Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff
Barney Fife on ''
The Andy Griffith Show'', a 1960s
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
for which he earned five
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
s. He also played
Ralph Furley on the highly rated sitcom ''
Three's Company'' from 1979 to 1984. He starred in multiple comedic films, including the leading roles in ''
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966) and ''
The Incredible Mr. Limpet'' (1964). In 2004, ''
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news.
The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008.
Corporat ...
'' ranked him number 27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.
Knotts was born in West Virginia, the youngest of four children. In the 1940s, before earning a college degree, he served in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
and in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. While enlisted, he chose to become a ventriloquist and comedian as part of a G.I. variety show called "Stars and Gripes".
After the army, he got his first major break on television in the
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio drama ...
''
Search for Tomorrow'' where he appeared from 1953 to 1955. He then gained wide recognition as part of the repertory company on
Steve Allen's variety show, where he played the "extremely nervous man" in Allen's mock "Man in the Street" interviews. In 1958, Knotts made his film debut in the adapted version of ''
No Time for Sergeants''.
Knotts was cast as deputy
Barney Fife on television's ''
The Andy Griffith Show,'' which ran from 1960 to 1968. He reprised the character in other shows, such as ''
The Joey Bishop Show'' and ''
Return to Mayberry''. Knotts won five
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
s for
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy. He also appeared in the films ''
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966) and ''
The Incredible Mr. Limpet'' (1964).
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 were married in
Spraggs, Pennsylvania. His
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ...
paternal ancestors emigrated to America in the 17th century, originally settling in
Queen Anne's County, Maryland. His brothers were named Willis, William, and Ralph (who was called "Sid").
Knotts' mother was 40 at his birth. His father, who had
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social w ...
and
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...
, sometimes terrorized him with a knife, causing him to turn inward at an early age. His father died of
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...
when Knotts was 13. He and his brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a
boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at age 84. Her son William preceded her in death in 1941 at age 31. They are buried in the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park in Morgantown.
Knotts graduated from
Morgantown High School. After enlisting in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
and serving in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
,
he earned a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to si ...
in
education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
with a minor in
speech from
West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State Coll ...
in Morgantown, graduating in 1948.
He was a member of
Phi Sigma Kappa
Phi Sigma Kappa (), colloquially known as Phi Sig or PSK, is a men's social and academic Fraternities and sororities, fraternity with approximately 74 List of Phi Sigma Kappa chapters#List of Chapters, active chapters and provisional chapters in ...
fraternity at WVU.
Career
Early career
Before he entered high school, Knotts began performing as a
ventriloquist and
comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolish (as in slapstick), or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audienc ...
at various church and school functions. After high school, he traveled to New York City to try to make his way as a comedian, but when his career failed to take off, returned home to attend West Virginia University. After his freshman year, he joined the U.S. Army and spent most of his service entertaining troops.
He toured the western
Pacific Islands
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
as a comedian, in a G.I. variety show called "Stars and Gripes".
His
ventriloquist act included a dummy named Danny, which Knotts grew to hate—and eventually threw overboard, according to friend and castmate
Al Checco.
Knotts served in the army from June 21, 1943, to January 6, 1946, in the Army's
6817th Special Services Battalion.
[T/5 Don Knotts - Military Timeline](_blank)
army.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved August 11, 2021. He was discharged at the rank of
Technician Grade 5, then equivalent to a
corporal.
During his service, he was awarded the
World War II Victory Medal, the
Philippine Liberation Medal, the
Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal (with four bronze
service stars), the
American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perfo ...
, the
Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army
Marksman Badge (with an
M1 Carbine) and the
Honorable Service Lapel Pin.
After being demobilized, Knotts returned to West Virginia University and graduated in 1948. He married Kay Metz and moved back to New York, where connections he had made in the Special Services Branch helped him break into show business. In addition to doing stand-up comedy at clubs, he appeared on radio, eventually playing the wisecracking, know-it-all character "Windy Wales" on a radio Western called "
Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders".
Knotts got his first break on television in the
soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio drama ...
''
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 playing an extremely nervous man. He remained Allen through the 1959–1960 season. From October 20, 1955, through September 14, 1957, he appeared in the Broadway stage version of ''
No Time for Sergeants'', where he played two roles, listed on the playbill as a Corporal Manual Dexterity and A Preacher. In 1958, he made his movie debut with
Andy Griffith in the film version of ''
No Time for Sergeants,'' where he reprised his Broadway role, and played a high-strung
Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
test administrator whose routine is disrupted by the hijinks of a provincial new recruit.
''The Andy Griffith Show''
In 1960, Andy Griffith was offered the opportunity to headline his own
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
, ''
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' portrayal of the deputy on the popular show earned 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
The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is an American museum, the stated mission of which is "to collect, preserve, and present historic and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform and entertain through our arc ...
describes Deputy Barney Fife:
When the show first aired, Griffith was intended to be the comedic lead with Knotts as his
straight man, similar to their roles in ''No Time for Sergeants''. However, it was quickly discovered that the show was funnier with the roles reversed. As Griffith maintained in several interviews, "By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny, and I should play straight."
Knotts believed remarks by Griffith that ''The Andy Griffith Show'' would end after five seasons, and he began to look for other work, signing a five-film contract with
Universal Studios. In his autobiography, Knotts admitted that he had not yet signed the contract when Griffith announced his decision to continue the series; but he had made up his mind to move on, believing he would not get the chance again. Knotts left the series in 1965. His character's absence on the show was explained by Deputy Fife's having finally made the "big time," joining the Raleigh, North Carolina, police force.
Post-Mayberry film career
Knotts went on to star in a series of film comedies that drew on his high-strung persona from the television series: he had a cameo appearance in
United Artists
United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...
' ''
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' (1963), and starred in
Warner Bros.' ''
The Incredible Mr. Limpet'' (1964). Knotts then began his Universal five-film contract with ''
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' (1966), ''
The Reluctant Astronaut
''The Reluctant Astronaut'' is a 1967 American comedy film produced and directed by Edward Montagne and starring Don Knotts in a story about a carnival ride operator who is hired as a janitor at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston and is even ...
'' (1967), ''
The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968), ''
The Love God?'' (1969) and ''
How to Frame a Figg'' (1971). After making ''How to Frame a Figg'', Knotts' five-film contract with Universal finished.
Knotts reprised his role as Barney Fife several times in the 1960s: he made five guest appearances on ''The Andy Griffith Show'' (gaining him another two Emmy Awards), and he later appeared once on the
spin-off
Spin-off may refer to:
*Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work
*Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity
* Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gov ...
''
Mayberry R.F.D.
''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of ''The Andy Griffith Show''. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters ...
'', where he was present as best man for the marriage of Andy Taylor and his longtime love,
Helen Crump. He continued to work steadily, though he did not appear as a regular on any successful television series until in 1979 he got the part of landlord Ralph Furley on ''
Three's Company'' for seasons 4 through 8, after the departure of
Norman Fell, who had played the previous landlord.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Knotts served as the spokesman for
Dodge
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
trucks and was featured prominently in a series of print ads and dealer brochures. On television, he went on to host a 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, and Knotts was uncomfortable with the variety show format. He also made frequent guest appearances on other shows such as ''
The Bill Cosby Show'' and ''
Here's Lucy''. In 1970, he appeared as a Barney Fife-like police officer in the pilot of ''
The New Andy Griffith Show
''The New Andy Griffith Show'' is an American sitcom that was broadcast in the United States on CBS in 1971 on Fridays at 8:30 ET. It debuted on January 8, 1971, and ended on May 21, 1971.
History
Actor Andy Griffith had left his first sitcom, ...
''. In 1972, Knotts voiced an animated version of himself in two episodes of ''
The New Scooby Doo Movies
''The New Scooby-Doo Movies'' is an American animated mystery comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera for CBS. It is the second animated television series in the studio's ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise, and follows the first incarnation, '' ...
'': "The Spooky Fog of Juneberry", in which he played a lawman resembling Barney Fife, and "Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner". He appeared as Felix Unger in a stage version of
Neil Simon's ''
The Odd Couple'', with
Art Carney as Oscar Madison, and toured in the Neil Simon comedy ''
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
''Last of the Red Hot Lovers'' is a comedy by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1969.
Production
The play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 28, 1969, and closed on September 4, 1971, after 706 performances and si ...
''.
Beginning in 1975, Knotts was teamed with
Tim Conway in a series of
slapstick
Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such ...
films aimed at children, including the
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
film ''
The Apple Dumpling Gang'' (1975) and its sequel, ''
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again'' (1979). They also did two independent films, the boxing comedy ''
The Prize Fighter
''The Prize Fighter'' is an American comedy film starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Directed by Michael Preece, it was written by Tim Conway and John Myhers, based on a story by Conway. It was released by New World Pictures in November 1979.
P ...
'' (1979), and the mystery-comedy ''
The Private Eyes'' (1980). Knotts co-starred in several other Disney films, including ''
Gus'' (1976), ''
No Deposit, No Return
''No Deposit, No Return'' is a 1976 American crime comedy film directed by Norman Tokar and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film was written by Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson, and stars David Niven, Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, Herschel Be ...
'' (1976), ''
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo'' (1977) and ''
Hot Lead and Cold Feet
''Hot Lead and Cold Feet'' (originally titled ''Welcome to Bloodshy'') is a 1978 American comedy-Western film produced by Walt Disney Productions and starring Jim Dale, Karen Valentine, Don Knotts, Jack Elam and Darren McGavin.
It was release ...
'' (1978).
''Three's Company''
In 1979, Knotts returned to series television in his second most identifiable role, the wacky but lovable landlord
Ralph Furley on ''
Three's Company''. The series, which was already an established hit, added Knotts to the cast when the original landlords,
Stanley and
Helen Roper
''Three's Company'' is an American sitcom television series that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. It is based on the British sitcom ''Man About the House''.
The story revolves around three single roomma ...
(a married couple played by
Norman Fell and
Audra Lindley
Audra Marie Lindley (September 24, 1918 – October 16, 1997) was an American actress, most famous for her role as landlady Helen Roper on the sitcom ''Three's Company'' and its spin-off ''The Ropers''.
Life and career
Audra Lindley was born ...
, respectively) left to star in their own short-lived spin-off series ''
The Ropers
''The Ropers'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from March 13, 1979, to May 22, 1980. It is a spin-off of ''Three's Company'' and loosely based on the British sitcom ''George and Mildred'', which was itself a spin-off o ...
''.
On set, Knotts easily integrated himself into the already established cast who were, as
John Ritter put it, "so scared" of Knotts because of his star status. When
Suzanne Somers left the show after a contract dispute in 1981, the writers started giving the material meant for Somers's Chrissy to Knotts' Furley. Knotts remained on the series until it ended in 1984. The ''Three's Company'' script supervisor, Carol Summers, became Knotts' agent and often accompanied him to personal appearances.
Later years
In 1986, Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith in the made-for-television film ''
Return to Mayberry'', reprising his Barney Fife role. In early 1987, he joined the cast of the first-run syndication comedy ''
What a Country!
''What a Country!'' is an American sitcom starring Garrett M. Brown and Yakov Smirnoff that aired in first-run syndication from September 27, 1986, to May 23, 1987. The series is based on the British sitcom ''Mind Your Language'' and was inte ...
'', as Principal Bud McPherson, for its remaining 13 episodes. It was produced by Martin Rips and Joseph Staretski, who had previously worked on ''Three's Company''.
In 1988, Knotts joined Andy Griffith on TV's
''Matlock'', in the recurring role of pesky neighbor Les Calhoun, until 1992.
After that, his roles were sporadic, including a
cameo appearance
A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly ei ...
in the film ''
Big Bully'' (1996) as the high school principal. In 1998, he had a small but pivotal role as a mysterious TV repairman in ''
Pleasantville''. That year, his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia changed the name of the street formerly known as South University Avenue (
U.S. Route 119) to Don Knotts Boulevard on "Don Knotts Day". Also that day, in honor of Knotts' role as Barney Fife, he was named an honorary deputy sheriff with the
Monongalia County Sheriff's Department.
Knotts was recognized in 2000 with a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. He continued to act on stage, but much of his film and television work after 2000 was as voice talent. In 2002, he appeared again with
Scooby-Doo in the video game ''
Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights''. (He also spoofed his appearances on that show in various promotions for
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, ...
, and in a parody on ''
Robot Chicken'', where he was teamed with
Phyllis Diller.) In 2003, he teamed up again with
Tim Conway to provide voices for the direct-to-video children's series ''
Hermie and Friends
''Hermie and Friends'' is an American Christian video series for children which ran from 2003 to 2010. The show is 3D animated and stars two caterpillars named Hermie and Wormie.
The show started with a 40-minute Max Lucado video special called ...
'', which continued until Knotts' 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, he 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. He 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,'' an episode that paid homage to their earlier television series. Knotts was the last ''Three's Company'' star to work with Ritter.
During this period of time,
macular degeneration
Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), is a medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field. Early on there are often no symptoms. Over time, however, so ...
in both eyes caused the otherwise robust Knotts to become virtually blind. His live appearances on television were few. In 2005, he parodied his Ralph Furley character while playing a
Paul Young variation in a ''
Desperate Housewives'' sketch on ''
The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards''. He parodied that part one final time in "Stone Cold Crazy", an episode of the sitcom ''
That '70s Show,'' where he played the landlord. It was his last live-action television appearance. His final role was in ''
Air Buddies'' (2006), a direct-to-video sequel to ''
Air Bud
''Air Bud'' is a 1997 sports comedy film directed by Charles Martin Smith. The film was financially successful, grossing $4 million in its opening weekend and totaling $27.8 million in its run against an estimated $3 million budget.
Plot
Afte ...
'', voicing the sheriff's deputy dog Sniffer.
Personal life
Knotts's friend
Al Checco said, "Don was somewhat of a ladies' man. He fancied himself something of a
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...
. The ladies loved him and he dated quite a bit." Knotts was married three times. His marriage to Kathryn Metz lasted from 1947 until their divorce in 1964, and he raised his daughter as a single parent. He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974 and they divorced in 1983. His third marriage was to Frances Yarborough, from 2002 until his death in 2006. From his first marriage, Knotts had a son, Thomas Knotts, and a daughter, actress
Karen Knotts (born April 2, 1954).
Knotts struggled with
hypochondria
Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness. An old concept, the meaning of hypochondria has repeatedly changed. It has been claimed that this debilitating cond ...
and
macular degeneration
Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), is a medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field. Early on there are often no symptoms. Over time, however, so ...
.
Betty Lynn
Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn (August 29, 1926 – October 16, 2021) was an American actress. She played Thelma Lou, Deputy Barney Fife's girlfriend, on ''The Andy Griffith Show''. During the 1940s and 1950s, she appeared in many films, including ...
, one of his co-stars on ''The Andy Griffith Show'', described him as a "very quiet man. Very sweet. Nothing like Barney Fife." TV writer
Mark Evanier
Mark Stephen Evanier (; born March 2, 1952) is an American comic book and television writer, known for his work on the animated TV series '' Garfield and Friends'' and on the comic book ''Groo the Wanderer''. He is also known for his columns and b ...
called him "the most beloved person in all of show business".
Death
Knotts died at age 81 on February 24, 2006, at the
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over ...
in Los Angeles from pulmonary and respiratory complications of
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...
related to
lung cancer
Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from transformed, mali ...
. He underwent treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the months before his death, but returned home after reportedly feeling better. He was buried at
Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Knotts' obituaries cited him as a major influence on other entertainers. In early 2011, his grave's plain granite headstone was replaced with a bronze plaque depicting several of his movie and television roles. A statue honoring him, created by
Jamie Lester, was unveiled on July 23, 2016, in front of The Metropolitan Theatre on High Street in his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Filmography
The following is Don Knotts' acting credits.
Film
Television
Video games
Bibliography
• ISBN 9781572972100 Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known
Awards
The following are accolades and honors Don Knotts received throughout his career.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
* Klin, Richard. "Fife and Drum". ''Flagpole'', 2006.
External links
*
*
*
*
* The
West Virginia & Regional History Center has
collection of materials related to the career or Don Knotts
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knotts, Don
20th-century American comedians
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American comedians
21st-century American male actors
1924 births
2006 deaths
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male soap opera actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
United States Army personnel of World War II
American people of English descent
Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Deaths from lung cancer in California
Deaths from pneumonia in California
Disney people
Male actors from West Virginia
Military personnel from West Virginia
Morgantown High School alumni
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
People from Morgantown, West Virginia
United States Army soldiers
Ventriloquists
West Virginia University alumni