Jim Nabors

Jim Nabors
Nabors in a publicity still 1965
Nabors in a c. 1965 publicity photo
Born
James Thurston Nabors

(1930-06-12)June 12, 1930
DiedNovember 30, 2017(2017-11-30) (aged 87)
Resting placeAshes sprinkled in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1954–2014
Known forPortraying 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
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Spouse
Stan Cadwallader
(m. 2013)
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and comedian, widely known for his signature character, Gomer Pyle.

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.[1][2]

  1. ^ Nabors, Jim. "Jim Nabors Can't Wait To Get Back Home Again". Jim Nabors Official Website. Archived from the original on January 26, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  2. ^ Jim, Nabors (2014). "Jim Nabors' Last 'Back Home Again in Indiana'". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2015.