Well, gollllllly!
News has just crossed the wires of the passing of actor-singer Jim Nabors, just a day after his 87th birthday.
Nabors, of course, is best remembered as Gomer Pyle, USMC. Gomer debuted on The Andy Griffith Show, then was spun off into his own series, which ran for five seasons (1964-9). In a way, Gomer's solo series was modeled after Mort Walker's still-running comic strip, Beetle Bailey, except that Gomer was a Marine, as opposed to Beetle being in the Army.
As demonstrated in this clip from Gomer Pyle USMC, Nabors' Southern drawl disappeared when it came time to sing. This would explain how he was also a million-selling recording artist for Columbia....
For 43 years (1972-2014), Nabors also sang at the Indianapolis 500, performing "Back Home Again in Indiana":
In 1975, Nabors landed his last series gig, this time starring in a Saturday morning sci-fi series, The Lost Saucer with Ruth Buzzi (ex-Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In). The series, however, lasted just 1 season, and other than the occasional movie gig, Nabors would wind down his career rather quietly.
Nabors spent his final years in Hawaii, and, as noted, passed away earlier today, just a day after celebrating his birthday. Rest in peace, Jim. You've earned it.
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