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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJanuary 30th, 2013
Jim Nabors and Stan Cadwallader
Jim Nabors, 82, the singer/actor star of the 1960s sitcom Gomer Pyle, USMC married his longtime partner, Stan Cadwallader, 62, in a ceremony in Seattle in December. According to Hawaii News Now:
Nabors declined an on-camera interview but spoke to Hawaii News Now by phone.
“I’m 82 and he’s in his 60s and so we’ve been together for 38 years and I’m not ashamed of people knowing, it’s just that it was such a personal thing, I didn’t tell anybody,” Nabors said. “I’m very happy that I’ve had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed. And, what can I tell you, I’m just very happy.”
…Before they were married, Nabors said, “It’s pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple, yet when you’ve been together 38 years, I think something’s got to happen there, you’ve got to solidify something. And at my age, it’s probably the best thing to do.”
The fact that Nabors is gay was never much of a secret among his co-workers, friends and others who knew him, although he never was formally out in the media. On the other hand, he was among the few gay actors who didn’t play the publicity game of “dating” women for the benefit of papparazzi.
When he worked full-time in Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s, Nabors said he was open about his homosexuality to co-workers and friends but never acknowledged it to the media until now.
“I haven’t ever made a public spectacle of it. Well, I’ve known since I was a child, so, come on. It’s not that kind of a thing. I’ve never made a huge secret of it at all,” Nabors said.
“This is really no big deal. My friend and I, my partner, we went through all of this 38 years ago,” Nabors added. “So I mean, we made our vows and that was it. It was to each other, but nevertheless, we were a couple.”
The Sylacauga, Alabama, native moved to Los Angeles because of his asthma, where he worked as a film cutter by day and sang in local clubs at night. He also acted in skits in cabaret theater, where he developed a character that would eventually become Gomer Pyle. In those skits, he would sing in a deep, serious baritone before speaking in a high pitched, southern-accented comedic voice. That’s where Andy Griffith discovered him and signed him to a one-episode role on The Andy Griffith Show. His character, auto mechanic Gomer Pyle, proved to be so popular that Nabors soon became a regular for two season. In 1964, Gomer joined the Marines and Nabors got his own spin-off program which ran until 1969.
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MattNYC
January 30th, 2013
“moved to Los Angeles because of his asthma”
Well, Gollllllly! Boy, L.A. must have been very different back then! LOL
I don’t know when I first learned he was gay, but I can’t remember NOT knowing. I’ll be honest though–he’s one of those out-of-the-news actors who I kind of assumed had already left us a while ago. The last time I saw him was on TV singing either “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the Indy 500 or “My Old Kentucky Home” at the Derby. Maybe he sang once at both events???
Mazel Tov (in my head, that’s in Gomer’s voice) to the happy couple!
Charles
January 30th, 2013
Anyone here surprised?
MattNYC
January 30th, 2013
Found my answer…
“Nabors began performing “Back Home Again in Indiana” in 1972 and since 1987 has performed it every year but one: He missed the 2007 race due to health reasons.”
I guess it’s just been a long time since I felt the urge to watch three hours of cars racing around a track :)
Ben in Oakland
January 30th, 2013
The rumors about nabors were everywhere when I was a boy. Good for him now.
gar
January 30th, 2013
Awww!
TampaZeke
January 30th, 2013
He actually started out on the Andy Griffith show as a service station attendant at Wally’s service station but he “didn’t know a thing about fixin’cars, only gas ‘n oil”. A few episodes late and the entire episode was about him “fixin’ cars”.
The Andy Griffith Show is my all time favorite TV show. Probably because I lived in an idealic southern town growing up that reminded me very much of Mayberry.
udo
January 30th, 2013
Congratulations to you both. Now have to watch your old TV reruns.
Reilly
January 31st, 2013
I predict this will be a major victory for LGBT equality. Opponents of our rights often change their minds when they realize that their friends, relatives, or Nabors are gay. ;-)
Regan DuCasse
January 31st, 2013
I liked the Andy Griffith show. And I remember how the Gomer Pyle character got so popular. Andy and Gomer did a duet in an episode and it was one of those moments that was supposed to be very sentimental and wonderful.
That he was such a foil for Sgt. Carter in GP USMC, was so funny.
Again, when Sgt. C heard Pyle sing for the first time, one of those moments I really enjoyed.
I’m so happy for Mr. Nabors, as an actor and singer, he’s very talented and congrats to him and Mr. Cadwallader.
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