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Here's why Jim Nabors sang more than he acted
Later in his career, Nabors largely abandoned acting. Here's the story.
Imagine doing one thing so well that the public is happy to just have you around, regardless of what you do when you're there. That was (mostly) the kind of love that Jim Nabors got during the later portion of his career. He largely moved away from acting, instead focusing his talents on other types of performance, while still delighting audiences each step of the way.
Nabors was, of course, discovered performing in nightclubs. His act attracted the attention of Andy Griffith, who cast Nabors on the beloved sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Originally, this new character, Gomer Pyle, was only meant to appear in one episode. However, Nabors was such a natural fit in Mayberry that Gomer ended up starring in 23 episodes throughout the series' third and fourth seasons.
The audience reception was incredibly warm. The public's response to the character led to a spinoff program that was centered entirely around Nabors. This new series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., saw the titular gas station attendant enlisting in the Marine Corps. Fish out of water hilarity ensued.
However, as his career progressed, Nabors found that he enjoyed using some of his other talents even more than he liked acting.
"What happened was that I decided that I liked music, and I wanted to gear my career that way," Nabors said in a 1995 interview with the Birmingham News. "I never thought much of my acting ability. I only did the one character.
"There's something so joyous about music. Acting pales in comparison."
Nabors' career came full circle. After spending his early days moonlighting as a singer at Santa Monica nightclubs, Nabors rode off into the sunset making singing appearances into his twilight years. As for his acting abilities, we think he deserved more credit than he allowed himself!
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