James Thurston Nabors (June 12, 1930 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, comedian, and singer born in Sylacauga, Alabama. He's best known for playing good-natured hayseed Gomer Pyle on the 1960s sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also appeared as a guest on numerous variety shows (including each and every season premiere of The Carol Burnett Show), had a successful recording career with Columbia Records, and was known for singing "(Back Home Again in) Indiana" as part of the opening ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500 nearly every year from 1972–2014.
Nabors lived in Hawaii for many years. He came out as gay in 2013 when he married his longtime partner Stan Cadwallader, and they remained together until Nabors' death from natural causes at the age of 87.
Filmography on TV Tropes:
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) as Deputy Fred
- Stroker Ace (1983) as Lugs Harvey
- Cannonball Run II (1984) as Pvt. Homer Lyle
- The Andy Griffith Show(23 episodes, 1962–64) as Gomer Pyle
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (150 episodes, 1964–69) as Pvt. Gomer Pyle
- The Lucy Show (1 episode, 1966) as Pvt. Gomer Pyle (uncredited)
- Return to Mayberry (TV movie, 1986) as Gomer Pyle
- Hi Honey, I'm Home! (1 episode, 1991) as Gomer Pyle
- The Rookies (1 episode, 1973) as Corley Curlew
- The Lost Saucer (16 episodes, 1975) as Fum
- The Love Boat (3 episodes, 1977–81) as Robert Tanner/Wayne Bouton
- The Steve Allen Show (1 episode)
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1 episode, 1967)
- The Carol Burnett Show (11 episodes, 1967–76)
- The Muppet Show (1 episode, 1976)
- The Hollywood Squares (7 episodes, 1977)
