Jim Nabors, Alabamian known as TV's 'Gomer Pyle,' has died

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: AL.com

Jim Nabors, Alabamian known as TV's 'Gomer Pyle,' has died

Updated 1:06 PM; Posted 12:53 PM

By Leada Gore [e-mail]

Jim Nabors, best known for his role as television's "Gomer Pyle" on the "Andy Griffith Show" and later his own series, has died.

Nabors was 87.

Nabors died at his home in Hawaii on Wednesday night, his longtime partner told Indiana's WTHR.

Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors became well known as Gomer Pyle on the "Andy Griffith Show" before the character was spun off into "Gomer Pyle, USMC," which ran from 1964-1969. Throughout his career, Nabors appeared on a number of variety shows and hosted his own specials in the 1960s and 1970s, often featuring his booming baritone voice.

Nabors was also well known for singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the start of the Indianapolis 500 from 1972-2014.

In 2013, Nabors announced he had married his long-time partner, Stan Cadwallader. (1)

(1) http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/01/andy_griffith_actor_and_sylaca.html

Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/jim_nabors_alabamian_known_for.html

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"Nabors died at his home in Hawaii on Wednesday night, his longtime partner told Indiana's WTHR."

I believe that by "his longtime partner," they mean "his husband." Let us hope that later editions correct that error.

* * * * *

Already edited:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nabors

James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930- November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and comedian. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to southern California because of his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and later joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing Gomer Pyle. Betty Lynn, Elinor Donahue, and Ron Howard are the last surviving regular cast members from that series. The character proved popular, and Nabors was given his own spin-off show, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..

Though known for his portrayal of Gomer Pyle, Nabors became a popular guest on variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s (including two specials of his own in 1969 and 1974), which showcased his rich baritone voice, and sometimes his higher-pitched voice. He subsequently recorded numerous albums and singles, most of them containing romantic ballads.

Nabors was also known for singing "Back Home Again in Indiana", prior to the start of the Indianapolis 500, held annually over the Memorial Day Weekend. Save for occasional absences due to health or other conflicts, Nabors sang the unofficial Indiana anthem almost every year from 1972 until his final time in 2014.

[Chasstev365]

1. Shazam!

RIP, Jim!

[Sophiegirl]

2. Well Goooollly!!

RIP sweet Jim.

He had an awesome singing voice as well. Very baritone.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. I was just looking around YouTube. It's loaded with Jim Nabors songs.

Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 02:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Most are pretty saccharine.

When you consider his TV schtick, his singing voice does come across as quite a shock.

Per Wikipedia, lets's go with "Back Home Again in Indiana":

1977:

1995:

His last, 2014:

I see that mobeau69 has already posted this, in reply #6.

[Sophiegirl]

11. Amazing, right?

First time I heard him sing, I was floored.

[flygal]

18. I remember seeing commercials for his records and could not believe this was Gomer!

Rest in Peace

[jmowreader]

41. IIRC the producers didnt know he could sing at the beginning

They were looking for a dim witted foil for Andy Griffith. Then he sang during a show...

[2naSalit]

3. Well goooollly...

[RandySF]

4. Jim Nabors was a member and longtime supporter of the LGBT community

[mobeau69]

6. RIP, Jim

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. I'm glad he was finally able to marry his partner in 2013

They were together for over 40 years. RIP Jim

[Achilleaze]

8. Condolences to Gomer's clan from Aunt Bea & Me

[niyad]

9. requiescat in pace, jim.

[niyad]

10. Jim Nabors sings Silent Night - Na Mele o na Keiki (2009)

[workinclasszero]

12. Goodbye Jim

Thanks for all the laughs.

[niyad]

13. I had the privilege of meeting him years ago when he played in Reno. He was a most gracious,

caring, kind and gentle man. He is missed.

[niyad]

14. JIM NABORS ( GOMER PYLE )-THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

[niyad]

17. the backstory of his singing this:

[ChazII]

40. Breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing. n/t

[bullwinkle428]

21. Fantastic!! Was about to post this myself...

[BarbaRosa]

15. I alway looked at Jim singing "Back Home Again in Indiana",

at the Indy 500 as the real start of summer.

[underpants]

16. 🕯

[Raster]

19. ...

[SleeplessinSoCal]

20. i was positive this was old news.

I must have read a hoax before.

RIP

[Brother Buzz]

26. Reports of his grave health have been circulating for years

He had a liver transplant in 1994

[mahatmakanejeeves]

31. I had that feeling too: "Didn't he die a few years back?"

Wikipedia said it happened today, so I figured that was my authority.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

38. Same here. read it here then went immediately to wiki.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Oh no! One of the few left besides Thelma Lou and Opie - Betty Lynn and Ron Howard

I just watched "Return to Mayberry" the other night. We watched "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." when I was a kid, such a likable actor and a gifted singer.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. Wow

Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Have been listening to one of SiriusXM's Holiday channels and they have played his Christmas songs in the rotation.

Used to watch the re-runs of his various shows and he especially made Gomer Pyle a recognizable character.

R.I.P., condolences to his family, and thanks for the memories!

Edit to add, SiriusXM Holiday Classics channel is playing his "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" right now as of 3:30 pm ET.

[GatoGordo]

24. I met him years ago, when he was visiting a friend if his in the hospital

Jim Nabors was total class. You would be hard pressed to meet a more decent and honorable human being in a lifetime.

The world is a lesser place without him.

[LongTomH]

25. Goodbye Jim and thanks for all the laughs and the music!

[Dave Starsky]

27. Part of my daily afterschool TV routine.

1. Gilligan's Island
2. Hogan's Heroes
3. Andy Griffith Show
4. Gomer Pyle, USMC

Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Nabors.

[Wellstone ruled]

28. Remember Nabors as a

Soloist back in the middle fifties,doing a Opera in St Paul. His Voice Range was huge.

[Honeycombe8]

29. Oh, no. This makes me sad. What a talent, and seemed to be such a nice man. nt

[Kittycow]

30. Bye-bye Jim...

Thanks for everything. You still live on in the hearts of millions

[bluestarone]

32. TY for the many years of

music and comedy God Bless

[nolabear]

33. He and my mother were contemporaries in Sylacauga AL. I was born there too.

He was the high school wunderkind, really loved. She was same time, different school but they all knew about him. They gently ignored his obvious gayness.

My grandparents lived across the street from his mother for a time, and though I never met him when I visited them I did play with his dog, which he’d left with her. Big old black standard poodle.

Rest easy, to a good and talented man.

[DAMANgoldberg]

44. Been through Sylacauga many times

I wasn't born in Alabama, but grew up there, and would drive through Sylacauga which was halfway between Auburn and where I lived in pre-college, Gadsden.

[nolabear]

45. I havent been there for many years. My mothers people were cotton mill workers.

At least they were when they were young. By the time I came along they did other stuff. Truth be told I disliked them intensely and for good reason, but I had some good memories of the place.

[DAMANgoldberg]

46. Yes, your basic mill town

Not unlike Opelika, LaGrange GA, West Point GA (pre-Kia), and a continuous string of mill towns that reach up to where I live now, Charlotte. Those were the days, but I don't get back there much, just Auburn and Montgomery (where I have the family).

[nolabear]

50. I lived in Charlotte for a few months, Durham for several years.

Long ago, late 70s to early 80s. Loved Durham. Mr. Bear’s from Winston Salem so we get back once a year or so.

[DAMANgoldberg]

53. I've been up here since 1992

I bet the Durham you grew up in nothing like now. Safe travels to W-S.

[nolabear]

54. I didnt grow up there but was there most of my 20s.

I worked at Duke and for The Museum of Life and Science. And yeah, it’s changed a lot.

I grew up on the MS Coast and in New Orleans. They both have changed too but are somehow eternal. New Orleans is my heart, hence nolabear.

[orangecrush]

34. ...

[defacto7]

35. Lived a wonderful and long life.

Anothe goodbye to a great person who made great memories for me.

[Glorfindel]

36. He was a great entertainer who made people laugh with his acting and cry with his singing

May he rest in peace.

[Bayard]

37. Loved The Gomer Pyle Show

When I was a kid.

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. RIP Jim.

[dalton99a]

42. R.I.P.

I thought he was dead

[DashOneBravo]

43. USMC posted this

[link:https://mobile.twitter.com/USMC/status/936330482039578624|]

Rest In Peace Mr. Nabors

[Egnever]

48. Aww that is really great!

thanks for pointing that out.

[Egnever]

47. And another one of my childhood icons goes down.

Damn I'm getting old.

[douglas9]

49. Gomer And Me

Jim Nabors and Muhammad Ali....two class acts

https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/gomer-and-me/

[niyad]

51. thank you for sharing that. kinky, of course, is weird as snake shoes, but a hell of a writer.

tears at the end.

[QC]

52. Had a college friend whose mom was his date at a pledge swap at Bama.

She said he sang and played the piano for her all evening and had lovely manners.