FILE - Jim Nabors is seen in character for his role of Gomer Pyle in this 1966 file photo. Hawaii News Now reports Jim Nabors and his partner, Stan Cadwallader, traveled from their Honolulu home to Seattle to be married Jan. 15, 2013. The couple met in 1975 when Cadwallader was a Honolulu firefighter. The 82-year-old Nabors says you've got to solidify something when you've been together as long as they have. (AP Photo)
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FILE - Jim Nabors is seen in character for his role of Gomer Pyle in this 1966 file photo. Hawaii News Now reports Jim Nabors and his partner, Stan Cadwallader, traveled from their Honolulu home to Seattle to be married Jan. 15, 2013. The couple met in 1975 when Cadwallader was a Honolulu firefighter. The 82-year-old Nabors says you've got to solidify something when you've been together as long as they have. (AP Photo)
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Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of the AFC attempts to chase down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the NFC in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
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Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91) of the AFC and his teammate strong safety Eric Berry (29) tackle Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) of the NFC in the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the NFC makes a pass during the second quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hands off the football to Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) of the AFC in the first quarter of the NFL football Pro Bowl game against the NFC in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
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Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) of the AFC manages to throw a pass just as Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) of the NFC grabs Schaub during the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
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New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) of the NFC breaks away from Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis (98) and Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) of the AFC to score a touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL football Pro Bowl game in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
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Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman poses for photos with cheerleaders after a news conference to kick off NFL football Pro Bowl week in Honolulu, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. The NFL is hoping to decide the fate of the Pro Bowl by the time it releases next season's schedule in April. And the fate of the league's all-star game will largely depend on how much effort this year's participants put into the game scheduled for Sunday at Aloha Stadium. (AP Photo/Oskar Garcia)
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Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president of football operations, speaks during a news conference to kick off NFL football Pro Bowl week in Honolulu, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. The NFL is hoping to decide the fate of the Pro Bowl by the time it releases next season's schedule in April. And the fate of the league's all-star game will largely depend on how much effort this year's participants put into the game scheduled for Sunday at Aloha Stadium. (AP Photo/Oskar Garcia) (AP Photo/Oskar Garcia)
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The Pro Bowl MVP stands in the foreground as Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell speaks during a news conference to kick off NFL Pro Bowl week in Honolulu on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. The NFL is hoping to decide the fate of the Pro Bowl by the time it releases next season's schedule in April. And the fate of the league's all-star game will largely depend on how much effort this year's participants put into the game. NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson told reporters of the timing at the news conference. He said the league expects its players to play a game that fans will be proud of. (AP Photo/Oskar Garcia)
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FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2012, file photo, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning sets up to throw a pass against the Cleveland Browns in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Denver. Manning was selected to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Nabors on marrying partner: 'Just wanted it legal'
HONOLULU (
AP) — Actor
Jim Nabors says marrying his longtime male partner doesn't change anything about their relationship — he just wanted it to be formally acknowledged.
"I just wanted it legal," the 82-year-old actor best known as Gomer Pyle in "The Andy Griffith Show" told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Nabors married 64-year-old Stan Cadwallader in Seattle on Jan. 15. Nabors says they have been partners for 38 years.
Nabors said they flew from Honolulu just for the short ceremony and were married in a hotel room by a judge friend who drove up from Olympia, Wash.
Nabors said he's not an activist but feels strongly that gay marriage should be a right for everyone.
"I think every person on this earth has a choice of who they want to spend their life with," he said.
News of Nabors' marriage was first reported by Hawaii News Now. Nabors told Hawaii News Now he's been open about being gay with co-workers and friends but hadn't acknowledged it to the media before. He said he's not ashamed of people knowing, he just didn't tell people because it was "such a personal thing."
The couple met in 1975 when Cadwallader was a Honolulu firefighter.
Nabors told the AP that Cadwallader began working for him long ago and took care of his business affairs.
"He's my best friend," Nabors said.
Nabors became an instant success when he joined "The Andy Griffith Show" in spring 1963. The character of Gomer Pyle — the unworldly, lovable gas pumper who would exclaim "Gollllll-ly!" — proved so popular that in 1964 CBS starred him in "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."
In the spinoff, which lasted five seasons, Gomer left his hometown of Mayberry to become a Marine recruit. His innocence confounded his sergeant, the irascible Frank Sutton.
Gay marriage became legal in Washington state last month. Several other states allow it, but Nabors said he picked Washington because he didn't want to travel too far from his Hawaii home.
"I like the weather," he said. "Still, I froze my butt off there."
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Oskar Garcia can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/oskargarcia .
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