Goober Pyle is a fictional character in the American TV sitcom The Andy Griffith Show and its later sequel series Mayberry RFD. He was played by George Lindsey. Lindsey initially read for the part of Gomer Pyle, which went to singer Jim Nabors. Lindsey is originally from Jasper, Alabama and he was born in Fairfield, Alabama, while Nabors is originally from Sylacauga, Alabama.
In the episode where Andy and Barney (who the filming crooks keep calling "Fice") are being conned into thinking a movie was going to be made about them; Andy introduces Goober as Goober Beasley.

Biography

Goober was born in either 1940 or 1941 (He says he was five years old when he was a witness to Floyd punching Charles Foley on August 9, 1946 in, "The Case of the Punch in the Nose.") He was raised in Mayberry, was trained as a mechanic in Raleigh, North Carolina, and served a stint in the North Carolina, National Guard where he picked up the phrase, "Yo." Goober worked at Wally's Filling Station, which he eventually purchased and became the proprietor of, later in the show's run. His girlfriend in four of the color episodes was Flora Malherbe, but his initial love interest was Lydia Crosswaith, who was originally from Greensboro, North Carolina.

Goober is known for his (bad) impressions of celebrities. He impersonates Cary Grant ("Judy Judy Judy") and Edward G. Robinson ("OK, you guys. Come on, you guys. All right, you guys. Beat it, you guys."). He could also impersonate Chester Goode's walk from Gunsmoke and perform lame schtick such as simulating sewing up his fingers. The only other people who were truly impressed by his talents were his cousin Gomer and the fun girls, Daphne and Skippy. He had a penchant for Super-Hero and monster comic books and B-grade, sci-fi movies. Both Pyle cousins had their own peculiar dance moves.

Goober is an emergency deputy several times when minor crime waves erupted in Mayberry.

Goober appeared on 86 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show from 1964 through 1968, one episode each of Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. and The New Andy Griffith Show and then on 54 episodes of Mayberry R.F.D. until its cancellation in 1971. Following that, Lindsey spent roughly 20 years playing the character on Hee Haw from 1972 through 1992. Goober also appeared in the 1978 television movie "Goober & the Truckers Paradise" and the 1986 television reunion movie Return to Mayberry alongside his cousin Gomer for only the third time in television history (running the town's G 'n G gas station and auto repair shop). The characters also appeared together in one The Andy Griffith Show episode and one "Gomer Pyle USMC" episode.