“Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” lasted five seasons, ending in 1969, when Mr. Nabors was given his own CBS variety show and with it more opportunities to sing. He later went to work for Mr. Nabors, and they began a relationship, Mr. Nabors said. The Gomer Pyle persona never left Mr. Nabors, but he was comfortable with that. “I’ve never found doing Gomer to be that limiting to me,” Mr. Nabors said in 1990. Gomer Pyle — Mr. Nabors, in character — was promoted to lance corporal.

Source: New York Times November 30, 2017 18:33 UTC