He Won Five Emmy Awards
Don Knotts won five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy. He received the accolades for playing Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show,” which would go on to win many more awards by other actors during its run on television.
Military Service
Knotts enlisted in the United States Army at the young age of 19 after his freshman year of college. Knotts was an Army reservist for a week before reporting for active duty one week later. Knotts served for three years and spent most of his service entertaining the troops. He toured the western Pacific Islands as part of a G.I. comedy show called “Stars and Gripes.”
College Man
West Virginia University in Morgantown was the school where Don Knotts received his Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Service Rank
Knotts served in the United States Army under the military service number “35 756 363” from June 21, 1943 until January 6, 1946. He was discharged at the rank of Technician Grade 5, which is equivalent to the rank of a Corporal.
Fraternity Brother
Don Knotts was a brother of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He was part of the original chapter in 1946.
Awards for Service
Knotts was a World War II veteran who was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin. Now that’s some proof of service!
Hometown
Knotts not only attended school in West Virginia, but he was born there, too. Don was conceived after his parents had already raised the rest of their family, and his father actually suffered a nervous breakdown at the thought of raising another child.
First Marriage
Kathryn Metz was Don Knotts’ first wife from the years 1947 to 1966. Together, the pair had two children. His son is Thomas Knotts and his daughter, Karen Knotts, went on to became an actress.
First Jobs
When Knotts was told he didn’t have a future in acting, he took a job plucking chickens for a local market. Little did everyone know that Don Knotts would soon become one of America’s most beloved TV personalities.
Don and Danny
Before he became a fixture on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Knotts wanted to become a ventriloquist. When Knotts left high school, he pursued it as his full-time career. He named the doll Danny for his act “Don and Danny.”
Trademark Expression
Knotts was known for playing socially inept, nervous men with low self-esteem. He developed a signature wide-eyed stare which he used to express frustration or shock and used a high-pitched voice.
Hollywood Squares
Knotts was a guest on the “Hollywood Squares” television game show four separate times. Although the show was once one of the most popular, it since has fallen off the charts in favor of game shows like “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”
Marriage Number Two
After his marriage with Kathryn had fallen apart, Don remarried to Loralee Czuchna. Their union lasted from 1974 to 1989. Rumor has it that Don became obsessed with his health and often suffered extreme depressive spells, which is cited as the main reason why the couple eventually split.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Joan Staley starred alongside Knotts in the 1966 film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Don Knotts played a newspaper typesetter named Luther Heggs wo spent the night in a haunted house in the fictional town of Rachel, Kansas.
TV Land Awards
One of Knotts’ final appearances at an award show was at the second annual TV Land Awards in 2004. It was one of the last times Knotts and Griffith were seen together.
The Andy Griffith Show
Don Knotts left “The Andy Griffith Show” after 1965. He signed a multi-picture deal with Universal Studios, believing the show had ended. however, Griffith kept the show running for another few years due to pressure from the network. Knotts later said he regretted leaving the show.
Third Marriage
Knotts married Frances Yarborough in 2002 and the two stayed together until his death in 2006. Yarborough is an actress best known for her role in the 1976 film The Electric Chair. Unfortunately, the film was a dud.
The Reluctant Astronaut
Don Knotts starred as Roy Fleming in 1967’s The Reluctant Astronaut. His character’s father Arbuckle, played by Arthur O’Connell, wanted better things for him and sent in an application to NASA.
The Shakiest Gun in the West
Don Knotts appeared in 1968 film The Shakiest Gun in the West. He plays Dr. Jesse Heywood, a dental school graduate in Philadelphia in 1870 who goes out west to become a dentist on the frontier. Knotts’ performance did well with audiences.
The Love God?
Knotts switched things up from his usual role by playing a playboy in Universal Pictures’ The Love God? in 1969. Knotts was never known to be lusted after by women, but he went against expectations for this role.
How to Frame a Figg
Knotts appeared in How to Frame a Figg in 1971, returning to his goofball comedic roots for the role.
The Steve Allen Show
Don Knotts became an audience favorite on “The Steve Allen Show” hosted by Steve Allen starting in 1956. He became one of Steve Allen’s personal favorite guests as well.
Matlock
Knotts had a number of other television guest spots, which included a recurring gig as the pesky neighbor Les Calhoun on Andy Griffith’s Matlock series until 1992. The two loved working together again.
Griffith Show Reunion
The reunion of The Andy Griffith Show cast members was watched and enjoyed by many. Don Knotts appeared as Barney Fife for the revival in 1986.
Three’s Company
Knotts was cast as the landlord Ralph Furley on popular sitcom “Three’s Company’ after the original landlords moved on to a spinoff series.
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
The 1977 film Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo did excellently in theaters. Although Knotts didn’t star in the movie, he did play a cynical and eccentric mechanic Wheely Applegate.
Death
Don Knotts passed away at the age of 81 on February 24, 2006 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers in Los Angeles, California. His death was a result of pulmonary and respiratory complications which led to lung cancer-related pneumonia.
Chicken Little
One of Knotts’ final films was a voice acting role in 2005’s Chicken Little, where Knotts voiced Mayor Turkey Lurkey.
Reunion
In 1988, Don Knotts’ recurring guest role on Griffith’s “Matlock” reuinted the two friends after 20 years. They loved working together and always spoke highly of the experiences they had on “Matlock.”
Popular Roles
Knotts is best remembered for his roles as Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” and Ralph Furley on “Three’s Company.” He received critical acclaim for both shows.
No Retirement
Even at the age of 81, Knotts still hadn’t retired from his acting career. He was an active performer until his death in 2006. During his career, Knotts appeared in over 86 movies and TV shows.
Best Friends
Don Knotts and Andy Griffith remained lifelong friends both on- and off-screen. The two never had a serious fight and worked together for many years.
Lasting Relationships
Knotts was also a longtime friend of John Ritter. He appeared alongside him during a cameo on an episode of “8 Simple Rules” in 2002, which paid homage to Three’s Company.
Cannonball Run II
Knots appeared in the commercial flop Cannonball Run II, a 1984 film which was quickly forgotten after its release.
Walk of Fame
Knotts was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 19, 2000.
Gus
Gus did great at the box office after its release in 1976. Knotts played a coach who was seen shouting at players from the sidelines. It was released on home video five years later in 1981.
Dave the Barbarian
Don Knotts’ last ever television role was a brief voice cameo on the animated series “Dave the Barbarian” in 2004.
No Time for Sergeants
One of Knotts’ earlier films was No Time for Sergeants in 1958, where he appeared alongside his best friend Andy Griffith. Knotts played the goofball character once again.
Don Knotts and Dennis Weaver
Weaver and Knotts unfortunately passed away not only at the same age, but also on the same exact day. Knotts and Weaver had worked together a number of times throughout their careers.
Burial Grounds
Don Knotts died in February of 2006. He is buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles among many other beloved celebrities. His gravestone reads exactly the way he would have wanted it to: “He saw the poignancy in people’s pride and pain and turned it into something hilarious and endearing.”
The Last Time I Saw Archie
Knotts played Captain Harry Little in the 1961 comedy The Last Time I see Archie. The film was set during the last few days of World War II and was critically panned by most major papers.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Knotts played a nerve-wracked motorist in the 1963 comedy, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which is about the mad pursuit of $350,000—which would be over $2.7 million today—in stolen cash by a group of strangers. The cast is played by iconic actors of the time like Edie Adams and Buddy Hackett.
The Incredible Mr. Limpet
In 1964, Don Knotts played the titular character in The Incredible Mr. Limpet. The film is about a man who turns into a talking fish and half the U.S. find and destroy Nazi submarines.
The Apple Dumpling Gang
Don Knotts played Theodore Ogelvie in the 1975 film The Apple Dumpling Gang, a western comedy about a gambler who is tricked into caring for a group of orphans who eventually strike gold during the California Gold Rush.
No Deposit, No Return
In 1976’s comedy No Deposit, No Return, two children hold themselves for ransom and are reluctantly helped by a pair of clumsy criminals. Don Knotts played the goofy sidekick of an expert safecracker. Knotts did many family movies throughout his career.
Hot Lead and Cold Feet
Knotts played Sheriff Denver Kid in Hot Lead and Cold Feet, a comedy western released in 1978. Knotts starred in a variety of comedy westerns during the ’60s and ’70s.
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
Don Knotts returned as Amos in the 1979 sequel to The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again alongside the late Tim Conway as Theodore. Fans of the original enjoyed the sequel, but it received mixed reviews overall.
The Prize Fighter
In 1979, Knotts and Conway also teamed up to star in the comedy boxing film The Prize Fighter. The film was a box office success and earned $6.5 million during its initial release.
The Private Eyes
One year later, Knotts and Conway also starred in the mystery comedy The Private Eyes about a pair of useless detective who work for Scotland Yard. The characters are parodies of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It was the last time the two would have side-by-side starring roles together.
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night
In 1987, Knotts forayed into voice acting in the animated feature film Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night, where he voiced the character of Gee Willikers. Unfortunately, it bombed at the box office, only making $3.2 million when the film cost $10 million to produce.
Big Bully
After a lengthy hiatus, Knotts had a supporting role in the 1996 comedy drama Big Bully alongside Rick Moranis and Tom Arnold. It currently holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Cats Don’t Dance
One year later, Knotts returned to voice acting in Gene Kelly’s final film project before his death, Cats Don’t Dance. The movie is dedicated to him.
Pleasantville
In 1998, Knotts had a small role as a TV Repairman in Pleasantville, the widely popular film about teen siblings (Toby Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) who get trapped in a 1950s TV show in a small town in Iowa.
Tom Sawyer
Knotts continued his voice acting work in 2000 with the character of Mutt Potter in the direct-to-video animated musical film Tom Sawyer.
Air Buddies
Knotts’ final film, Air Buddies, was released posthumously after his death in 2006. He voices the character of Sniffer, an old bloodhound who lost his sense of smell.
Here’s Lucy
Knotts even made a guest appearance on Here’s Lucy, a 1973 sitcom starring Lucille Ball. Knotts made appearances in a variety of shows and films over the course of the 70s.
Fantasy Island
Multiple appearances were made by Knotts on the popular 1970s show Fantasy Island in 1978 and 1979. The show was so popular that even a decade after it ended, the network made a revival series.
The Love Boat
In the 1979 episode of The Love Boat titled “Crew Confessions/Haven’t I Seen You?/Reunion,” Knotts plays a famous TV star disguised a shoe salesman.
Step by Step
In the third season of Step by Step in 1993, Don Knotts guest starred as Deputy Fife, an homage to his role on The Andy Griffith Show.
The Muppet Show
In 1977, Don Knotts made an appearance on The Muppet Show which has since become famous. Knotts played himself and also took part in the majority of sketches.