In addition to playing Goober on ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ actor and UNA alumnus George Lindsey was a humanitarian who dedicated himself to helping multiple causes as well as students looking to break into the film industry.

How did he get his start?

After graduating from UNA in 1952, holding a teaching job in Hazel Green and serving in the military, Lindsey began his film career in New York, said Cynthia Burkhead, director of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival.

“He went to a very selective acting school program in New York and worked in New York for a little while, and then he went to California where he did a number of roles,” Burkhead said. “The one he’s most known for of course is playing Goober in the Andy Griffith Show. After that, he starred for a number of years in the same role, Goober, in ‘Hee Haw’ in Nashville, and it was with that show that he moved from L.A. to Nashville — getting him closer to home.”

What other roles did he play?

“People are often surprised to learn George had played Lafayette in ‘The Aristocats’ and Trigger in ‘Robin Hood,’ but once they make the connection, the voice is unmistakable,” Burkhead said. “George was very proud of those roles, and while Goober was his most long-running television role, he also had memorable work in ‘Gunsmoke,’ ‘Love American Style’ and many other TV programs.”

How did the film festival get started?

“He started the festival here 17 years ago with a couple of members from the university community – Bobby Hurt and Bill Jarnigain,” Burkhead said. “It was important for him to be able to provide kind of a hometown training ground for students who wanted to go into the film industry, so he thought that by bringing film to them it would give them a good opportunity to be exposed to the film industry. It was very much one of his goals to be a resource for students.”

How has his death affected the festival?

Lindsey’s passing has has a huge impact on the festival, Burkhead said.

“It’s been very sad for us because every year we could count on George being here and taking part in special events and our awards show,” Burkhead said. “It was always special to him to be able to give out the Best of Show award to the filmmaker who would win that year, and (that) brought George’s personality to the festival. It’s been a different time for us since he passed.”

What is his legacy?

Ultimately, Lindsey should be remembered for how much he loved UNA, Alabama and the world, and how much he wanted to impact all three, Burkhead said.

“George spent many years holding celebrity golf tournaments in the state to raise money for the Special Olympics,” Burkhead said. “He built a swimming pool for one of the homes for the mentally disabled in the state because he really wanted to make it a better place for people in Alabama. He was the first recipient of the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award.”

Graduate student Yagyata Batra said she is inspired to learn about Lindsey because of the work he did for others.

“I think being a humanitarian is important, but other students are probably more focused on (Lindsey) being in the television and film industry, which probably attracts more attention,” Batra said. “I think it’s important to look at the work he did for others. That’s the kind of information I would consider important about someone.”

Why should students care?

Learning about Lindsey’s career can lead students to see other aspects of him, said sophomore Adam Risher.

“I think it’s important for students to know about (Lindsey’s) acting career as well as what he did to help others,” Risher said. “The fact that George Lindsey was famous is what can attract students to want to learn more about him. Once they start to learn more, they’ll see that he was more than just an actor and that he also helped others.”