Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
Depending on how old you are, you’re either stunned by the news Jim Nabors has come out, or you’re asking who Jim Nabors is.
Well, back in the 1960s he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show, and then his own sitcom, Gomer Pyle, USMC. In an exclusive with Hawaii News Now, the jovial actor revealed he married his companion of nearly 40 years, Stan Cadwallader, earlier this month.
Though Nabors has long called Hawaii home, the couple went to Washington State, where it’s legal.
“I’m 82 and he’s in his 60s and so we’ve been together for 38 years and I’m not ashamed of people knowing, it’s just that it was such a personal thing, I didn’t tell anybody,” Nabors said. “I’m very happy that I’ve had a partner of 38 years and I feel very blessed. And, what can I tell you, I’m just very happy.”
Nabors acknowledged that as two men in a relationship, “it’s pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple,” but says he’s not jumping int othe marriage-equality debate. “I’m not a debater—everybody has their own opinion about this,”he said. “I’m not an activist so I’ve never gotten involved in any of this.”
You don’t have to be an activist to write a check to Equality Hawaii, Jim. Ah, what the heck—congrats to the happy couple!
niles
Oh for god’s sake, Jim, for once, stick you neck out and give a fucking opinion. It
might begin to make up for 40-odd years of silence.
FunMe
So he DID “date” Rock Hudson! 😉
DickGreenleaf
Surprise,Surprise,Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Shazam!
I don’t care what anyone thinks–this is big news. Congrats Jim and Stan!
Gigi Gee
@FunMe: Really? I would say “lucky him” but imagine what it would have been like. Two closet cases looking for comfort, fearing they’d be found out and have their lives ruined. We don’t realize how lucky we are to be living in 2013.
Kieran
Thank God he survived and then escaped from Alabama.
Spike
Congrats to both . . . and while he has always chose to keep his private life private, I hope he appreciates and understands, that it is the activists in the LGBT community that made it possible for he and his partner to marry.
Bob LaBlah
When rumors spread about him and Rock Hudson he lost his show while Hudson was able to keep up the strait “face” and went on to do MacMillian and Wife (EVERYONE who worked on that set were sworn to secrecy or face a lifetime blacklist).
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I love how Jim got even. He moved to Hawaii, started a Macadamian Nut business and is now worth no less that a quater billion dollars. Jim was obviously gay but he was NOT stupid when it came to money and business. I love success stories.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Bob LaBlah:
He moved to Hawaii, started a Macadamian Nut business and is now worth no less that a quater billion dollars.
Seriously?
Spike
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Seriously. The Hana, Maui plantation …. 500 acres, 6K macadamia tress, 1 mile of Ocean front, since sold it to the National Tropical Botanical Gardens though still retains farming rights . . . that and his Diamond Head ocean front home. He’s done very well.
AndrewIB
Aww bless them both, a lovely bit of news in a world caught up in ugly news.
Bob LaBlah
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Yes, dear. I am serious. Girl (Jim Nabors) NEVER admitted nor denied being gay. After his show was taken away from him I honestly do think the only thing he did after that was a one or two guest appearance on the Carol Burnett show (which you can find clips of on Youtube). He was a riot on each show he appeared on.
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He did VERY well for himself business wise and had the good sense to stay the hell away from shit that only lived for meth’ed out twinks roaming the streets of West Hollywood. Which by the way, how are things out there?
Bob LaBlah
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Please forgive me for the OBVIOUS insenuation that I made. I read so many “catty” responses on gay internet sites that I automatically took it that way. Again, I do apologize.
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About fifteen years ago Forbes 400 (the 400 most wealthiest people in America) featured Jim Nabors in a seperate article. He did not make the list be he was VERY close to the cut off point at that time (which I do believe was $200 million or so at the time). I applaud Jim for the stance he took in regards to how he was treated. He simply said fuck this, I’m outta here. That was a wise decision.
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The cut off point now on the Forbes 400 list is $1 billion dollars. Who’s to say he doesn’t have that much? Smart people do not discuss their wealth with those who have no valid reason to know.
*
Again, I am sorry for my earlier response. Take care.
Will L
He’s handled his life well. I’m really pleased for them.
Spike
@Bob LaBlah: Err, that’s cuz he was cruising blond twinks on Diamond Head Beach.