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PEOPLE/ARTS Friday 1 december 2017
Jim Nabors, Gomer Pyle on ‘Andy Griffith Show,’ dies at 87

By AUDREY McAVOY something,” Nabors told out,” he later recalled.
Associated Press Hawaii News Now at the “I’d had it with the bright
HONOLULU (AP) — Jim Na- time. “And at my age, it’s lights.”
bors, the shy Alabaman probably the best thing to In the early 1980s, his long-
whose down-home com- do.” time friendship with Burt
edy made him a TV star Nabors became an instant Reynolds led to roles in
as Gomer Pyle and whose success when he joined “Stroker Ace,” ‘’Cannon-
surprisingly operatic voice “The Andy Griffith Show” in ball II” and “The Best Little
kept him a favorite in Las the early 1960s. The char- Whorehouse in Texas.”
Vegas and other show- acter of Gomer Pyle, the He returned to concert
places, died Thursday. He unworldly, lovable gas and nightclub perfor-
was 87. pumper who would ex- mances in 1985, though at
Nabors, who underwent a claim “Gollllll-ly!” proved a less intensive pace.
liver transplant in 1994 af- so popular that in 1964 CBS “It was kind of like ‘The Twi-
ter contracting hepatitis starred him in “Gomer Pyle, light Zone’ for me, all of
B, died peacefully at his U.S.M.C.” us standing there in cos-
home in Hawaii after his In the spinoff, which lasted tumes, the girls in spangles,
health had declined for five seasons, Gomer left his no tops,” he told The As-
the past year, said his hus- hometown of Mayberry to In this May 25, 2014 file photo, Jim Nabors waves to fans after sociated Press during his
band, Stan Cadwallader, become a Marine recruit. singing before the start of the 98th running of the Indianapolis comeback stint at the Las
who was by his side. His innocence confounded 500 IndyCar auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Vegas Hilton. “I looked
“Everybody knows he was his sergeant, the irascible Indianapolis. around and told the girls,
a wonderful man. And Frank Sutton. Associated Press ‘I’m used to being on the
that’s all we can say about Audiences saw another Offstage, Nabors retained show, Nabors continued back of a tractor, then to
him. He’s going to be dear- side of Nabors in appear- some of the awed inno- earning high salaries in Las be dropped into the midst
ly missed,” Cadwallader ances in TV variety pro- cence of Gomer. At the Vegas showrooms and in of this! It’s kind of weird.’”
said. grams — his booming bari- height of his fame in 1969, concert theaters across the Among his regular gigs was
The couple married in early tone. The contrast between he admitted, “For the first country. He recorded more singing “Back Home Again
2013 in Washington state, his homespun humor (“The four years of the series, I than two dozen albums in Indiana” at the Indianap-
where gay marriage had tornado was so bad a hen didn’t trust my success. and sang with the Dallas olis 500 each year, which
recently been made legal. laid the same egg twice”) Every weekend and on and St. Louis symphony or- he first did in 1972. The first
Nabors’ friends had known and his full-throated oper- every vacation, I would chestras.During the 1970s time, he wrote the lyrics on
for years that he was gay, atic arias was stunning. take off to play nightclubs he moved to Hawaii, buy- his hand so he wouldn’t
but he had never said any- For two seasons beginning and concerts, figuring the ing a 500-acre macada- forget.“I’ve never thought
thing to the media. in 1969, CBS presented whole thing would blow mia ranch. He still did oc- of (the audience reaction)
“It’s pretty obvious that we “The Jim Nabors Hour,” on over some day. casional TV work, and in the as relating to me,” Nabors
had no rights as a couple, which he joshed with guest “You know somethin’? I still late 1970s, he appeared 10 said. “It’s always relating to
yet when you’ve been stars, did sketches with Sut- find it difficult to believe this months annually at Hilton the song and to the race.
together 38 years, I think ton and fellow “Gomer” kind of acceptance. I still hotels in Hawaii. The pace It is applauding for the tra-
something’s got to happen veteran Ronnie Schell, and don’t trust it.” gave him an ulcer. dition of the race and the
there, you’ve got to solidify sang country and opera. After the end of his variety “I was completely burned excitement.”q

Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ crowned

year’s best by NBR Awards

By JAKE COYLE arriving awards contend- three awards at Monday’s
AP Film Writer ers. Gotham Awards, Jordan
NEW YORK (AP) — Steven The National Board of Re- Peele’s horror sensation
Spielberg’s newspaper dra- view, a collection of film “Get Out” took an award
ma “The Post” was named enthusiasts and academics for best ensemble, as well
the year’s best film by the founded in 1909, is better as best directorial debut.
National Board of Review, known for packing its an- Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird”
which also lavished its top nual awards dinner (to be landed two awards: best
acting honors on the film’s hosted by Willie Geist on director and best support- This image released by 20th Century Fox shows actress Meryl
stars, Meryl Streep and Tom January 9) with big names ing actress for Laurie Met- Streep, from left, director Steven Spielberg, and actor Tom Hanks
Hanks. than for predicting Oscars. calf. on the set of “The Post.”
The group announced its Its last three winners were The coming-of-age tale, Associated Press
picks Tuesday on Twitter. “Manchester By the Sea,” starring Saoirse Ronan, is the NBR announcement adapted screenplay.
Though the organization ‘’Mad Max: Fury Road” increasingly looking like a with a single honor: Timo- Other awards included the
spread its awards around, and “A Most Violent Year,” major contender, boasting thee Chalamet for break- board’s Spotlight Award
it reserved three of its top none of which went on to the most widely reviewed through performance. to Patty Jenkins and Gal
slots for Spielberg’s upcom- win best picture. 100 percent fresh Rotten Best supporting actor went Gadot for “Wonder Wom-
ing period film about The But momentum is a cher- Tomatoes score in the web- to Willem Dafoe (“The Flor- an” and two winners for
Washington Post’s publish- ished quantity in Holly- site’s history. Ronan also ida Project”), Paul Thomas its Freedom of Expression
ing of the Pentagon Pa- wood’s awards season, won best actress at Mon- Anderson landed best Award: Angelina Jolie’s
pers. Streep plays Washing- and the trio of awards give day’s Gotham Awards. original screenplay for his Cambodia drama “First
ton Post publisher Katharine “The Post” — considered a After taking the top prize at “Phantom Thread,” and They Killed My Father” and
Graham and Hanks plays timely tribute to a free press the Gothams, Luca Gua- “The Disaster Artist” scribes John Ridley’s documen-
editor Ben Bradlee in the — a resounding early win. dagnino’s “Call Me By Your Scott Neustadter and Mi- tary “Let It Fall: Los Angeles
film, one of the year’s last- The day after taking home Name” came away from chael H. Weber won for 1982-1992.” q