Actor George Lindsey, who played a bumbling Goober Pyle in the series of the 1960s TV "Andy Griffith Show," died Sunday. He was 83.

Lindsey died in Nashville, Tennessee, after a brief illness, according to a statement from the Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home.

Lindsey asked in 1962 to audition for the role of concomitant gas station named Gomer Pyle on "Andy Griffith Show" but lost the part to actor Jim Nabors.

Two years later, when the image Nabors "Gomer Pyle has become so popular that a spin-off program was created, landed the role of Lindsey's cousin Goober Pyle in Homer.

Over the next seven seasons - four on the "Andy Griffith Show" and three on the continuation of the series "Mayberry RFD" - Lindsey played forever entangled small town gas station attendant.

For many years after he played the role of Goober Pyle on the program a variety of countries "Hi Ho" and the comedy circuit.

In a statement released to the funeral home, actor Andy Griffith said he is Lindsey, who was active in raising funds for Special Olympics, a friend and former colleague.

Griffith, 85, praised the spirit of Lindsey and talent, and said that they often talked on the phone in recent years.

"I am pleased to say that we are in our eighties, we were not afraid to say" I love you, "said Griffith.

He was born in Fairfield, Alabama, in 1928, Lindsey was active in theater in high school and college, an obituary posted on the website said the undertaker.

After graduating from Florence State Teachers College, military service and a brief stint as a teacher, Lindsey used GI Bill money to study at the American Theatre Wing, said in an obituary.

Early work in Hollywood Lindsey was in fine detail on television shows such as "Shooter," "Gunsmoke" and "Twilight Zone".