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James Thurston "Jim" Nabors (born June 12, 1930) is an American actor, singer, and comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of the good-hearted but naïve Gomer Pyle on two highly successful 1960s sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show and its spinoff Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. Given his goofy demeanor and voice on both Andy Griffith and Gomer Pyle, it was surprising to many when he revealed a strong baritone singing voice and turned it into a successful recording career.

Nabors was also a popular guest on variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably The Carol Burnett Show and The Muppet Show. Carol Burnett considered Nabors her lucky charm, and he was always the first guest on every new season of her show. Burnett and Nabors have long been close friends. Comedienne Minnie Pearl looked on Nabors as a surrogate son, and he often vacationed with her and her husband.

Actor Burt Reynolds used Nabors in a number of his movies during the 1980s.

Since 1972, Nabors has sung "Back Home Again in Indiana" 29 times during pre-race ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500.

Personal life

Born in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors graduated from the University of Alabama.

Nabors received a liver transplant in 1994 after years of health problems. He performs occasionally, although he prefers to operate his macadamia nut plantation in Hawaii.

Honors

In 2001, Private First Class Gomer Pyle received an honorary promotion to Lance Corporal from the Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones.

Nabors received honors from the University of Alabama on September 2, 2006, before a football game against the University of Hawaii.

U.S. Highway 280 in Talladega County, Alabama, was named "Jim Nabors Highway" in honor of the Sylacauga native.

References in popular culture

References to Jim Nabors have been made in the animated television series The Simpsons when Lisa was going into the spelling bee. Marge was warming Lisa up and told her: "Remember: I before E except after C." To which Lisa responded "Except as an "a" as in "neighbor" and "weigh". Marge then said "What about 'Jim Nabors' is way cool?'" Lisa responded "When will that ever come up?" to which Marge said "It's on my apron". In another episode, Monty Burns orders "the thawing of Jim Nabors" when Robert Goulet fails to appear for a performance at the Burns casino. When Mr. Burns shows the captured Loch Ness Monster to the crowd, he introduces it as the 9th Wonder of the World, after Jim Nabors singing. In "The Mysterious Adventure of Homer Simpson," Homer: "...Marge doesn't understand me at all. Maybe we're not kindred spirits. We don't have anything in common." (pulls out record collections). "Look at these records. Jim Nabors, Glen Campbell, The Doodletown Pipers. Now look at her records, they stink!"

External links

• Official website

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