Jim Nabors

Jim Nabors
Name	Jim Nabors
Caption	Nabors in 1976
Birth name	James Thurston Nabors
Birth date	12 June 1930
Birth place	Sylacauga, Alabama, U.S.
Death date	30 November 2017
Death place	Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, singer, comedian
Years active	1961–2014
Spouse	Stan Cadwallader, 2013, 2017

Jim Nabors was an American actor, singer, and comedian best known for his portrayal of the good-natured gas station attendant Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and the subsequent spinoff Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. His career spanned over five decades, during which he became a popular television personality and a successful recording artist known for his rich baritone voice. Nabors was also a fixture on the variety show circuit, making frequent appearances on The Carol Burnett Show and hosting his own program, The Jim Nabors Hour. His unexpected death in 2017 was widely reported by media outlets including The New York Times and CNN.

Early life and education

James Thurston Nabors was born in Sylacauga, Alabama, to Fred and Mavis Nabors. He suffered from severe asthma as a child, which confined him indoors and fostered an early interest in music and performance. Nabors attended Sylacauga High School before enrolling at the University of Alabama, where he initially studied business administration. While at the university, he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and performed in campus theatrical productions, including the UA variety show. After graduating, he moved to New York City to work as a typist for the United Nations before relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a television production job.

Career

Nabors moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, where he worked as a film cutter for NBC and performed at a Santa Monica nightclub called The Horn. His big break came when comedian Bill Dana saw his act and recommended him to Andy Griffith, who cast him on The Andy Griffith Show in 1962. The immense popularity of his character led to the spinoff series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which aired on CBS from 1964 to 1969. Concurrently, Nabors launched a successful singing career, recording numerous albums for Columbia Records and performing at venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. From 1969 to 1971, he hosted the CBS variety program The Jim Nabors Hour, which featured regulars like Frank Sutton and Karen Morrow. Later in his career, he became a regular performer in Hawaii, starring in the television special The Jim Nabors Polynesian Extravaganza and making annual appearances at the Honolulu City Lights ceremony.

Personal life

Nabors was a longtime resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, where he owned a macadamia nut farm. He was an avid art collector and a supporter of various charitable organizations, including the Hawaii Foodbank. For decades, his personal life was a subject of media speculation, which he largely avoided addressing publicly. In 2013, at the age of 83, he married his partner of 38 years, Stan Cadwallader, a former Honolulu Fire Department firefighter, in a ceremony in Seattle, Washington. The marriage was widely covered by outlets such as Hawaii News Now and Entertainment Tonight. Nabors was also a close friend of actress Carol Burnett and frequently spent time at his second home in Montana.

Health issues and death

Nabors faced significant health challenges throughout his life, beginning with childhood asthma. In 1994, he underwent a successful liver transplant at the UCLA Medical Center following a diagnosis of hepatitis B. His recovery was supported by friends including Ronald Reagan and Burt Reynolds. In his later years, he suffered from a immune disorder that affected his mobility. Jim Nabors died on November 30, 2017, at his home in Honolulu; the cause was complications from a stroke he had suffered years earlier. His death was confirmed by his husband, Stan Cadwallader, and he was interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Filmography and discography

Nabors's television work includes his iconic roles on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., as well as guest appearances on series like The Love Boat and The Dean Martin Show. His film credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Cannonball Run II. As a recording artist, he released over two dozen albums, including the popular Jim Nabors Sings Love Me with All Your Heart and the Christmas album The Jim Nabors Christmas Album. He performed the song "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500 for over four decades, a tradition begun at the invitation of Tony Hulman.

Awards and honors

For his work on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Nabors received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy nomination in 1965. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991, located at 6435 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2001, he was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame. Nabors also received the Honolulu Marathon's "Kūlia I Ka Nu'u" award for his community service and was named a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Category:American male actors Category:American male singers Category:American comedians