Matinee Classics - Jim Nabors Biography & Filmography

Jim Nabors ACTOR

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JIM NABORS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Jim Nabors was born on June 12th, 1930 in Sylacauga, Alabama with the middle name Thurston, born to Mavis and Fred Nabors. As a young boy he developed an interest in singing and would sing at the local church as well as at school. After high school he enrolled at the university of Alabama and began also now showing an interest in acting.

After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Nabors relocated to New York City and first found employment as a typist for the United Nations. He then moved to Tennessee and began working in the television industry as a film cutter, later making another move, this time out west where he was employed as film cutter with NBC.

Now living in Los Angeles, he would make additional income in the evenings performing at various night clubs. While performing one night in Santa Monica at a club called, "The Horn" he was discovered by another Comedian, Bill Dana who asked if Nabors would perform on, "Steve Allen's TV Variety Show".

It was this opportunity to helped his career in entertainment take off. Soon, he was offered his first real television show as, Gomer Pyle on the television sitcom, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964-1969).

When the series came to an end, Nabors returned to his love of live performing and also recorded a number of albums, earning a gold record for, "The Lord's Prayer". Throughout his entire career he has released a total of forty six albums. He also performed regularly in Las Vegas and later even had his own show at the Hilton Hotel in Hawaii.

Adding to his resume was appearances on the television programs, "Krofft Supershow" (1976) and his own television variety show in 1978, "The Jim Nabors Show". Other credits include, "The Love Boat" (1977-1981), "Knight Rider" (1983) and most recent in 1991 on, "The Carol Burnett Show".

Nabors was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to Live Theatre and the Hawaii Pacific University awarded him a Fellow of the Pacific Award for his "outstanding leadership, service, and dedication" the community.

Sadly, Nabors had to undergo a liver transplant in 1994 which has caused him to for the most part stay out of the industry. He now resides in Hawaii, has never married and for a while ran a macadamia nut plantation in Maui. He has now sold his plantation to the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Conservationist organization, but still owns a home on the property.