Jim Nabors, who starred in 1960s hit Gomer Pyle, has died.
The Alabama native, who had been living in Hawaii in recent years, died early Thursday Hawaii News Now reports. He was 87.
Nabors was discovered by Andy Griffith while working at a nightclub in Santa Monica and appeared on his CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to 1964.
Jim Nabors, who starred in 1960s hit Gomer Pyle, died Thursday aged 87
The actor was signed for just one episode which aired in the third season but his character Gomer Pyle – a simple-minded and gentle auto mechanic – proved so popular that he went on to star in 23 installments.
It led to Nabors getting his own spin-off Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which followed the character after he joined the marines, and ran for five years from 1964 to 1969.
He also appeared in movies such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Cannonball Run II opposite pal Burt Reynolds.
Sitcom: Nabors starred as popular character Gomer Pyle, a simple-minded and gentle auto mechanic who joined the marines
Also a singer, Nabors recorded over two dozen albums, loved for his rich baritone voice and scored five gold and one platinum record.
In 2013 Nabors married Stan Cadwallader, 64, his companion of 38 years.
‘I’m 82 and he’s in his 60s and so we’ve been together for 38 years and I’m not ashamed of people knowing, it’s just that it was such a personal thing, I didn’t tell anybody,’ Nabors told Hawaii News Now.
‘I’m very happy that I’ve had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed. And, what can I tell you, I’m just very happy.’
Nabors was discovered by Andy Griffith while working at a nightclub in Santa Monica and appeared on his CBS sitcom The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to 1964
Nabors married longtime partner Stan Cadwallader, his companion of 38 years, in 2013