![]() In 1964, plans were pulled together to pay tribute to the man from Massena in the form of “Hal Smith Day.” He describes, “Virtually every business and every family in town became involved in the planning, with such crowds expected that tickets and reservations for many events were in hot demand. There was definitely an upside to his recognition, as Lawrence chronicled in his profile piece. ‘Finally, one day a kid asked Terry, ‘Is your dad Otis? If he a method actor?’ Terry replied, ‘Yes, he practices every Saturday night.’” I didn’t know if they thought I was an actor or a drunk,’ said Hal Smith. When I took him to school, the other kids gave me funny looks. They used to call him ‘Little Otis’ at Brentwood Academy. I don’t recall the last time I had a drink.’ The character also affected the life of his only son, Terry. ‘They sometimes thought I was a real drunk. Others were surprised to see me walking the street,’ said Hal in a 1991 interview. ‘Strangers came up to me and asked me if I was sober. The only time I ever drank anything was when they made me a sobering drink.’ Throughout the run of The Andy Griffith Show Smith was plagued with restaurant bartenders and fans offering him free alcoholic drinks and he always turned them down. ‘I never had been seen drinking on camera. He pointed out that Otis had never been filmed drinking out of a bottle of alcohol. George grew up in Jasper, Alabama, the same small town that actress Tallulah Bankhead was from.“Hal defended himself. Two of his closest friends Andy Griffith's and Ernest Borgnine's both died two months after him.He played quarterback on the Florence State Teachers College (now University of North Alabama) football team. ![]() Borgnine, who admitted to suffering from depression, claimed that Lindsay saved his life with his friendship. Lindsay and Academy Award winning actor Ernest Borgnine became close friends in the 20 years before Lindsay's death.Attended American Theater Wing in N.Y.Moved to Hollywood in the early 1960's.Devoted a good deal of his time to raising money for Alabama Special Olympics.According to Jim Nabors, Lindsey was first considered for the role of Gomer Pyle.Has a son George Lindsey Jr., a daughter Camden Jo Lindsey Gardner, and two grandsons.Attended Kemper Military School & College in Boonville, Missouri.He turned the part down and the rest is history. Leonard Nimoy's stunner was that Gene Roddenberry's first choice to play "Spock" was George Lindsey. ![]()
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