After a long and happy 38-year relationship, actor Jim Nabors, best known for his iconic role as the loveable Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show, and his partner Stan Cadwallader, flew from their home in Honolulu, Hawaii to marry in Washington.
“I think every person on this earth has a choice of who they want to spend their life with,” he told the Hawaii News Now. “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.”
He went on to explain how he and Mr. Cadwallader “had no rights as a couple” before they were married, “yet when you’ve been together 38 years, I think something’s got to happen there, you’ve got to solidify something.” Mr. Nabors added, “And at my age, it’s probably the best thing to do.”
They exchanged vows in a short and sweet ceremony conducted by a judge friend in a Seattle hotel room a few weeks after Washington’s law went into effect. “My friend and I, my partner, we went through all of this 38 years ago,” said Mr. Nabors. “So I mean, we made our vows and that was it. It was to each other, but nevertheless, we were a couple.”
The couple met in 1975 when Mr. Cadwallader was a Honolulu firefighter and later began working for Nabors handling his business affairs and eventually turned romantic. “He’s my best friend,” Mr. Nabors said.
Their exciting marriage announcement marks the first time that Mr. Nabors has acknowledged being gay to the public. Though proudly open with friends and co-workers, he opted to not speak of it to the media because it was “such a personal thing.”
“I’m not a debater. And everybody has their own opinion about this and actually I’m not an activist, so I’ve never gotten involved in any of this,” Mr. Nabors continued.
With Washington being one of the latest states to recognize same-sex marriage (and closest to Hawaii), it gave the couple the perfect excuse to take their relationship to the next level. “I like the weather,” he said. “Still, I froze my butt off there.”
Golly, what a “surprise, surprise, surprise!” We’re thrilled for the happy couple! (Note to our younger readers, watch an episode of Andy Griffith to understand those references.)
Photo credit: hollywoodreporter.com
