Character Sheet for Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., a spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show starring Jim Nabors in the role of the title character, which ran from 1964 until 1969.
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Gomer Pyle
"Gooooolly!"
- Played by: Jim Nabors
The titular character of the series, Gomer is a naive, good-natured, and kindhearted private whose obliviousness is a constant annoyance of his sergeant Carter, though his intentions are never malicious. Was formerly an auto mechanic in Mayberry before joining the Marines.
- Catchphrase:
- "Gooooolly!"
- "Shazam!"
- "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"
- "Shame, shame, shame!" whenever he'd be disappointed in someone.
- Horrible Judge of Character: He keeps believing that Sergeant Carter is a best friend to him when in reality he wants nothing more than Gomer to disappear from the platoon and uses his power to attempt to get his wish. (Although to be fair, there are a few moments which show that Carter actually looks out for Pyle's wellbeing, showing that Gomer is somewhat in the right to believe that.)
- Kindhearted Simpleton: Despite having his head in the clouds, Gomer is overly nice to everyone he meets and hasn't a single mean bone in his body.
- Like a Son to Me: In later seasons, Carter became more of a father figure to him and started viewing him like the son he never had once they began mutually bonding. Even beforehand though it was obvious that their different levels of maturity made for a father-son dynamic like Andy and Opie's, only with Sargeant being much stricter than Andy.
- Manchild: He knows very little of Marine life and causes conflict for his fellow privates and sergeant at least once per episode, being quite The Ditz.
- Motor Mouth: He'd sometimes go off tangent to the annoyance of Sergeant Carter.
- Nice Guy: A bit too nice at that. He's sweet and amiable to everyone, even his sergeant who wants him out of his life.
- Oblivious to Hatred: No matter how many times Carter blatantly admits Pyle is a knucklehead straight to his face, Gomer just takes it as a compliment.
Sergeant Vince Carter
"Pyle you knucklehead!"
- Played by: Frank Sutton
Gomer's drill instructor and later platoon sergeant who is always the butt of the former's moronic antics, and wants nothing more than to get rid of him. Though he does warm up to him later on in the show. Has a girlfriend by the name of Miss Bunny.
- Butt-Monkey: He's constantly tormented unintentionally by Gomer's stupidity.
- Catchphrase: "Pyle you knucklehead!"
- The Comically Serious: Despite being the most serious character on the show and whose purpose is to keep the platoon in line, he'll always be riled up by Gomer for great laughs.
- Large Ham: Even for a drill instructor whose job it is to be strict, he can furious even when Gomer is just dropping in to say hi.
- Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Sergeant Carter is strict in doing his job, right down to No Indoor Voice, and isn't afraid to chew Gomer out for his stupidity; Gomer is an innocent manchild with a huge emotional degree when confronted by his drill instructor/sergeant. That said, Carter is the Manly Man to Gomer's Sensitive Guy.
- Took a Level in Kindness: He becomes more fatherly and compassionate to Gomer when the series enters color.
