The '60s' favorite TV country bumpkin, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., won the hearts of viewers on the classic TV show Andy Griffith, and spun off in to his own wildly popular series, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.. The Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. show ran for five seasons and a total of 150 episodes. Golll-eeeee! As the eternally cheery and clueless Gomer, Jim Nabors gave a comic tour de force performance as a newbie Marine under the command of the short-tempered Sgt. Carter, played with demonic fervor by Frank Sutton.
Were Gomer Pyle and Sgt. Carter bitter foes or comedic sidekicks? "Surprise, surprise, surprise"--the secret to their chemistry classic TV was that the actors and characters were both, inseparable and adorable in their signature ways. The scrapes that Gomer routinely got his self into would never exactly threaten national security, but Nabors' guileless delivery made viewers want to tune in for more of this classic TV show where the belly laughs are real. Shazam!
GPUSMC - Cast of Characters
- Jim Nabors as Pvt. Gomer Pyle
- Frank Sutton as Sgt. Vince Carter
- Ronnie Schell as Pvt. Gilbert "Duke" Slater
- Roy Stuart as Corp. Chuck Boyle
- Barbara Stuart as Bunny
- Allan Melvin as Sgt. Hacker
- Elizabeth MacRae as Lou Ann Poovie
Jim Nabors
(June 12, 1930 - ) He is an American actor, singer, and comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of the good-hearted Gomer Pyle. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. was a spin off of the Andy Griffith show. Nabors graduated from the University of Alabama. Nabors received a liver transplant in 1994. He performs occasionally, although he prefers to operate his macadamia nut plantation in Hawaii, where he also grows tropical flowers.
Frank Sutton
(October 23, 1923 - June 28, 1974) was an American actor who is best remembered for his role as the loud, hard-nosed drill instructor Sergeant Vincent Carter on the CBS television series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Sutton was born in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1923. After Sutton graduated from East Nashville High School, he returned to Clarksville to become a radio disc jockey, then enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, and after basic training, was sent to the South Pacific, taking part in 14 assault landings. For his work on the Gomer Pyle show Sutton was made an honorary sergeant by the U.S. Marine Corps in recognition of his entertainment performances at camps, hospitals and bases.He also appeared in Public Service Commercials in the role of Sergeant Carter. He died of a heart attack at the age of 50.
Ronnie Schell
(December 23, 1931 - ) Always the class clown, Ronnie was kicked out of school several times for his outrageous behavior. Despite this comic behavior, his desire was not to be a performer, but rather to be a professional baseball player. He played semi-pro baseball before deciding to join the Air Force. While in the Air Force, he began touring bases in an Air Force variety show. In 1964 Ronnie got the part of "Duke Slater" on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and his television career was born. This part lasted until 1969.
Roy Stuart
(July 17, 1927 - December 25, 2005) was born in The Bronx, New York. He is perhaps best known for playing Corporal Charles Boyle on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also appeared in numerous other television shows and commercials. He died of cancer on Christmas 2005. He was 78 years old.
Barbara Stuart
(January 3, 1930 – May 15, 2011) Barbara attended drama school in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her favorite television experience was on "Gomer Pyle" playing "Miss Bunny," Sgt. Carter's girlfriend. She guest-starred on scores of other television shows. She also acted in films. She was married for many years to the actor, writer, and artist Dick Gautier. She has three step-children.
Allan Melvin
(February 18, 1923 - January 17, 2008) was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Melvin attended Columbia University. After graduation he served with the United States Navy and married his wife, Amalia, in 1943. He was a character actor who appeared in several television shows and may be best remembered for his role as Sam the Butcher. In the 1960s, Melvin played Staff Sergeant Charley Hacker for four seasons on Gomer Pyle, USMC. He also provided the voices of cartoon character Magilla Gorilla, the lion Drooper on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, and Bluto. In the early 1980s, Melvin appeared as a regular in Archie Bunker's Place, a successor to All in the Family, in which he played a more important role. When this series ended in 1983, Melvin's work was exclusively devoted to cartoon voice-overs. Allan Melvin died of cancer on January 17, 2008, aged 84.
Elizabeth MacRae
(December 7, 1936 - ) She is probably best known for her role as Lou Ann Poovie on the series Gomer Pyle, USMC, but she guest starred on various television shows from the 1960s to the 1980s, as well as several movie roles.
