Today, Goofy is known as one of the Fab Five, but what’s his story? Let’s end the mystery right now… Goofy is a dog. He’s one goofy looking dog, but we think that’s quite fitting, really. Here’s what should really confuse you: Goofy and Pluto are the same animal, and yet, Pluto is relegated to the outside dog house and Goofy owns his own home and can talk. Nonetheless… he’s a dog!
History of Goofy
Goofy made his first appearance with Mickey and his pals in 1932 in a little short called, “Mickey’s Revue”, but at the time he went by the name Dippy Dawg. Did you know that he was only meant to be in one shot, but audiences loved him so much that he kept coming back for more! Soon he became known for his slapstick humor. You can’t even think about Goofy now without hearing “gawrsh!” or “Ah-hyuck” in your head!
In the 1950’s the actor who voiced Goofy had a dispute with Disney and he walked away. He told the company, “Good luck having Goofy with no Goofy”, referring to his voice. For 9 years Goofy cartoons went on with no vocals from Goofy! How did they manage that? Remember those great “how to” cartoons where Goofy taught us how to do something like fishing or driving? Disney had a narrator for the cartoons and Goofy never spoke… Now you know why!
Bill Farmer is currently the voice for Goofy, and has been since 1987! He also voices another famous Disney dog… Can you guess? He’s our pal!
What’s in a Name?
For the last two generations, Goofy has been known by only one name, Goofy, but he has a few aliases. Originally, he was known as Dippy Dawg, then G. G. Geef, “Goofy” being a nickname. Later, he was known as G. G. Goof and Goofy Goof. We prefer good old-fashioned Goofy.
Goofy’s Personal Life
When we first meet Goofy, he is a bachelor, but that all changed when Clarabelle Cow came on the scene later in the 1930s. Clarabelle Cow waltzed into the Disney animation scene in “The Shindig” where she was dating Horace Horsecollar. What we know about Ms. Clarabelle is that that she is sassy and loves drama!
Apparently, Goofy became smitten with the lovely bovine because in later shorts you would see Clarabelle Cow with Goofy! We believe that this is where the “Goofy is a cow” rumor came to be. A dog dating a cow? Who are we to judge?! Love it love, right?
Remember her love for drama? There are shorts in the 1950s that actually show Goofy and Horace Horsecollar actually getting into a fight over her! And Ms. Cow does not seem too mad about it, either! And then….nothing.
We don’t see Clarabelle for a long, long time. Then in 1983, she is seen dancing with Horace Horsecollar again in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Poor Goofy! You know he must have been heartbroken because we only caught a few cameos here and there until 1995 when we all learned the truth.
In 1995, A Goofy Movie was released and we learned that Goofy wasn’t hiding out at all… He was busy being a single father! Maximilian Goof was introduced to the public in that movie and he was already 16 years old, so this would put his year of birth at 1979…
In 1979 it was assumed that Goofy and Ms. Cow were a thing… Holy cow! We suspect that CLARABELLE COW IS MAX’S MOTHER! She had the nerve to show her face on TV only after the cat was out of the bag and the world knew about Max.
To add salt to the wound, she’s been seen around Walt Disney World, *gulp*, with Horace Horsecollar…
Goofy, you don’t need her! We learned that despite his occasional idiocy, Goofy is a great and caring father. We hope someday he can find someone to “hayuck” with into his golden years.
Where to Find Goofy in Disney World
These days, you can find Goofy, (and sometimes Max), either on Disney Junior cartoons or hanging around Walt Disney World. Goofy has a couple of jobs there, but he loves for you to stop and say hi!
- Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios
- Garden Grill in EPCOT
- Tusker House in Animal Kingdom
- Pete’s Silly SideShow in Magic Kingdom
How Tall is Goofy
FUN FACT: How tall is Goofy? Well, in order to “be friends with” him, someone has to be at least 6 feet tall and be trained on how to walk in size 18 ½ shoes!
List of Goofy Movies
Looking to binge all of the Goofy movies, cartoons, and shorts ever made? We’ve got you covered!
1930s
- Mickey’s Revue (1932, as Dippy Dawg)
- The Whoopee Party (1932)
- Touchdown Mickey (1932)
- The Klondike Kid (1932)
- Mickey’s Mellerdrammer (1933)
- Ye Olden Days (1933)
- Orphan’s Benefit (1934)
- The Band Concert (1935)
- Mickey’s Service Station (1935)
- Mickey’s Fire Brigade (1935)
- On Ice (1935)
- Mickey’s Polo Team (1936)
- Mickey’s Grand Opera (1936)
- Moving Day (1936)
- Toby Tortoise Returns (1936) (cameo)
- Moose Hunters (1937)
- Mickey’s Amateurs (1937)
- Hawaiian Holiday (1937)
- Clock Cleaners (1937)
- Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
- Magician Mickey (1937)
- Boat Builders (1938)
- Mickey’s Trailer (1938)
- Polar Trappers (1938)
- The Fox Hunt (1938)
- The Whalers (1938)
- Goofy and Wilbur (1939)
- The Standard Parade (1939)
1940s
- Tugboat Mickey (1940)
- Goofy’s Glider (1940)
- Billposters (1940)
- Baggage Buster (1941)
- The Nifty Nineties (1941) (cameo)
- Orphan’s Benefit (1941) (remake)
- The Art of Skiing (1941)
- The Art of Self Defense (1941)
- The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
- All Together (1942)
- Mickey’s Birthday Party (1942)
- Symphony Hour (1942)
- How to Play Baseball (1942)
- The Olympic Champ (1942)
- How to Swim (1942)
- How to Fish (1942)
- Saludos Amigos (1943)
- Victory Vehicles (1943)
- How to Be a Sailor (1944)
- How to Play Golf (1944)
- How to Play Football (1944)
- Tiger Trouble (1945)
- African Diary (1945)
- Californy ‘er Bust (1945)
- Hockey Homicide (1945)
- No Sail (1945)
- A Knight for a Day (1946)
- Double Dribble (1946)
- Frank Duck Brings ’em Back Alive (1946)
- Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
- Foul Hunting (1947)
- Crazy with the Heat (1947)
- They’re Off (1948)
- The Big Wash (1948)
- Tennis Racquet (1949)
- Goofy Gymnastics (1949)
1950s
- Crazy Over Daisy (1950) (cameo)
- Motor Mania (1950)
- Hold That Pose (1950)
- Lion Down (1951)
- Home Made Home (1951)
- Cold War (1951)
- Tomorrow We Diet! (1951)
- Get Rich Quick (1951)
- Fathers Are People (1951)
- No Smoking (1951)
- Father’s Lion (1952)
- Hello Aloha (1952)
- Man’s Best Friend (1952)
- Two Gun Goofy (1952)
- Teachers are People (1952)
- Two Weeks Vacation (1952)
- Pluto’s Christmas Tree (1952) (cameo)
- How to Be a Detective (1953)
- Father’s Day Off (1953)
- For Whom the Bulls Toil (1953)
- Father’s Weekend (1953)
- How to Dance (1953)
- How to Sleep (1953)
1960s
- Aquamania (1961)
- Freewayphobia (1965)
- Goofy’s Freeway Troubles (1965)
1980s
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)
- Sport Goofy in Soccermania (1987)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (cameo)
1990s
- The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
- A Goofy Movie (1995)
2000s
Online shorts
- Checking in with Goofy (2011)
- The Art of Vacationing (2012)
- Electric Holiday (2012)
- The Art of Keeping Cool (2015)
- The Simpsons in Plusaversary (2021)
Television shows and specials
- Walt Disney anthology series
- “This is Your Life, Donald Duck” (cameo)
- The Mickey Mouse Club
- The Mouse Factory
- Goof Troop
- Raw Toonage
- Bonkers
- Disney’s Sing-Along Songs: The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Mickey’s Fun Songs
- Mickey Mouse Works
- “Donald’s Charmed Date” (cameo)
- “Donald’s Valentine Dollar” (cameo)
- “Mickey’s Mistake” (cameo)
- “Mickey’s Mountain” (cameo)
- “Minnie Visits Daisy” (cameo)
- “Pit Crew“
- “Pluto’s Seal Deal” (cameo)
- “Presto Pluto” (cameo)
- “Whitewater Donald” (cameo)
- House of Mouse
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Mickey Mousekersize
- Minnie’s Bow-Toons
- “Dance Lessons”
- “Oh, Christmas Tree
- “Turkey Time
- Have a Laugh!
- Mickey Mouse
- “New York Weenie” (cameo)
- “Dog Show“
- “The Adorable Couple” (cameo)
- “A Flower for Minnie” (cameo)
- “No“
- “Canned” (cameo)
- “Carnaval” (cameo)
- “Our Homespun Melody” (cameo)
- “Carried Away “
- Mickey and the Roadster Racers
- DuckTales
- Chip ‘n Dale’s Nutty Tales
- “Minnie Muffin Mayhem”
- “Kite-Tastrophy!”
- “Fishing for Treasure”
- “Goofy’s Corny Concerto”
- “All Goofed Up!”
- “Mickey’s Fireworks Fizzle”
- “Sand Castle Hassle”
- “Nutty Movie Madness!”
- “Butterfly Blooms!”
- “Buzz Around Town”
- “Goofy’s Missing Shoes Blues”
- “Musical Bowl of Nuts”
- “My Muddy Valentine”
- “A Nutty Halloween!”
- It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer (“Goofy’s Hometown Heroes” title (Goofy is shown as Super Goof))
- The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
- “School of Fish” (cameo)
- “Bellboys“
- How to Stay at Home
- Mickey Mouse Funhouse
Direct-to-video movies
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- An Extremely Goofy Movie (2000)
- Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
- Mickey’s House of Villains (2002)
- The Lion King 1½ (2004) (silhouette cameo)
- Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
- Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
Let us know your favorite Goofy facts in the comment section below.
I am a mother of three that has refused to grow up. Adulting is for the birds, so I go to Disney World every chance I get for that magical escape from reality. I believe that Haunted Mansion is the best ride in all of the Disney Parks, and I am fervently in team Happily Ever After for fireworks spectaculars, (sorry, not sorry, Enchanted). Finally, I hope I never grow tired of skipping down Main Street, USA, and my dream come true would be “friends with” the Fairy Godmother in my old age.
