A case of nerves is nothing to be embarrassed about. Even the most talented and experienced actors come down with a bit of anxiety, especially when they're working with some fellow seasoned pros.

In the same way that viewers of The Andy Griffith Show idolized actors like Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, so too did their costars, including Jim Nabors.

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Jim Nabors was as much of a fan of Gomer Pyle as viewers were

Nabors had been "discovered" by Griffith, who offered him the role of Gomer Pyle. It was a role that Nabors excelled as, so much so that he was offered the opportunity to play the character in his own spinoff, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. The series became a success, enjoyed by fans for years to come.

But as successful as Nabors would become, he found himself a bit out of place the first time he acted on The Andy Griffith Show. During an interview with The Sentinel, Nabors confessed that he was anxious about his first appearance on The Andy Griffith Show. Luckily, Knotts and Griffith weren't just great actors, they were also supportive costars. They worked hard to make sure that Nabors was as comfortable as possible.

"So there I was on the set with these real pros like Andy Griffith and Don Knotts," said Nabors. "You know how I felt? Scared. But they knew I hadn't acted before and every one of them did all sorts of things to make me feel at ease."

Pretty soon, Nabors was up in the big leagues with Knotts and Griffith, playing a character that he felt was well worth the energy. 

"I do think people misunderstand Gomer, though," said Nabors. "You see, he's not dumb. He's just inexperienced socially and thinks the human race is a wonderful thing."

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