Background
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.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Norris Goff
Edit Profile
Education
Despite their fame as backwoodsmen, both actors graduated from the University of Arkansas, where Goff became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Career
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. 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, United States.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.
-
Born
-
Died
June 7, 1978 (aged 72)