'Gomer Pyle' star Jim Nabors dies at 87

"Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." star Jim Nabors died peacefully at his home in Hawaii early Thursday, his assistant at Naborly Productions confirmed for ABC News. He was 87.

Nabors, an Alabama native, got his big break in the 1960s as Gomer Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show." He followed that by headlining a spin-off show named after his character from 1964 to 1969.

After walking away from his role as Pyle, Nabors was featured in other iconic series like "The Love Boat" and "The Carol Burnett Show." He stopped acting in the early 1990s.

But Nabors was far more than just an actor. As a singer, he recorded more than 20 albums, several of which went gold, including 1966's "Jim Nabors Sings Love Me With All Your Heart." His album "The Heart Touching Magic of Jim Nabors" went platinum in 1980.

He sang "Back Home Again" in Indiana to start the Indianapolis 500 every year from 1972 until his final live appearance in 2014.

Nabors is survived by his husband, Stan Cadwallader, who was his partner for almost 40 years before they tied the knot in 2013.