Profile: Jim Nabors - Actor, Singer, Comedian, Transplant Survivor, American Icon

Born June 12, 1930, actor Jim Nabors, who is best known today for his annual performance at the Indianapolis 500, first made his mark on American pop culture with his deep-fried drawl in the 1960s playing Mayberry mechanic, Gomer Pyle. Actor George Lindsey had been slated to appear on "The Andy Griffith Show" as Gomer Pyle, but a friend invited Andy Griffth to check out Jim Nabors' nightclub act, and after Griffith saw Nabors perform, George Lindsey had to wait until Jim Nabors became "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C" to get his turn to portray Gomer's cousin, Goober Pyle.

Jim Nabors - Television

Nabors' first break was joining the cast of "The Steve Allen Show," but that show was canceled soon after Nabors was hired. However, Jim Nabors was soon a star, first on "The Andy Griffith Show" and then on his own sitcom "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." where he occasionally sang as well as acting. This led to a series of variety shows after "Gomer Pyle." Nabors also was a guest on every season premiere of "The Carol Burnett Show" because Burnett considered Jim Nabors a "good-luck charm."

Jim Nabors - Movies

In the 1980s Burt Reynolds talked Jim Nabors into appearing in three feature-length films with Reynolds: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Stroker Ace (1983), and Cannonball Run II (1984). In 1986, the television movie Return to Mayberry was made for NBC (although "The Andy Griffith Show" originally aired on CBS). Most of the cast of The Andy Griffith Show reunited, including Jim Nabors and George Lindsey, and cousins Gomer and Goober Pyle finally operated Mayberry's service station together.

Jim Nabors - Hepatitis

Nabors has continued performing since then, going into semi-retirement a couple of times, but always returning to the stage. One of his retirement periods was after he suffered from a near-fatal case of hepatitis C in 1994. However, Carol Burnett was determined to save her "good-luck charm," and she made made an arrangement with the transplant division of UCLA, and Jim Nabors received a liver transplant.

Jim Nabors - Honors

Jim Nabors' liver transplant was a success and his career continues today, and Nabors continues to win honors. In 1991, Nabors received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2001, "Gomer Pyle" received an honorary promotion to Lance Corporal from the Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones, and in 2007, he was promoted from Lance Corporal to Corporal by Lt. General John F. Goodman in honor of Nabors' years of contribution to the Marine Corps' image worldwide through the "Gomer Pyle, USMC" TV show. In 2006, Jim Nabors was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame. On January 19, 2007, Jim Nabors along with U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, was honored at "A Night of American Heroes," held in benefit of the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor. U.S. Highway 280 in Talladega County, Alabama, has even been named "Jim Nabors Highway" in his honor.

Actor, comedian, singer, gospel artist, and transplant survivor, Jim Nabors is still going strong.

Read more about Jim Nabors at: Jim Nabors - Back Home in Indiana Again

Sources

Jim Nabors 2006 Speech in Tuscaloosa

June birthdays of gospel artists

Jim Nabors - Back Home in Indiana Again

Stars Shine on Tuscaloosa

wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nabors

Shazaam! Gospel singer & actor Jim Nabors turns 80 on June 12, 2010

Mayberry USA

Music 101: What is gospel music?

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