Jim Nabors
James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and comedian, widely known for his signature character, Gomer Pyle.
Jim Nabors | |
|---|---|
Nabors in a c. 1965 publicity photo | |
| Born | James Thurston Nabors June 12, 1930 Sylacauga, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | November 30, 2017 (aged 87) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Resting place | Ashes sprinkled in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1954–2014 |
| Known for | Portraying Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500 race |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Spouse |
Stan Cadwallader (m. 2013) |
| Website | Official website |
Nabors was discovered by Andy Griffith while working at a Santa Monica nightclub, and he later joined The Andy Griffith Show, where he played the good-natured, unsophisticated Gomer Pyle. The character proved so popular that Nabors was given his own successful spin-off show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Nabors also became a popular guest on variety shows that showcased his rich baritone singing voice in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the featured guest on every season premiere of The Carol Burnett Show and he had two specials of his own in 1969 and 1974. He signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1965 and subsequently recorded numerous albums and singles, most of them containing romantic ballads. He recorded for Ranwood Records during the late 1970s.
Nabors was also known for singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" before the start of the Indianapolis 500, held annually on the Memorial Day weekend. He sang the unofficial Indiana anthem almost every year from 1972 to 2014, except for occasional absences due to illness or scheduling conflicts.