Real-Life Military Man Forrest Compton Played One On TV in 'Gomer Pyle - USMC'

Photo byClassic TV Preservation Society

It's been three years since actor Forrest Compton died at 94 from COVID-19 in 2020. An army veteran off-screen, Compton found fame portraying Marine Lt. Col. Edward Gray on TV's Gomer Pyle - USMC military sitcom (CBS, 1964-1969). The show featured Jim Nabors, whose affable character was spun-off from The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968) to star alongside the talented Frank Sutton as Sargent Vince Carter.

Compton's fabricated Gray role battled at Iwo Jima and frequently acknowledged the qualities that made Nabors' Gomer a solid Marine. More often than not, that transpired at the expense of Carter's pride.

Behind the Scenes

In real life, Forrest Compton served with the U.S. Army's 103rd Infantry Division in France during World War II. Born September 15, 1925, in Reading, Pennsylvania, he attended Swarthmore College to study acting followed by three years at Yale Drama School, from which he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts.

Other Roles

For over twelve years, Forrest Compton played district attorney Mike Karr on the CBS/ABC daytime serial, The Edge of Night. He was the third actor to play former cop and crusading Monticello District Attorney Mike Karr on the show from 1971 until its cancellation in 1984.

Compton later appeared in regular roles on two other soaps: NBC's As the World Turns and ABC's All My Children. His other TV credits include Mannix, The F.B.I., Hogan's Heroes, That Girl, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, and several more.

He made only two feature films, thirty years apart: the Iwo Jima drama The Outsider (1961) and the Christopher Walken thriller McBain (1991).

Personally Speaking

In September 1975, Forrest Compton wed Jeanne Sementini, with whom he remained until his demise on April 6, 2020. The couple had lived in Shelter Island, New York, where he moved after retiring in 2002.

Lasting Impression

Forrest Compton was the rare type of actor who both colleagues and audiences could depend on to deliver a likable and solid performance every time.