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Jim Nabors was a real-life country boy who used his background for Gomer Pyle
Nabors' personal upbringing helped him bring out Gomer Pyle's best qualities.
Gomer Pyle from Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. is so quirky and silly that he seems like a completely fictional character. However, Jim Nabors, the man behind the character, was much more like our favorite country boy than many might realize.
According to a 1965 interview with Evening World-Herald, Gomer Pyle and Jim Nabors were essentially the same person, just packaged a little differently. Nabors said there was a very fine line separating him from Gomer, and sometimes that line would become blurred.
"Gomer is an attitude," Nabors said. "Our mannerisms are about the same. It's the thought process that is different."
Nabors described Gomer as an honest country boy whose innocence was often mistaken for stupidity. However, he related to this because Nabors himself was a Southern boy from a small town in Alabama.
His Southern upbringing influenced his portrayal of Gomer Pyle, with his accent and down-home mannerisms adding authenticity to the character. He even credited his roots for helping him connect with audiences.
"Gomer is no fool," Nabors said. "He’s a nice guy who likes everyone and everything—adults, children, animals, apple pie, and Mama."
Audiences at home found Gomer Pyle funny, optimistic (despite the circumstances he got himself into), and endearing. While Nabors had to defend Gomer to some people, the majority of fans understood him and most likely knew someone just like him in real life.
Overall, it was hard not to like Gomer, no matter how hard some people tried. According to the interview, Nabors said that was the point.
"I enjoy being Gomer," Nabors said. "He's a nice guy."
While being Gomer was a great honor for Nabors, he preferred his country lifestyle to the bustling city of Hollywood. He tapped into his inner Gomer Pyle whenever he had to. Whether he was overwhelmed with success or missing home, either way, he and Gomer were the same, and that’s what made it special.
"Success doesn't turn out as you'd imagine it would," Nabors said. "You think there will be no problems once you're successful. Actually, that's when they start."
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