Hollywood actor and singer Jim Nabors has died at his home in Honolulu the age of 87.
Nabors achieved fame as the wacky Gomer Pyle in season three of The Andy Griffith Show. The character was so popular that the spin-off Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. was created for Nabors. Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. ran for five seasons from 1964 to 1969.
It was in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show when Nabors first showcased his baritone voice. That lead to an appearance on The Danny Kaye Show followed by a record contact to commercially release his gospel and country songs.
Nabors singing career didn’t amount to much in the USA but in Australia ‘The Impossible Dream’ reached no 20 on the Australian singles chart.
In the 70s Nabors guest starred on various like The Carol Burnett Show and The Muppets.
He also starred alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (1982). In 1986, Gomer was revived for a sequel tele-movie to The Andy Griffith Show called ‘Return To Mayberry’.
One of Jim’s regular roles was to sing the Indiana anthem ‘Back Home Again In Indiana before each Indianapolis 500. He did the job every year for more than 30 years until 2014.
Nabors moved to Hawaii in 1976 and purchased a macadamia plantation. He was married to his partner of 38 years Stan Cadwallader. Nabors and Cadwallader married in Washington in 2013 when same-sex marriage was became legal.
Although there were rumours that Nabors and Hollywood star Rock Hudson had a relationship in the 1970s, it was untrue. Nabors and Hudson were friends. The rumour started as a joke when it was suggested the two were planning to be married with Hudson taking the Gomer Pyle surname to become Rock Pyle.
Jim Nabors received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. He was even once referred to in The Simpsons.
