Who is Who Is Don Knotts?
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Don Knotts: Far More than Barney Fife
I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane. And if you're too young to know who Don Knotts is, I hope you read and watch the videos and appreciate what REAL comedy is about!
Early life
Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 - February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord Ralph Furley on the television sitcom Three's Company in the 1980s.Knotts was born in the university town of Morgantown, West Virginia, the son of Elsie L. (née Moore) and William Jesse Knotts. His father's family had been in the United States since the 17th century, originally settling in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. His father had been a farmer, but suffered a nervous breakdown and lost his farm. The family (including Don's two brothers) was supported by Don's mother, who ran a boarding house in town. Knotts' father suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism and died when Don was 13 years old. Some time later, Knotts graduated from Morgantown High School.
At 19, Knotts was drafted into the Army and served during World War II as part of a traveling GI variety show and as a nurse, including in the Pacific Theater.
Barney Fife and the Preamble to the Constitution
Great DVDs of Barney Fife
Don Knotts: Early Roles
After performing in many venues (including a ventriloquist act with a dummy named Hooch Matador), Knotts got his first major break on television in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow where he appeared from 1953 to 1955. He came to fame in 1956 on Steve Allen's variety show, as part of Allen's repertory company, most notably in Allen's mock "Man in the Street" interviews, always as a man extremely nervous. The laughs grew when Knotts stated his occupation -- always one that wouldn't be appropriate for such a shaky person, such as a surgeon or explosives expert.In 1958, Knotts appeared in the movie No Time for Sergeants alongside Andy Griffith. The movie, based on the play and book of the same name, began a professional and personal relationship between Knotts and Griffith that would last for decades.
Barney Explains A Capella
Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known
Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known
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Fish. Chicken. Deputy. Icon. TV's beloved Don Knotts gives his millions of fans the book they've been waiting for.
Don Knotts recounts with warmth and humor the events that shaped his life and a career that spans half a century: his colorful childhood in his family's West Virginia boarding house; his hectic stint as a comic on the road, and as a rising star in the burgeoning days of live TV; his big break on Broadway in No Time for Sergeants; his five-season, multi-award-winning portrayal of Mayberry's bumbling and beloved Barney Fife. With candor he takes us behind the scenes on the set of Three's Company, and behind the sets of his hugely successful film comedies. And he shares bittersweet memories of The Mayberry Reunion, and affectionate recollections of his professional and personal relationships with such legends as Andy Griffith, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Orson Welles, Lou Costello, and Arthur Godfrey.
Here is the inside story of the comedic genius behind Mr. Limpit, Mr. Chicken, Barney Fife, and the other characters we've come to know. And love.
* With a foreword by Andy Griffith
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Don Knotts: The Andy Griffith Show
In 1960, when Griffith was offered the opportunity to headline in his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968), Knotts took the role of Barney Fife, the deputy -- and originally cousin -- of Sheriff Andy Taylor (portrayed by Griffith). Knotts' five seasons portraying the deputy on the popular show would earn him five Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy.A summary of the show from the website of the Museum of Broadcast Communications describes Deputy Barney Fife:
Self-important, romantic, and nearly always wrong, Barney dreamed of the day he could use the one bullet Andy had issued to him. While Barney was forever frustrated that Mayberry was too small for the delusional ideas he had of himself, viewers got the sense that he couldn't have survived anywhere else. Don Knotts played the comic and pathetic sides of the character with equal aplomb and was given four Emmy Awards for doing so.
When the show first aired, Andy Griffith was intended to be the comedic lead with Don Knotts as his "foil", or straight man. But, it was quickly found that the show was funnier the other way around. As Griffith maintained in several interviews, "By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny, and I should play straight". The years during which the two worked on the show cemented Griffith's lifelong admiration for Don Knotts and their lifelong friendship.
Believing earlier remarks made by Griffith, that The Andy Griffith Show would soon be ending after five seasons, Knotts began to look for other work, and signed a five film contract with Universal Studios. He was caught off guard when Griffith announced he would be continuing with the show after all, but Knotts' hands were tied (in his autobiography, Knotts admitted that he had not yet signed a contract when Griffith made his decision, but had made up his mind believing that he would not get this chance again). Knotts left the series in 1965. (Within the series, it was announced that Deputy Fife had finally made the "big time", and had joined the Raleigh, N.C. police force.) The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete First Season
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete First Season
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THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, a spin-off from "The Danny Thomas Show," is a comedy about a North Carolina widower named Andy Taylor who divides his time between raising his son, Opie (Ron Howard) and being sheriff of the small and virtually crime-free town of Mayberry. With next to no crimes to solve, Andy spends time philosophizing and trying to calm down his cousin, Deputy Barney, played by Don Knotts.
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Barney Fife on Self Defense
Don Knotts: Post-Mayberry films
Knotts went on to star in a series of film comedies which drew on his high-strung persona from the TV series: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The Love God? (1969) and How to Frame a Figg (1971). Knotts would, however, return to the role of Barney Fife several times in the 1960s: he made five more guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show (gaining him another two Emmys), and later appeared once more on the spin-off Mayberry RFD, where he was present as best man for the marriage of Andy Taylor and his longtime love, Helen Crump.After making How to Frame a Figg, Knotts' 5-film contract with Universal came to an end. He continued to work steadily, though he did not appear as a regular on any successful television series until his appearance on Three's Company in 1979. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Knotts served as the spokesman for Dodge trucks and was featured prominently in a series of print ads and dealer brochures. On television, he went on to host an odd-variety show/sitcom hybrid on NBC, The Don Knotts Show, which aired Tuesdays during the fall of 1970, but the series was low-rated and short-lived. He also made frequent guest appearances on other shows such as The Bill Cosby Show and Here's Lucy. In 1970, he would also make yet another appearance as Barney Fife, in the pilot of The New Andy Griffith Show. (This was particularly odd, as Andy Griffith did not play Sheriff Taylor in this series.) In 1972, Knotts would voice an animated version of himself in two memorable episodes of The New Scooby Doo Movies. He also appeared as Felix Unger in a stage version of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple with Art Carney as Oscar Madison.
Beginning in 1975, Knotts was teamed with Tim Conway in a series of slapstick movies aimed at children, including the Disney film The Apple Dumpling Gang, and its 1979 sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. They also did two independent films, a boxing comedy called The Prize Fighter in 1979, and a comedy/mystery movie in 1981 called The Private Eyes. Knotts co-starred in several other Disney movies, including 1976's Gus, 1977's Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and 1978's Hot Lead and Cold Feet. Don Knotts Nervous Speech
Don Knotts 4 Movie Reluctant Hero Pack
Don Knotts 4 Movie Reluctant Hero Pack (The Ghost And Mr. Chicken / The Reluctant Astronaut / The Shakiest Gun In The West / The Love God?)
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He's one of the most popular and admired funnymen of all time, a master of comic timing and physical humor. Now four of the classic films starring the delightful Don Knotts are available on DVD for the first time in this fun-filled collector's set.
After catapulting to national fame as the often impossible but ever lovable Deputy Barney Fife on TV's The Andy Griffith Show, Knotts set out to conquer the silver screen in a series of unforgettable feature films. Now four of these hilarious farces are brought together in this amazing collection that keeps the laughs coming.
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Don Knotts: Return to television
In 1979, Knotts returned to series television in his second most identifiable role, landlord Ralph Furley on Three's Company. The series, which was already an established hit, added Knotts to the cast when the original landlords, a married couple played by Audra Lindley and Norman Fell, left the show to star in a short-lived spin-off series (The Ropers). Though the role of the outlandish, overdressed, nerdy-geeky-buffoon landlord was originally intended to be a minor recurring character, Knotts was so funny and lovable as a character who fantasized that he was an incredibly attractive lothario, that the writers greatly expanded his role. On set, Knotts easily integrated himself to the already-established cast who were, as John Ritter put it, "so scared" of Knotts because of his star status when he joined the cast. When Suzanne Sommers left the show after a contract dispute in 1981, the writers starting giving the material meant for Sommers' Crissy, and gave it to Knotts' Furley. Knotts remained on the show until it ended in 1984. The Three's Company script supervisor, Carol Summers, went on to be Knotts' agent--often accompanying him to personal appearances.
In 1986, Don Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith in the 1986 made-for-television movie Return to Mayberry, where he reprised his role as Barney Fife yet again. In 1989, he joined Griffith in another show, playing a recurring role as pesky neighbor Les Calhoun on Matlock until 1992.After his appearances on Matlock ended in 1992, Knotts' roles became sporadic including a cameo in the 1996 film Big Bully as the principal of the high school. In 1998, Knotts had a small but pivotal role as a mysterious TV repairman in Pleasantville with Reese Witherspoon. That year, his home town of Morgantown, West Virginia, changed the name of the street formerly known as South University Ave (US 119, SR 73) to "Don Knotts Boulevard" on "Don Knotts Day". Also that day, in a nod to Don's role as Barney Fife, he was also named an honorary Deputy Sheriff with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department.
Don Knotts: The Shakiest Gun in the West
Great Don Knotts DVDs
Don Knotts: Later years
Knotts was recognized in 2000 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Though he continued to act on stage, much of his film and television work after 2000 was as voice talent. In 2002, he would appear again with Scooby-Doo in the video game Scooby-Doo: Night of 100 Frights (Knotts also sent up his appearances on that show in various promotions for Cartoon Network and in a parody on Robot Chicken, where he was teamed with Phyllis Diller). In 2003, Knotts teamed up with Tim Conway again to provide voices for the direct-to-video children's series, Hermie & Friends which would continue until his death. In 2005, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Chicken Little (2005), his first Disney movie since 1979.
On September 12, 2003, Knotts was in Kansas City in a stage version of On Golden Pond when he received a call from John Ritter's family telling him that his former Three's Company co-star had died of an aortic dissection that day. Knotts and his co-stars attended the funeral four days later. Knotts had appeared with Ritter one final time in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was an episode that paid homage to their earlier TV series. Knotts was the last Three's Company star to work with Ritter.
During this period of time, macular degeneration in both eyes caused the otherwise robust Don Knotts to become virtually blind. His live appearances on television were few. In 2005, Knotts parodied his Ralph Furley character while playing a Paul Young variation in a Desperate Housewives sketch on The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards. He would parody that part one final time, in his last live-action television appearance, an episode of That '70s Show, ("Stone Cold Crazy"). In the show Don played Fez and Jackie's new landlord. Knotts' final role was in Air Buddies, the 2006 direct-to-video sequel to Air Bud, voicing the sheriff's deputy dog Sniffer. The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts
The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts: An Eye-Popping Look at His Movies
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If there is any doubt about the genius of the late, great Don Knotts--simply ask the millions of Andy Griffith Show fans who have adored his performance as Deputy Barney Fife on television for decades. After earning five Emmy Awards for his work on the classic sitcom, the actor surrendered his bullet to the sheriff and hit the trail to make movies.
Now, author Stephen Cox and pop culture critic Kevin Marhanka have joined forces to present the complete film works of comedian Don Knotts in The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts, the very first book on Knott's movie career. The authors, who interviewed Knotts at length about specific films in which he starred, have gathered contributions from Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Tim Conway, Ed Asner, and many co-stars from his forty feature-film career.
This "eye-popping" compendium of comedy will amaze even the die-hard Mayberry fans. Beginning with his first film with friend Andy Griffith in 1958 (No Time for Sergeants), the nervous, wide-eyed Knotts made family films that have become cult classics. Think The Incredible Mr. Limpet, The Ghost & Mr. Chicken, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, just to name a few.
Featuring more than 200 photographs--many rare and never before published--behind-the-scenes images, fascinating trivia, reviews, and a fantastic 16-page full-color insert, the movies of Don Knotts are fully explored in this collector's treasury.
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Maladjusted
Dec 3, 2011 @ 5:53 am | delete
- Just terrific. Love the Knotts, man. Great comedian...
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favored1
Nov 27, 2011 @ 9:46 pm | delete
- I enjoyed this lens very much. I never watched the show as a child, but do as an adult. He was quite an actor.
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dexter-yarbrough
Aug 9, 2011 @ 4:54 pm | delete
- Don Knotts was a great actor and man! Thanks for a wonderful lens!
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Jan 19, 2011 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Love the lens....I live in Mount Airy Nc..where they film the show...visit my lens great picture there,,,thank again,
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Blonde_Blythe Jan 14, 2011 @ 8:06 am | delete
- Fantastic tribute to a great man! :)
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Marelisa Nov 17, 2010 @ 11:23 pm | delete
- The "Andy Griffith Show" is one of my favorite TV shows; I've watched every single episode. I know that Don Knotts has done other things, but to me he'll always be Deputy Barney Fife. His comedic timing on that show was impecable. I didn't know that he and Andy Griffith were friends before making the show, but I guess it's one of the reasons their friendship on the show comes across as being truly genuine.
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poutine
Nov 17, 2010 @ 9:24 am | delete
- Great tribute to Don Knotts.
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Oct 16, 2010 @ 10:19 pm | delete
- You've done a great job hear covering Don Knotts! I know who he is but am not too familiar with his work.
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Mickie_G
May 31, 2010 @ 5:13 pm | delete
- What a wonderful article. My favorite episode of the B&W Andy Griffith show is the one about the motorcycle that Barnie bought at an auction. He used it in traffic patrol. It is a classic.
Blessed by a Squid Angel Today.
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Bill Marks
May 5, 2010 @ 6:58 pm | delete
- Andy is our other favorite.Don Knotts is proof that good clean talented shows are still number one in America . . .We miss him. . . .
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Great Don Knotts Movies on VHS
Don Knotts: Personal life & Death
The actor was married to college sweetheart Kathryn (Kay) Metz from 1947-64 and to Loralee Czuchna from 1974-83. He had two children from his first marriage, Karen and Thomas. He was married to actress Francey Yarborough at the time of his death.Don Knotts died on February 24, 2006, at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California from pulmonary and respiratory complications related to lung cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the months before his death, but had gone home after he reportedly had been getting better. Long-time friend Andy Griffith visited Knotts' bedside a few hours before he died. His wife and his daughter stayed with him until his death.
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