Gomer Pyle is a television character played by Jim Nabors and introduced in the middle of the third season of The Andy Griffith Show. Pyle, a simpleminded and gentle auto mechanic, became a character when actor Howard McNear, who portrayed Floyd the Barber, took a respite from the show due to health reasons. Nabors played Pyle for 23 episodes from 1962–1964.
After two seasons on The Andy Griffith Show, McNear returned and Griffith proposed a show based on the Gomer Pyle character. In 1964 the character was spun-off into Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which ran until 1969.
Read more about Gomer Pyle: Character, Andy Griffith Show Appearances, Cultural References