Fred Grandy

He has also stated that he is a vegan. As of 2004, Nabors owns and operates a macadamia nut plantation in Hawaii. In 2003, Grandy was named co-host of The WMAL Morning News, a light current-events chat show on WMAL-AM in Washington, D.C. He was born in Sylacauga, Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama. Grandy later served as president and CEO of Goodwill Industries from 1995-2000, became a political commentator on National Public Radio, and served as a Visiting Professor teaching a course on non-profit organizations at the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs. He is also noted for singing "Back Home Again in Indiana" (not the official state song, contrary to popular belief) during pre-race ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500. In 1994, he entered the race for Governor of Iowa against incumbent Terry Branstad; he lost the election by 4%. Nabors also appeared on a number of variety shows in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably The Carol Burnett Show.

During his four terms in Congress, he served on a variety of committees, including the House Ways and Means, Agriculture, Standards of Official Conduct, and Education and the Workforce. He is perhaps known for his portrayal of the good-hearted but naïve character Gomer Pyle on the 1960s sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. Although he tried to distance himself from his acting career, he told People magazine, "If there were no Gopher, there would be no Fred Grandy for Congress.". Jim Nabors (born June 12, 1930) is an American actor, singer, and comedian. Grandy, who campaigned as a Republican, won the election in 1986 by 3,000 votes. He also served as a speechwriter for Congressman Wiley Mayne (R-Iowa).

Prior to college, he was the roommate of David Eisenhower (grandson of President Eisenhower) at Phillips Exeter Academy and later was best man at Eisenhower's wedding to Julie Nixon. He played the dimwitted Burl "Gopher" Smith for nine years on The Love Boat, but his political interests preceded his acting career. Grandy received his bachelor's degree in English from Harvard University in 1970, and is fluent in both French and Arabic. television series, The Love Boat, before his election in 1986 to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa.

Fred Grandy (born June 29, 1948) was an actor on the U.S.