Jim Nabors Marries Partner in Seattle

There were apparently no exclamations of “Shazam!” or “Golly!” — just a simple exchange of rings in front of a judge in a Seattle hotel room, after which Jim Nabors, the star of television’s “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,” married Stan Cadwallader, his partner of 38 years, according to a report by a Hawaiian television news station.

Hawaii News Now of Honolulu reported that Mr. Nabors, 82, the actor and singer, who now lives in Hawaii, and Mr. Cadwallader, 64, who works with him, were married on Jan. 15 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. The couple, who traveled to Seattle a few weeks after same-sex marriages became legal in Washington State, were wed in a private ceremony witnessed by friends who live near Mr. Nabors and Mr. Cadwallader, Hawaii News Now said.

Mr. Nabors declined an on-camera interview with Hawaii News Now, but was quoted in a telephone interview with the news program as saying that 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.”

A public records search showed that Mr. Nabors and Mr. Cadwallader were issued a marriage certificate in Washington’s Thurston County on Dec. 22.

Mr. Nabors, who was born and raised in Sylacauga, Ala., originated the character of the hapless but loveable gas-station attendant Gomer Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show,” and reprised the role in five seasons of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” (on which the goofball character was perpetually making trouble for his military superiors). Mr. Nabors also appeared on “The Carol Burnett Show,” “The Muppet Show,” and his own variety series, “The Jim Nabors Hour.”

Hawaii News Now said Mr. Nabors met Mr. Cadwallader, a former firefighter in Honolulu, in 1975.

The news program quoted Mr. Nabors as saying that though he had always been open about his sexuality to co-workers in the entertainment industry, he did not plan to get involved in the national debate over gay marriage.

“I haven’t ever made a public spectacle of it,” Mr. Nabors said, according to Hawaii News Now. “Well, I’ve known since I was a child, so, come on. It’s not that kind of a thing. I’ve never made a huge secret of it at all.”

He added: “My friend and I, my partner, we went through all of this 38 years ago. So I mean, we made our vows and that was it. It was to each other, but nevertheless, we were a couple.”