[“...television’s Gomer Pyle was based on [Sergeants’ lead] Will Stockdale, and even the latter day Forrest Gump borrows from Will’s childlike worldview.” —MoMA Blog]
The ABC network produced a television series based on the property, airing 34 episodes in its single season, which spanned 1964-1965. Gone were the earlier incarnations' top-billed stars, but retained was the work's trademark benign humor.
The title's popularity further engendered a short-lived comic book series and a board game (to our knowledge reserved at the time for only the most widely-recognizable successes).
(Above) Tie-in comic book (MyComicShop.com)