halls. Tickets are $10 and are available at Coffee-ol-ogy in the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, The Wine Seller in downtown Florence, and the UNA Bookstore. Reserve tickets are available by calling 256-765-4592. $5 UNA student tickets are available at the UNA Bookstore. Read More
February 17, 2011 -Tickets for the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival’s Salute to George Lindsey and Awards Show and After Party are now on sale at Coffee-ol-ogy in the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, The Wine Cellar at 324 N. Court Street in Florence, and the UNA Bookstore. Reserve tickets are available by calling 256-765-4592. Read More
February 14, 2011 -Award-winning actress and longtime friend of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Natalie Canerday will return to the festival next month to emcee A Salute to George Lindsey and the 2011 Awards Show. A Salute to George Lindsey will be held March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Guillot University Center banquet halls, and the annual Awards Show and After Party will be held March 5 at 7 p.m. at the UNA East Campus Culinary Center, 1640 Tune Avenue, Florence. Read More
February 14, 2011 -“Hee Haw” producer Sam Lovullo, Birmingham author Tim Hollis and media studies scholar Dr. Jacob J. Podber will participate in a panel on rural humor as part of the 14th annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival next month. Read More
February 11, 2011 -The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will kick off its 2011 event with a party at On the Rocks, located at 110 N. Court Street in Florence. The party will begin at 4 p.m. March 3. Read More
February 11, 2011 -The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will welcome a record number of filmmakers for its 2011 event March 3-5. Already confirmed for attendance are representatives of 14 of the 30 films selected for screening and awards competition and six of the 20 screenplays competing for Golden Lion awards. Read More
Official Screenplay Selections - Help us in congratulating these screenplays for being selections of the 2011 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival.
January 26, 2011 - The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will screen young filmmaker Luke Broyles’ short film, “Michael,” during the Young Filmmakers’ block March 4 at 4 p.m. at the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence. Read More
January 25, 2011 - Barr Weissman’s “The Secret to a Happy Ending,” the acclaimed rock documentary about The Drive-By Truckers, is scheduled to screen at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival March 3 at 9 p.m. at the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence. Read More
January 25, 2011 - The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival has announced its 2011 lineup of film screenings. The schedule includes 30 films to be screened March 3-5 at the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence. All screenings are free and open to the public.
January 24, 2011 - This year’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will hold a special salute to its founder George Lindsey March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Guillot University Center banquet halls. Among the special guests present for the event will be gospel singer and comedian LuLu Roman, who appeared on “Hee Haw” with Lindsey for many years. The salute to Lindsey is in recognition of his successful career on screen as well as his service to his alma mater, the University of North Alabama. Tickets will go on sale in mid February. Read More
January 21, 2011 Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame artist, comedian and “Hee Haw” favorite Lulu Roman will appear at this year’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival as part of a special tribute to festival founder George Lindsey. The festival is scheduled for March 3-5. Read More
Listen to what George Lindsey and some of our 2010 special guests have to say about the film festival.
These are just a few of the excellent films we screened at last year's festival. Make plans to attend the 14th George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, March 3-5, 2011 to see some more great independent films.
These 3-D photos were shot by Dutch filmmaker, Bernd Kruyt. Bernd's short documentary, “A DS in the Future: the story of a flying taxi cab,” about the design and construction of the famous flying taxi in “Back to the Future II," was the topic of one of the 2010 festival workshops.
March 12, 2010 Oliver and Terry Holler’s replica DeLorean time machine raised $1,078 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research during last week’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. Most of the donations were made during the car’s four public appearances at the festival. Another $83 was contributed by preschool, kindergarten and elementary students at Kilby Laboratory School on the University of North Alabama campus, when the DeLorean made a private appearance for the schoolchildren. (Photo by Thomas Beane) Read More
WAAY 31 Time Machine Delorean Replica in the Shoals - March 4, 2010
March 10, 2010 - By Jean Cole jean@athensnews-courier.com A package tucked under the Christmas tree changed Brad Thompson’s life. The Athens boy, who was 9 at the time, ripped open the gift to find a Tyco movie camera. The gray, plastic, battery-operated camera was not expensive or high quality, but it was lightweight enough to take anywhere or duct tape to anything, and it plugged right into the VCR for playback. His parents, Dean and Lori Thompson of Athens, didn’t know it yet, but their gift would open a door for their son. Brad loved videotaping everything. (Courtesy Photo) Read More
March 8, 2010 - By Melissa Parker The name George Lindsey is synonymous with nostalgic television; i.e., the character of Goober Pyle in The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry R.F.D., and Hee Haw. The legendary performer has also guest-starred on many shows including Daniel Boone, The Rifleman, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Gunsmoke, MASH, and Fantasy Island. (Photo by Marc Parker) Read More
March 7, 2010 - By Michelle Rupe Eubanks Just being around the filmmakers and film fans at this weekend's George Lindsey/University of North Alabama Film Festival has given actress Claudia Wells the itch to get back into the business. "I very much want to get back into acting and pursue that when I go home (to Los Angeles)," she said. "I've been bitten by the bug again, and it's y'all's fault entirely. I've already impressed upon Tonya Holly the need to put me in her next movie." Holly is a local film director whose Cypress Moon Studios has produced "When I Find the Ocean" and "The Mirror." She's at work on the film "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde." Along with Bob Gale, the screenwriter/producer of the "Back to the Future" film series, Wells served as emcee of Saturday night's awards ceremony. The pair also participated in several events related to the film's 25th reunion, which was tied to this year's festival. (Photo by Chris Rohling/Times Daily) Read More
Cast and crew reunite to talk about the Back To The Future movie, 25 years later.
Time Change for Sunday Winner Screenings - Winner Screenings will begin at 1:00 pm at the Zodiac Theatre
2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Category Winners - SUNDAY SCHEDULE
1:00 PM Young Filmmaker - “Crippled” 1:15 PM Vanguard - “Elephants” 1:30 PM Student Documentary - “Sustaining Life” 2:30 PM Student Narrative - “One Day” 2:50 PM Professional Short Documentary - “I am a Man, From Memphis” 3:20 PM Professional Full Length Documentary - “Cody” 4:30 PM Professional Short Narrative - “Interpretation” 4:40 PM Shoals Spotlight & The Sappo Black Sweet Home Alabama - “Collecting Chloe” 5:55 PM Best of Show & Professional Full Length Narrative - “The Frost”
March 6, 2010 A Best of Show for the Norwegian film “The Frost” was among the 14 awards presented tonight at the 2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Ceremony. The movie, screened in the Professional Feature Narrative category, explores a couple’s collapsing marriage, haunted by the ghostly presence of their deceased young son. The 2010 Clyde Sappo Black Sweet Home Alabama Award, which honors a film shot at least partially in Alabama, went to Brad Thompson for “Collecting Chloe.” “Collecting Chloe” had screened in the Shoals Spotlight category. Read More
March 4, 2010 “Sling Blade” and “October Sky” star Natalie Canerday will emcee the 13th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Show. The show will be held Saturday, March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Guillot University Center Banquet Halls on the campus of the University of North Alabama. The annual awards show honors the best among the films screened during the four-day festival. This year, the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is pleased to be giving Golden Lion awards to screenplays for the first time. Following the Awards Show is an After Party hosted by Cypress Moon Studio in Sheffield. The Awards Show ticket covers admission to both events, and is $15 plus tax and handling, and $10 plus tax and handling for UNA students. A separate After Party Only ticket is also available for $10 plus tax and handling. Tickets may be purchased at www.lindseyfilmfest.com, at Coffee-ol-ogy in the Florence Lauderdale Public Library, and at the UNA Bookstore. Remaining tickets will also be available at the door. Read More
March 1, 2010 Country musician Eric Heatherly will be the featured entertainment at the after party for the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Show. The party will begin at 9 p.m. this Saturday at Cypress Moon Studio in Sheffield. Nathan Johnson will open for Heatherly. Admission to the after party is included in the awards show ticket, which is $17. Tickets are also available to the after party only for $11.50 each. Tickets are available at www.lindseyfilmfest.com or at the UNA Bookstore or CoffeeOlogy, located inside the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. After-party tickets will also be available at Cypress Moon Studio.
Heatherly has released three albums, including “Swimming in Champagne,” featuring his cover of the Statler Brothers’ song “Flowers on the Wall,” which earned a No. 6 spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. His other albums include “The Lower East Side of Life” and “2 High 2 Cry.” Pop/rock singer Johnson is a student in the University of North Alabama’s entertainment industry program. He performs regularly in north Alabama and the surrounding area. The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey’s own film career has included several important roles, including the character Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
March 1, 2010 Actor Lea Thompson has cancelled her appearance at Friday’s “Back to the Future” 25th anniversary celebration due to scheduling conflicts with a new movie and television pilot. The event will continue with writer/producer Bob Gale and actors James Tolkan and Claudia Wells, who will discuss their experiences in making the iconic “Back to the Future.” The “Back to the Future” celebration will begin at 7 p.m. at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence. The event is part of the 2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. Read More
February 22, 2010 Several stars from the 1985 hit film “Back to the Future” will hold an autograph session from 9 to 11 a.m. March 6 at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, 20 Hightower Place, Florence. Actors James Tolkan and Claudia Wells will be available for the entirety of the session, and actor Lea Thompson will be available from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Writer/producer Bob Gale will hold a separate signing from 4 to 5 p.m. March 5 at the House of Heroes comic store on E. Mobile Street in downtown Florence. Read More
Two radicool dudicals (The Superkiiids!) are commissioned by whiz-kid filmmaker and secret ops leader, Robert Zemeckis, to make the movie, "Back To The Future Part IV" with all deliberate speed - lest the project be turned over to affable everyman, Thomas Jeffery Hanks. Friday, March 5 11:00 PM Zodiac Theatre Trailer
February 18, 2010 While “Back to the Future” co-writer and producer Bob Gale continues to work on film projects, he is also staying busy these days as a comic writer. While in the Shoals next month for the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival’s 25th anniversary “Back to the Future” reunion, Gale will make a stop at the House of Heroes comics store for an autograph session. The autograph session is scheduled for 4-5 p.m. March 5. House of Heroes, which carries new and vintage comics, toys and T-shirts, is located at 110 E. Mobile Street in downtown Florence. Gale’s comic credits include long story arcs for “Batman” and “Daredevil.” Read More
February 16, 2010 With a little help from his Facebook friends, Cian Hennigar, of Limerick, Ireland, has finally booked his plane tickets to next month’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his favorite movie, “Back to the Future.” The festival will include several of the film’s stars: actors Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells and screenwriter Bob Gale. After reading of the March 4-7 festival, Hennigar was quick to create a Facebook event, “Save to Clock Tower! Send Cian Hennigar Back to the Future,” which invited his Facebook friends to join and pledge 5 Euros each – about $6.82 in U.S. dollars – to help cover the price of his plane ticket. His strategy worked. Hennigar will arrive in the Shoals March 4, just in time to help kick off this year’s George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. In addition to the “Back to the Future” celebration, Hennigar is also looking forward to viewing the films selected for this year’s festival. Hennigar is a graduate student in visual media at the National University of Ireland. Galway. Read More
February 10, 2010 Guests of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival next month can go back in time during one of four public appearances made by a faithful working replica of the DeLorean time machine, as seen in “Back to the Future.” This year’s festival is celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary.
The time machine will make the following appearances:
March 4, 5-7 p.m. – Zodiac Theatre
March 5, 6-7 p.m. – Shoals Theatre
March 6, 10-11 a.m. – Zodiac Theatre
March 6, 6-7 p.m. – UNA Communications Building parking lot
The BTTF.com DeLorean time machine was built by husband-and-wife team Oliver and Terry Holler, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. It was carefully built to match the original seen in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, featuring the famous flux capacitor and functional circuit displays. Read More
February 9, 2010 In 1985, “Back to the Future” became the No. 1 movie of the year, earning four Academy Award nominations, countless honors and high ranks on most current “tops” lists. Perhaps its greatest recognition came in 2007, when the Library of Congress selected “Back to the Future” for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, a prestigious honor that ensure this “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” cinematic treasure will be protected and maintained for all time. 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of this movie that sent fans zooming back in time via a DeLorean time machine. To recognize the occasion, a limited-edition poster has been created, made possible through the efforts of Stephen Clark from BTTF.com. The premium printed lithograph will make its public debut at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival March 4-7. Artist signings will be available throughout the event. Read More
January 28, 2010 Filmmakers and movie buffs are going back in time March 4-7 as the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival hosts a faithful working replica of the famous DeLorean time machine. The time machine, as seen in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, will be available to guests many times during the festival, including its appearance at the Shoals Theatre just prior to the 25th anniversary “Back to the Future” reunion, which begins at 7 p.m. March 5. The reunion will include actors Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells and screenwriter Bob Gale. Tickets are $17 each and are available at www.lindseyfilmfest.com or at the UNA bookstore. The film festival will also include Michael Scheffe, construction supervisor for the DeLorean time machine used in the “Back to the Future” films. He will participate in a special-effects workshop March 5. Scheffe is also designer of the “Knight Rider” talking car K.I.T.T. and the flying taxi seen in “Back to the Future II.” The BTTF.com DeLorean time machine coming to UNA was built by husband-and-wife team Oliver and Terry Holler, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. It was carefully built to match the original time machine seen in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, featuring the famous flux capacitor and functional circuit displays. Read More
UNA STUDENT FILMMAKERS GEAR UP FOR COMPETITION
Lights, camera, action! University of North Alabama students are filming for the third annual Leo Awards, kicking off the 2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival the first week of March. The Leo Awards is a popular student-produced film competition that showcases short films of all genres by UNA students. For more information, E-mail: leoawards@una.edu
January 22, 2010 FLORENCE, Ala. – Actress and entrepreneur Claudia Wells, well known for her role as Jennifer Parker, Marty McFly’s girlfriend in “Back to the Future,” will join Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Bob Gale for the 25th anniversary “Back to the Future” reunion at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival March 4-7 in Florence. Wells was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and grew up in San Francisco, where she studied opera and dance, performing both for the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Dance Theatre before turning her attention to acting. She studied at the famed American Conservatory Theatre. Wells earned co-starring roles in the 1980s comedy series “Off the Rack” and “Fast Times” and has appeared in such shows as “Family,” “Simon and Simon,” “Trapper John, M.D.” and “Fame.” Most recently, she starred in the 2008 Indie film “Still Waters Burn.” Read More
January 11, 2010 Due to a scheduling conflict, actor Marc McClure will not be part of the 25th anniversary “Back to the Future” reunion, taking place March 5 at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. The reunion will go on with “Back to the Future” personalities Lea Thompson, Bob Gale and James Tolkan. Michael Scheffe, construction coordinator for the DeLorean time machine and designer of the “Back to the Future II” flying taxi, will also be on hand at the festival as he conducts a special effects workshop.
December 1, 2009 Hard economic times did not prevent filmmakers and screenwriters from submitting their work for consideration by the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. One hundred sixty-eight films and screenplays were submitted between May, when the festival began taking submissions, and the Oct. 15 final deadline. The festival is now in the process of making final selections of films to screen at the 2010 festival and compete for prizes in a variety of categories. The 2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is the first to include screenwriting in the festival competition, and festival organizers are very pleased with the number of entries: 32 feature screenplays and 13 short screenplays. Also notable are the six films submitted by Shoals area filmmakers to another new category of competition, The Shoals Spotlight. Read More
October 26, 2009 Tickets are now on sale for the 25th anniversary “Back to the Future” reunion, a special event of the University of North Alabama’s 2010 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival. The reunion will be held at 7 p.m. March 5 at the historic Shoals Theater in downtown Florence. “Back to the Future” screenwriter Bob Gale and actors Lea Thompson, Marc McClure and James Tolkan are scheduled to appear at the reunion. Tickets, which are $15 plus tax and processing fee, are available through the Festival website and at the UNA Bookstore. UNA student tickets are $5 plus tax and must be purchased at the UNA Bookstore, one ticket per student ID. Students will need to show their ticket and student ID at the event. All tickets are general admission.
Premieres Friday, November 20 at 9pm ET/PT (90 min.) Returning this year to CMT, Larry’s 90-minute holiday special includes such guest stars as Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”), Caroline Rhea, George Lindsey (“The Andy Griffith Show”), comedians Reno Collier and Jon Reep, Peter Oldring, Sara Erikson, the MuzikMafia’s Two Foot Fred, mentalist Marc Salem and returning favorites Tony Orlando and Angela Little MacKenzie (“Reno 911”). In addition to comedy and sketches, the special will include musical performances from artists including Billy Currington and the Zac Brown Band. *
October 5, 2009 We still have a few months left in 2009, but there's no harm in noting that 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of a classic film trilogy: Back to the Future. Fansite BTTF.com is already gearing up for one celebration, which will take place in, of all places, Florence, Ala. That's where actor George "Goober" Lindsey hosts his annual film festival, slated for March 4-7. Read More Photo Ralph Nelson, Universal Studios
9, the animated short written and directed by Oscar nominee Shane Acker and winner of the Best of Show-Student prize and Best College Animation at the 2005 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is now a feature film. Acker directs the feature length 9, which is produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov. 9 is scheduled for theatrical release on 9-09-09.
February 21, 2012 -Alabama native Kenton Bartlett’s feature film “Missing Pieces” is as much a story of a filmmaker’s determination as it is a story of a slovenly loner’s determination to put back together the pieces of his life. With little money to make the film, Bartlett instead relied on resourcefulness to get celebrated actor Mark Boone Junior (“Sons of Anarchy,” “Batman Begins,” “Memento”) and Melora Walters (“Big Love,” “Butterfly Effect,” “Cold Mountain”) for the film, in which many scenes were shot outdoors to save on lighting costs. Actor Mark Boone Junior will join Kenton Bartlett for the screening of “Missing Pieces” at the Lindsey Film Festival on Saturday, March 3, at 1 pm; Bartlett and Boone Junior will also be on hand for the Q&A following the screening at the Zodiac Theatre. Read More
George Lindsey, the actor who portrayed the country-bumpkin mechanic Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show," died Sunday. He was 83. 
George Lindsey, left, poses with Andy Griffith for a photo during the taping of "The Darling Fortune," an October 1966 episode of "The Andy Griffith Show." Lindsey's character joined the hit sitcom in 1964. 
Left to right, Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, Don Knotts and George Lindsey pose at the TV Land Awards in 2004. 
Andy Griffith, left, Lindsey, center, and Howard McNear talk outside a barber shop in a still from "The Andy Griffith Show" around 1966. 
Lindsey, left, Vince Van Patten and Cloris Leachman perform in a scene from the movie "Charley And The Angel," which was released in 1973. 
George Lindsey and Lulu Roman attend Country's Family Reunion Salute to the Kornfield in May 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Roman was a regular on the TV series "Hee Haw," which also featured Lindsey's Goober character. 
Young filmmaker pays homage to friend
Lindsey film festival takes stage Thursday
Film Festival to Screen Picture by 11-Year-Old Filmmaker Luke Broyles
Drive-By Truckers Film to Screen at George Lindsey UNA Film Festival
Time Machine Raises More Than $1,000 For Parkinson's Research At Film Festival
Christmas movie camera sets career path for local student
Our Prattville Exclusive Interview with George Lindsey: Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show
Festival honors best in independent films
Actress Natalie Canerday to Emcee 13th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Awards Show
Writer to Sign Autographs March 5
With Help From Facebook Friends, 'Back to the Future' Fan From Ireland to Attend Film Festival
Limited-edition 'Back to the Future' 25th Anniversary Poster to Debut at Film Festival
