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Actor and comedian George Lindsey -- Goober on TV's "Andy Griffith Show" -- died early Sunday morning after an extended illness, his family announced. He was 83 years old. Lindsey auditioned for the role of Gomer Pyle, but fellow actor and Alabama native Jim Nabors ended up with the part. When Nabors got his own show later, Lindsey was approached about resuming his role of Goober, which he did for the next five years. Also read: Jack Elinson, Veteran TV Comedy Writer, Dies at 89 "George Lindsey was my friend," said Griffith in a...

This morning, we have news briefs about the passing of two television veterans -- one from behind the scenes and one in front of the camera.

Also, Henson puppets may be returning to NBC, American Horror Story gets cut, and a celebration of Cagney & Lacey for their 30th anniversary (original series image at right). Plus, some notable dates in TV history.

Jack Elinson, Rip

A veteran TV comedy writer, whose career stretched over 50 years, died last Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. Elinson was 89 years old. After writing for shows like The Johnny Carson Show and The Real McCoys in the 1950s, he went on write for Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show, and Hogan's Heroes. As a producer, he worked on Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., That Girl, and Good Times. He was also an executive producer, working on...

Veteran comedy writer Jack Elinson has died at the age of 89.

The TV icon passed away from natural causes last Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, California.

Elinson began his small screen career in the 1950s, penning jokes for U.S. variety programmes The Jimmy Durante Show and The Johnny Carson Show and he went on to write for popular series The Andy Griffith Show and Hogan's Heroes. He also honed his skills as a producer working on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and That Girl.

He earned an Emmy Award nomination in the Comedy Series category in 1961 and won a Writers Guild of America prize in 1962 for his work on the Manhunt episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

TV comedy writer Jack Elinson, whose career stretched over 50 years, died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. He was 89. His numerous credits as writer during the 1950s included the series All-Star Revue, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Duke, The Jimmy Durante Show, Hey, Jeannie!, The Johnny Carson Show, and The Real McCoys. During the 1960s, The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy), The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan’s Heroes, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (producer), Run, Buddy, Run (producer), and That Girl (producer). He wrote and served as producer on many series in the ’70s, such as Good Times (producer), and One Day at Time (executive producer), as well as The Doris Day Show (producer), Arnie and the animated sitcom Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. During the ’80s, his work included The Facts of Life (executive producer) and 227, the Marla Gibbs-starring comedy series which...

Jack Elinson, a veteran TV comedy writer and producer, died Thursday of natural causes at his Santa Monica home, the Writers Guild of America, West announced Monday. He was 89. Elinson, who cut his teeth writing jokes for Walter Winchell's newspaper column, rose to prominence in the 1950s working on such Golden Age fare as "The Jimmy Durante Show," "The Johnny Carson Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour." The following decade saw him writing for series including "The Danny Thomas Show," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Hogan's Heroes," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and...