He is famous for his roles in the Carlton E. Morse productions I Love a Mystery, in which he played Doc Long, and One Man's Family, spending 19 years portraying Clifford Barbour.

After joining a touring musical comedy show, he progressed from bit parts to leading man as the troupe played in various places in Oklahoma and Texas.

[4] One of Yarborough's earliest reported activities in acting was in November 1922, when he was a member of the cast of a Rebekah and Odd Fellows lodges production of The Prince Chap in Reno, Nevada.

[4] In 1932, Yarborough began a long run as Clifford Barbour on the radio serial One Man's Family,[11]: 260  continuing in the role throughout his life.

[11]: 103 Yarborough's other radio work includes the title role in Hawk Larabee,[11]: 147  as well as the roles of Brazos John in Hawk Durango,[11]: 147  Sleepy Stevens in Hashknife Hartley,[11]: 146  Skip Turner in Adventures by Morse, also by Carlton E. Morse, and the title attorney's assistant in Attorney for the Defense.

(In private life Yarborough spoke without a trace of an accent, as evidenced in his motion picture appearances of the early 1940s.)