Jim Nabors biography

Synopsis

Early Life

The youngest of three children, James Thurston Nabors was born on June 12, 1930, in Sylacauga, Alabama. His childhood was framed by a rural Alabama life, much of which he later drew from to create his signature character, Gomer Pyle.

The Nabors family never had much money, and as a child young, Nabors suffered from severe asthma. Prevented from playing school sports on account of his respiratory issues, Nabors turned to performance arts. He joined the glee club in high school as well as the choir, and took to the clarinet.

At the University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in business administration, Nabors continued to perform. It was there that he first started acting, his debut performance coming via a Greek skit show as a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

Despite Nabors's fondness of the stage, he had trouble seeing much of a future in it for himself. "I was from a small town and, God knows, I was no leading man," he once said. "You know how Hollywood was back then—everybody was a 'hero.' The only thing I could possibly think of was I could have been a character actor in a Western or something. I never had any thoughts of going into the business."

After college, Nabors moved to New York City, where he found work as a typist for the United Nations. After migrating south for a short spell, he landed in California and took a job as an apprentice film cutter for NBC.

Commercial Success

At night, Nabors continued to perform, devoting the hours toward winning over audiences with his hillbilly characters and singing. His work soon caught the attention of comic Bill Dana, who landed Nabors an audition on The Steve Allen Show. Nabors appeared on the program several times.

Not long after, Nabors came on the radar screen of another high-profile TV performer, Andy Griffith. After catching Nabors's act at a Los Angeles club, Griffith asked him to audition for a new role on The Andy Griffith Show.

Incorporating his own hillbilly character sketches into the part, Nabors nailed the role of Gomer Pyle, a lovable but clumsy gas attendant whose signature phrases, "gawwwlee" and "shazzayam," helped rocket him to fame.

In 1964, after two seasons on the program, CBS made Pyle the center of a spinoff sitcom, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Following the show's cancelation in 1969, Nabors continued to find steady work. He hosted his own variety show on CBS for three seasons, and, for several years, was a staple Las Vegas performer. His work on the big screen has included several projects with friend Burt Reynolds, including roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Stroker Ace (1983) and Cannonball II (1984).