The veteran actor - best known for portraying Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show - tied the knot with his partner of 38 years on January 15, according to Hawaii News Now.

"I'm 82 and he's in his 60s and so we've been together for 38 years, and I'm not ashamed of people knowing, it's just that it was such a personal thing I didn't tell anybody," Nabors said. "I feel very blessed. And what can I tell you, I'm just very happy."

The intimate ceremony took place the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, after gay marriage became legal in Washington late last year.

Nabors underwent heart surgery last May and said the marriage makes sense to ensure both sides of the couple are protected legally in case something drastic happens.

"It's pretty obvious that we had no rights as a couple, yet when you've been together 38 years, I think something's got to happen there, you've got to solidify something. And at my age, it's probably the best thing to do."