Sad News! Jim Nabors, TV's Gomer Pyle, Has Passed Away At 87

#1

Jim Nabors rose to fame by starring in 'The Andy Griffith Show' as the lovable Gomer Pyle. He became a fan favorite on the show thanks to his golden voice and goofy ways. He became so popular that they even gave him his own show. 'Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.' was a spin-off of 'The Andy Griffith Show,' that ran for 5 years between 1964 and 1969.

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Nabors was also a singer by profession. Over the course of his career, he recorded 28 albums. Out of those, 5 went gold and 1 even went platinum. During the 60's and 70's, he was a 'go to' guest star on several variety shows. In those appearances, he was allowed to showcase his amazing baritone voice.

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The star was also openly homosexual. There were rumors that he had married fellow actor Rock Hudson secretly in the 70s. These rumors were of course fake. The rumors spread from an inside joke created in the Huntington Beach gay community. Hudson once jokingly talked about the rumors saying:

"There appears to be a couple of elderly, or middle-aged homosexuals who live in Huntington Beach, which is just down the coast from Los Angeles, who every year give a party, a big party, 500 people or so. And they invite everyone they know. It’s an engraved invitation, and to make it amusing they will say, ‘You’re cordially invited to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in Huntington Beach.’ One year the invitation was, ‘You are cordially invited to the wedding reception of Rock Hudson and Jim Nabors.’ And it went all over the country."

Nabors was actually involved with one man for over 40 years. The couple moved to Hawaii together after he and Stan Cadwallader married in 2013.

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Cadwallader told Fox News that Nabors' health was rapidly declining for over a year. On November 30, 2017, he died in their home, peacefully with Cadawallader by his side.

Nabors was a lifelong supporter of the Marines. He was even honored by receiving the official title of "Honorary Marine." Very few have received this honor. Nabors was given the honorary rank of Sergeant in 2013 at the 238th Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

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In remembrance of Jim here is one of his greatest moments from Gomer Pyle. Watch below as he sings "The Impossible Dream."