Jim Nabors, the star of the ‘60s hit TV shows The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., married his partner of 38 years this month in Seattle, Washington.
Nabors, who is 82 years old, met his husband Stan Cadwallader, 64, during Cadwallader’s time as a firefighter in 1975. He began to work for Nabors, and the two fell in love.
The couple flew to Washington state (the state closest to their home state of Hawaii to allow marriage for same-sex couples) for the wedding. The two wed before a judge in their hotel room with close friends as witnesses.
"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 to Hawaii News Now. "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."
The character of Gomer Pyle was first introduced on The Andy Griffith Show in 1963. The character was wildly successful and got his own spinoff show, which follows Gomer as he leaves Mayberry for the Marines.
Nabors was born and raised in Alabama. In addition to the role of Gomer Pyle, Nabors appeared regularly on The Carol Burnett Show and hosted his own variety shows throughout the years. In 1982, he co-starred with his friend Burt Reynolds and country music legend Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Since 1987, he has become an Indianapolis 500 staple, performing “Back Home Again in Indiana” at the start of every race, missing only in 2007 due to health issues. He recorded a video for the race last year because of a heart surgery.
GLAAD would like to congratulate newlyweds Jim Nabors and Stan Cadwallader on this happy occasion, and offer them well wishes for years to come.