profile

    Norris Goff

    1906-05-30 (118 years old) in Cove, Arkansas, USA

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Norris Goff (May 30, 1906 – June 7, 1978) was an American comedian in radio and film best known for his portrayal of Abner Peabody on the rural comedy Lum and Abner. Nicknamed "Tuffy," Goff was born in Cove, Arkansas, but soon moved to Mena, Arkansas where he met his longtime friend and partner Chester Lauck (Lum) and graduating from Mena High School in 1924. Despite their fame as backwoodsmen, both actors graduated from the University of Arkansas, where Goff became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Goff and his partner had experience as blackface entertainers, but had also worked up a hillbilly skit based on their own life experiences and friends. Performing on local radio, they soon landed their own network series in 1931. In addition to playing the role of the likable but naive, checker-playing Abner (who worked with Lum at the "Jot 'Em down Store" in fictitious Pine Ridge), Goff co-wrote the earliest episodes with Lauck, and played many of the other recurring characters, including postmaster Dick Huddleston (named after a real life friend in Mena), con-man Squire Skimp, Mousy Gray, and in the sentimental annual Christmas show, Doc Miller. Goff and Lauck also guest starred as Lum and Abner on radio series such as Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall; Goff also made a handful of solo appearances, notably guesting as the father of Andy Devine in an episode of The Jack Benny Program. Goff reprised his role as Abner for seven films between 1940 and 1956. Unlike Lauck, who virtually retired outside of playing Lum, Goff continued to make occasional guest appearances on television in the 1960s. Goff appeared in one episode apiece of two situation comedies with rural themes: Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (as Gomer's grandfather) and The Andy Griffith Show (playing a local storekeeper). Upon retirement he lived in Palm Springs, California. He died of a stroke at the age of 72 in Palm Desert, California.

    Movies

    poster
    Lum and Abner Abroad
    0 %|Feb 4, 1956
    Comedy
    actor
    Lum and Abner
    0 %|Jul 18, 1949
    Comedy, TV Movie
    poster
    Partners in Time
    60 %|Apr 4, 1946
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Goin' to Town
    0 %|Sep 1, 1944
    Comedy
    poster
    So This Is Washington
    48 %|Aug 1, 1943
    Comedy
    poster
    Two Weeks to Live
    20 %|Feb 26, 1943
    Action, Adventure, Comedy
    poster
    The Bashful Bachelor
    45 %|Mar 19, 1942
    Comedy
    poster
    Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 5
    0 %|Jan 1, 1942
    Documentary
    poster
    Dreaming Out Loud
    57 %|Sep 30, 1940
    Comedy

    Series

    poster
    The Andy Griffith Show
    76 %|Oct 3, 1960
    Comedy, Family