Biography for
Jim Nabors

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The ever-genial Jim Nabors was born in 1930 in Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama. A typing clerk at the UN in his salad days, he eventually moved to Los Angeles and became a film cutter for NBC. He was discovered doing a cabaret act at "The Horn," a then-popular Santa Monica nightclub. Combining his gifts for classical singing and gawky hick characterizations, his highly unique schtick was either ridiculously insane or totally brilliant. Comedian Bill Dana saw Jim and opted for the latter assessment, inviting him to audition for Steve Allen's TV variety show, appearing a number of times. Andy Griffith too caught his silly singing "down home" gimmick as well and offered him the part of "Gomer Pyle" on his popular bucolic 60s sitcom. Jim's career took off like a skyrocket. His sheepish "gawwwleee" and bug-eyed "shazzayam" expressions became part of the American vernacular and he soon spun the character into his own series, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." where the bumbling, painfully naive, gentle do-gooder found himself hilariously at odds with the Marine Corps and a particularly tough Sergeant Carter (played terrifically by the late Frank Sutton). The show ran a solid five seasons and Jim became a beloved household name. Following this he focused more on singing again and recorded a number of easy listening albums with five going gold and one platinum. Jim earned a gold record for his rendition of "The Lord's Prayer." He went on to his own TV variety series "The Jim Nabors Show," and became the annual opening season guest on close friend Carol Burnett's TV variety series during her twelve-year run. Another good friend, Burt Reynolds, helped Jim make his theater debut as Harold Hill in "The Music Man" at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre with Florence Henderson as his Marian the Librarian. Jim's career took a serious hit in 1994 when, after years of ill health, he was forced to have a liver transplant. He has returned to the limelight but only in spurts, enjoying the relaxing life he has in Hawaii running a macadamian nut plantation.

Trivia

Considered by Carol Burnett to be her "good luck charm" and as such was a guest star on each season's premiere of "The Carol Burnett Show" (1967).

Sings "Back Home Again in Indiana" during opening ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500 yearly.

Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Alabama.

Before he acted, he edited news footage for a local television station.

A foundation that awards grants to teachers every year named a grant in honor of Jim Nabors in 2003. The foundation is based in Sylacauga, Alabama, his home town.

In his entire career he has put out 46 albums.

A smart businessman, Nabors was one of the owners of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964) which paid off in dividends as a popular syndicated show.

He said that it has always been difficult for him to watch the opening of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964) because many of the Marines that he is seen marching with were killed in Vietnam.

Is a member of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity.

Personal Quotes

"I think this story sums up my career the best. One time I was walking in an airport somewhere and I saw this woman with her young son. The son looked up at me and it was obvious that he recognized me. He thought for a second and he said 'Mom, there goes an old Gomer!'"

"I never knifed anybody in the back. It was just not my nature at all and that is why I was so surprised that I made it in show business at all."

Where Are They Now

(April 2002) He lives in Hawaii on property that has a working macadamia nut farm.

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