How Don Knotts Became One of the Funniest Men in America
Don Knotts was an iconic comedian whose life story is packed with more twists and turns than a pretzel. From his humble beginnings to his trailblazing TV career, Knotts made a lasting impression on the world of comedy.
And don't think for a second you know everything about this comedic mastermind. Keep reading to learn more about this comedy legend.
Don Knotts Had an Unsafe Home Life
Knotts' daughter, Karen, told Fox News that he was fathered by a man who experienced alcoholism and schizophrenia and seemed to take both of those struggles out on him. Sadly, he also experienced similar torment from one of his older brothers, who shared his father's experiences with alcoholism.
Worst of all, there were multiple occasions where his father held a knife to his throat and threatened him. "When his father passed, he was 13 years old," Karen explained. "At that point, that burden - that huge burden - lifted off him, and he became old enough that he was able to get the other brother under control, so he was no longer terrorized at home."
Experiencing Tragedy as a Teenager
While his family life improved after his father's passing, Knotts sadly hadn't finished experiencing his hardship in childhood and adolescence.
Despite being he was close to his mother, he was just as close to his brother, William Earl, who was known as "Shadow," due to his slim build. Shadow was a major influence on the then-young Knotts' comic stylings, as he had his own talents for slapstick.
This closeness made it all the more devastating when Shadow passed away from complications of asthma in 1941.
He Flourished in High School
When Knotts attended Morgantown High School, he came out of his social shell and started practicing magic tricks and honing his ventriloquy. Soon enough, he and two friends started Radio Three, a troupe.
Their first performances were in their school's lunchroom, but their act was clearly charming enough that school events, local churches and community groups began booking them. He was also elected president of his senior class.
Knotts Started His Professional Career With a Dummy
Don Knotts spent much of his early career working the nightclub comedy circuit. One way he kept audience interest was through a ventriloquist act featuring a dummy named Danny.
Knotts later said his time on the road honed his skills significantly, and his exchanges with Danny seemed to go over well with audiences. He noted, however, that was part of the problem. "I was technically great at the art of ventriloquism but didn't like the dummy to get the laughs," he once said.
Entertaining His Fellow Troops in World War II
Don Knotts was a veteran of World War II, and he was honored with several prestigious military accolades, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
During his time serving, he found a unique way to contribute by entertaining the troops. He embarked on tours with a highly popular GI variety show titled "Stars and Gripes," bringing a lot of joy and laughter to soldiers stationed abroad.
Ditching the Dummy While Serving
While it's been established that Knotts was once assigned to a Special Services detachment dedicated to entertaining his fellow troops while in the US Army, it's worth noting that some of this entertainment took place while active fighting was nearby. Even the entertainers in the Army were brave during World War II.
Knotts had brought Danny with him and performed his ventriloquist act for the troops, but found himself gaining confidence in his abilities as a comedian and losing interest in ventriloquism at this point in his life. His commanders urged him to remain a ventriloquist, but the dummy conveniently disappeared into the Pacific Ocean after this urging.
His College's Radio Station Rejected Him
Throughout his career, Knotts had well over 20 voice acting credits to his name. These credits likely came as a source of vindication for him, as he was turned down for an announcing job at his campus radio station in college.
The reason? He was told his voice wasn't suited for radio!
He Earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education
Don Knotts received his Bachelor's degree in Education, with a minor in speech, from West Virginia University in 1948. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society. Being a member of the fraternity was very helpful in helping Knotts connect with people who'd help him later in his career.
He Was Told He Didn't Have a Future in Acting
Knotts took an early job plucking chickens for a market when he was told he didn't have a future in acting. He sure proved his critics all wrong by becoming one of America's favorite TV personalities!
He was known as a very hard-working and reliable actor who always showed up to set ready to go! One of his first major breaks was in the show Search for Tomorrow.
An Audience Favorite on The Steve Allen Show
From 1956 onward, Knotts secured a recurring role on The Steve Allen Show. With each appearance, he captivated the audience and quickly became a beloved figure, solidifying his status as a household name.
Not only did he win over the viewers, but he also became one of Allen's personal favorites.
Knotts Perfected His Style on The Steve Allen Show
One of Steve Allen's most popular sketches was the recurring "Man On The Street" series, and Knotts made his most well-known mark on the show by playing a perpetually nervous man named Mr. Morrison.
While not all of the characters Knotts played would share this character's neurotic qualities, they certainly became a signature aspect of his comic stylings throughout his career. More directly, the mannerisms he would imbue Barney Fife with were developed when he was still portraying Mr. Morrison.
Starring Alongside His Best Friend
In 1958, Don Knotts acted in No Time for Sergeants, alongside his lifelong best friend Andy Griffith. The movie was based on a Broadway play, which itself was inspired by the original novel of the same name. As usual, he played the goofball of the group!
His Dialogue Was Unprecedented
During The Andy Griffith Show episode "Quiet Sam," Andy and Barney are suspicious of a new farmer in town, with Barney wondering if he was growing marijuana. Knotts saying this term marked one of the first times it was ever uttered in a major TV show.
Don Knotts Was Recognized For His Talent
Don Knotts won five Primetime Emmy awards for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy for playing Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.
The show would go on to win many more awards during its original run. It ran for eight seasons and aired 249 episodes.
He Regretted Leaving 'The Andy Griffith Show'
At the end of 1965, Don Knotts made the decision to depart from The Andy Griffith Show, as he had committed to a multi-picture contract with Universal Studio. Reflecting on his departure, Knotts expressed regret, acknowledging that his obligations to Universal had hindered his ability to remain a regular member of the cast.
'The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'
Don Knotts starred with Joan Staley in the 1966 film, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. He played Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who spent a night in a haunted house set in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas.
The movie was made with the help of many people involved with The Andy Griffith Show. It was part of the film deal he'd made with Universal.
'The Shakiest Gun In The West'
In 1968, Don Knotts appeared in The Shakiest Gun in the West as Dr. Jesse W. Heywood, who graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. This comedic Western did well, but that came as no surprise, as Knotts could always draw people to the movie theaters.
Guest-Starring on 'Here's Lucy'
Don Knotts made a guest appearance in 1973 on Here's Lucy, a sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The '70s overall was a good decade for Knotts, as his film career was steady and TV roles were numerous.
Marrying His Second Wife
Don Knotts' second marriage was to Loralee Czuchna. It lasted from 1974 to '89, and it was rumored he'd become obsessed with his health and was experiencing bouts of deep depression during this time. His poor mental health was cited as one reason the couple grew apart and eventually split.
It'd be many years before Knotts remarried for the third and last time. During the years between, he continued to work and entertain the masses.
He Was a Regular on Another Iconic Sitcom
Don Knotts was cast as the bungling landlord Ralph Furley on Three's Company, after the original landlords, the Ropers, were spun off into their own series.
Three's Company aired for eight seasons on ABC, from 1977 to '84. It was based on a British sitcom, Man About the House. The network originally thought the show was going to flop, but it quickly turned into one of the biggest hits of the time.
An Appearance in 'Matlock'
Knotts appeared in several TV guest spots, including a recurring gig as the pesky neighbor Les Calhoun on Griffith's Matlock series until 1992. Griffith and Knotts loved having the second chance to work together again, and both commented on how it was a pleasure coming to work every day.
A Longtime Friendship With a Certain Celebrity
Knotts was a longtime friend of the late John Ritter - he had even appeared with Ritter in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules in 2002. It was an episode that paid homage to their earlier television work on Three's Company, with the actor the last show alumnus to work with Ritter.
He Played So Many Memorable Roles
Don Knotts is best remembered by the public for his roles as Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show and as Ralph Furley on Three's Company. His last television appearance was on another hit series, That '70s Show, playing Fez's landlord. His last film appearance was in the Disney-produced Air Buddies.
Marrying Later in Life
Don Knotts' third marriage was to Frances Yarborough, lasting from 2002 until his death in '06. Yarborough's an actress best known for her role in the 1976 film, The Electric Chair. The film was a dud and easily forgotten by audience members and critics.
Yarborough had no other notable performances other than being Knotts' wife. During his three marriages, Knotts only had children with his first wife, a boy and a girl.
Knotts Ended Two Eras By Voicing Animated Works
Knotts famously starred in the animation and live-action hybrid feature, The Incredible Mr. Limpet in 1964. While it would become a fascinating part of his legacy, it also marked the end of an era for Warner Bros., as it was the studio's final animated movie before the shut down of its its animation studio.
Poignantly, Knotts also marked the end of his own era as an actor with an appearance in an animated television show. His final role saw him play a baker in a 2004 episode of the children's series, Dave The Barbarian.
One of His Last Public Appearances Was a Sensation
In 2000, Knotts and his former co-star Betty Lynn attended the now-defunct Ray and Sharon Court's Hollywood Collector's Show in North Hollywood. There, he signed autographs and sold copies of his autobiography. People were willing to line up for over an hour and a half to meet him.
A Much-Deserved Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Don Knotts was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 19, 2000. The attraction comprises over 2,500 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
His Final Award Show Appearance Raised Concerns
One of Knotts' final award-show appearances came in 2004, at the second annual TV Land Awards. The moment carried special weight, as it was also one of the last times he publicly appeared alongside longtime friend and The Andy Griffith Show co-star Andy Griffith.
Viewers quickly noticed Knotts' frail, aged appearance - a stark contrast to Griffith, who appeared considerably healthier at the time - quietly underscoring that an era of TV was drawing to a close.
He Wasn't One to Retire
Never retired from acting, Knotts was an active thespian up until his death in 2006. He was known as one of the hardest-working actors in the business and was always a fan favorite.
During his career, Knotts appeared in over 86 movies and TV shows - many of those series were very long-running!
Loss of a Comedy Legend
Don Knotts died at age 81 on February 24, 2006, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. A few years later, his headstone was replaced with a bronze plaque that listed his most prominent and hilarious roles.
Was There Any Truth to the Rumors?
As Knotts lay on his deathbed, his daughter stayed loyally by his side. Still, after he passed away, rumors emerged that she might not have been as loyal as everyone believed.
There's some truth to the rumors. During his final days, Knotts kept cracking jokes, and Karen kept laughing. At certain points, she'd be laughing so hard that she'd leave the room, so no one thought she was laughing at her father. Years later, she admitted he'd have been OK with that.
Devin Duke
