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. ==Filmography==