HONOLULU, Hawaii (CelebrityAccess) — Jim Nabors, the actor, singer and comedian best known for his portrayal of the naive everyman Gomer Pyle, died at his home in Hawaii on Thursday, Nov. 30th. He was 87.
Nabors was discovered while working at a nightclub in Los Angeles by Andy Griffin, who added him to the popular “Andy Griffin Show” as the affable, yet blithe local yokel Gomer Pyle.
Nabor’s Pyle character proved to be a hit and he was spun out into his own series “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” which detailed Pyle’s experience as a member of the United States Marine Corps. The spin-off resonated with fans and enjoyed a broadcast run of 5 seasons, always finding itself in the top 10 for television ratings through its run. Nabors resigned from the show after its fifth season and when the show went off the air in 1969, it was the second most-watched program on television.
With his early exposure to television audiences entirely comedic, Nabors found his subsequent roles to be in the same vein, including one the Carol Burnett Show, as well as his own hour-long variety show “The Jim Nabors Hour.”
Nabors made the transition to the big screen as well, appearing in films such as “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas” and “Cannonball Run II”
Nabors was also noted for his warm baritone voice and enjoyed success as a recording artist, recording 28 albums over the course of his career, including multiple gold and platinum-selling releases. Nabors also sang “Back Home Again in Indiana” with the Purdue All-American Marching Band before each Indianapolis 500 for more than 30 years.
In 2013, Nabors married his longtime partner Stan Cadwallader, at Seattle, Washington’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel, a month after same-sex marriage became legal in that state.
At the time of publication, information about Mr. Nabors’ survivors was not available.
