Don Knotts

At 81 years old, Don Knotts has this physical status:

Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924-2006) was an American actor and comedian best known for his appearances on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom for which he received five Emmy Awards, and for his role as Ralph Furley on the highly rated sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984.

He also appeared in several comedic films, including playing Luther Heggs in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and Henry Limping in The Amazing Mr. Lim (1964).

In 1979, the TV Guide ranked him 27th on the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.

Early life

Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, the youngest of four sons of farmer William Jesse Knotts and his wife Elsie Luzetta Knotts (née Moore), who married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. In the 17th century, his English paternal ancestors immigrated to America, first settling in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Willis, William, and Ralph were his brothers (who was branded "Sid").

At his birth, Knott's mother was 40 years old. His father, who suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism, would often terrorize him with a knife, causing him to turn inward at an early age. When Knotts was 13, his father died of pneumonia. He and his brothers were then raised by their mother, who operated a boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at the age of 84. She was the first child of William. William died in 1941 at the age of 31. They're buried in the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park in Morgantown.

Knotts graduated from Morgantown High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in education after enlisting in the United States Army and serving in World War II. At WVU, he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Personal life

"Don was a bit of a ladies' guy," Knotts' companion Al Checco said. He resembled Frank Sinatra as a fictional character. The ladies adored him and dated a little bit. "Eight Knotts was married three times." Kathryn Metz's marriage lasted from 1947 to their divorce in 1964, and he raised his daughter as a single parent. 11-12 He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974 and they divorced in 1983. From 2002 to 2006, Frances Yarborough was his third marriage, from 2002 to 2006. Knotts' son, Thomas Knotts, and his daughter, actress Karen Knotts, appeared in various roles from his first marriage.

Knotts had trouble with hypochondria and macular degeneration. Betty Lynn, one of his co-stars on The Andy Griffith Show, described him as a "very quiet guy." This is so sweet. Barney Fife isn't like Barney Fife. Mark Evanier, a television journalist, called him "the most beloved person in show business."

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Career

Knotts began performing as a ventriloquist and comedian at various church and school functions before he entered high school. 5 After high school, he travelled to New York City to try to make his way as a comedian, but when his career didn't go well, he returned home to West Virginia University. He joined the United States Army early in his freshman year and spent the majority of his time entertaining troops. In a G.I., he toured the western Pacific Islands as a comedian. "Stars and Gripes" is a variety show on television. According to friend and castmate Al Checco, Knotts feared Danny, which Knotts grew to hate and eventually threw overboard.

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In the Army's 6817th Special Services Battalion, Knotts served in the army from June 21, 1943, to January 6, 1946. He was promoted to Technician Grade 5, then equivalent to a corporal. During his service, he was presented with the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippines Liberation Medal, the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Marksman Badge (with an M1 Carbine) and the Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

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Knotts returned to West Virginia University and graduated in 1948 after being demobilized. Kay Metz married Kay Metz and moved back to New York, where he's special services Branch connections helped him break into show industry. He performed stand-up comedy at clubs, as well as being on radio, playing "Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders" as the wise, know-it-all character "Windy Wales."

Knotts got his first television appearance 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 firm, most notable in Allen's mock "Man in the Street" interviews, always playing a very nervous guy. He remained Allen from 1959-1960. He appeared in the Broadway version of No Time for Sergeants, where he appeared in two roles, including as a Corporal Manual Dexterity and A Preacher, from October 20, 1955 to September 14, 1957. In 1958, he made his film debut with Andy Griffith in the film version of No Time for Sergeants, where he reprised his Broadway role and portrayed a high-strung Air Force test administrator whose routine was interrupted by the hijinks of a provincial new recruit.

Andy Griffith was given the opportunity to headline his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). Barney Fife, the deputy—and at first cousin—of Sheriff Andy Taylor (portrayed by Griffith), was the role played by Knotts. On the hit show, Knotts' portrayal of the deputy earned him five Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedian.

Barney Fife, the Museum of Broadcast Communications' website, gives a recap of the show.

Griffith was supposed to lead Knotts as the comedic lead with Knotts as his straight man when the show first premiered, as in No Time for Sergeants. However, it was quickly discovered that the show was amusing, with the roles changed. "I knew Don should be funny and I should play straight," Griffith said in several interviews.

Knotts believed Griffith's statements that The Andy Griffith Show would come to an end after five seasons, and he began looking for other opportunities after completing a five-film deal with Universal Studios. Knotts admitted in his autobiography that he did not have signed the deal at the time when Griffith announced that he did not sign it; but that he did not sign the deal again, fearing he would not get the opportunity again. Knotts first appeared in the series in 1965. Deputy Fife's "notice" was the show's absence, according to his character, who joined the Raleigh, North Carolina, police force.

Knotts went on to star in a string of film comedies, including The Amazing Mr. (1964) from Warner Bros. Knotts' Universal five-film contract with The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Love God (1968). (1969) and How to Frame a Figg (1971). Knotts' five-film deal with Universal ended after he made How to Frame a Figg.

Knotts reprised his appearance on The Andy Griffith Exhibition five times (awarding him two Emmy Awards), and he appeared on the spin-off Mayberry R.F.D., where he was crowned the best man for Andy Taylor's long-time love, Helen Crump, where he appeared five times. He continued to work steadily, although he didn't appear on any commercial television show until 1979, when he was playing landlord Ralph Furley on Three's Company for seasons 4 to 8.

Knotts appeared in a series of print advertisements and dealer brochures in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the Dodge ambassador. Knotts, a television host, went on to host a variety show/sitcom hybrid on NBC, but the series was short-lived, and Knotts was dissatisfied with the variety show design. 12 He appeared on other television shows, including The Bill Cosby Show and Here's Lucy. In 1970, he appeared in the pilot of The New Andy Griffith Show as a Barney Fife-like police officer. In 1972, Knotts appeared in two episodes of The New Scooby Doo Movies: "The Spooky Fog of Juneberry," in which he played a lawman resembling Barney Fife, and "Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner." Felix Unger appeared in a stage adaptation of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple starring Art Carney as Oscar Madison, and toured in Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

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Knotts appeared in 1975 and 1982's The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979), and his sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979). They've also produced two independent films, The Prize Fighter (1979), and The Private Eyes (1980), both a boxing comedy. Knotts appeared in several other Disney films, including Gus (1976), No Deposit, No Return (1976), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), and Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978).

Knotts resurfaced in television in 1979, in his second most well-known role, the eccentric yet lovable landlord Ralph Furley of Three's Company. When the original owners, Stanley and Helen Roper (a married couple played by Norman Fell and Audra Lindley, respectively), left to perform in their own short-lived spin-off movie The Ropers, 13 Knotts were added to the cast.

Knotts seamlessly integrated himself into the already established cast who were, as John Ritter put it, "so afraid" of Knotts due to his actor fame. The writers started giving Somers' Chrissy's articles to Knotts' Furley when Suzanne Somers left the show following a labor fight in 1981. Knotts stayed on the show until 1984. Carol Summers, the Three's Company's script editor, became Knotts' agent and often joined him in personal appearances.

Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith in the made-for-television film Return to Mayberry in 1986, reprising his Barney Fife role. 161 He appeared on the cast of the first-run syndication comedy What a Country! in early 1987, as Principal Bud McPherson, for the remaining 13 episodes. It was created by Martin Rips and Joseph Staretski, who had previously worked on Three's Company.

Knotts appeared on TV's Matlock in 1988, and he continued to appear in the role of pesky neighbor Les Calhoun until 1992.

His appearances after that were sporadic, with one appearing in the film Big Bully (1996) as the high school principal. In 1998, he had a small but pivotal role as a mystery TV repairman in Pleasantville. Don Knotts Boulevard in Morgantown, West Virginia, changed the street name of the street from South University Avenue (U.S. Route 119) to Don Knotts Boulevard on "Don Knotts Day" this year. 18-19 On the 18th of May, 19-19 was named an honorary deputy sheriff with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department in honor of Knotts' service as Barney Fife.

Knotts was named on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000 as a celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 15 He continued to perform on stage, but a large portion of his film and television work since 2000 was as a voice actor. He appeared in Scooby-Doo's 2002 film Scooby-Doo! It's the night of 100 Frights. He also spoofed his appearances on Cartoon Network in various online publications, as well as in a parody on Robot Chicken, where he was partnered with Phyllis Diller.) In 2003, he partnered with Tim Conway to produce voices for Hermie and Friends, a direct-to-video children's series that continued until Knotts' demise. In 2005, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Chicken Little, his first Disney film since 1979. He was in Kansas City, on a stage version of On Golden Pond, when John Ritter's family told him that his former Three's Company co-star died of an aortic dissection that day. He and his co-stars attended the funeral four days later. Knotts appeared together in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, an episode that paid tribute to their earlier television series. Knotts was the last three's Company actor to work with Ritter.

Both eyes developed macular degeneration during this period, causing the otherwise robust Knotts to go virtually blind. There were few live broadcasts on television. When playing a Ralph Furley character in a Dewives sketch on The 3rd Annual Television Land Awards in 2005, he parodied his Ralph Furley persona. In "Stone Cold Crazy," an episode of the sitcom That '70s Show, where he appeared as the landlord, he parodied it for the final time. It was his last live-action television appearance. He was active in Air Buddies (2006), a direct-to-video sequel to Air Bud, voicing the sheriff's deputy dog Sniffer.

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