Don Knotts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Knotts
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Knotts in 1966
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| Born |
Jesse Donald Knotts
July 21, 1924 |
| Died | February 24, 2006 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1941–2006 |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 2, including Karen Knotts |
Jesse Donald Knotts (born July 21, 1924 – died February 24, 2006) was a famous American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. This popular TV show from the 1960s earned him five Emmy Awards.
Don Knotts also played Ralph Furley on the hit TV show Three's Company from 1979 to 1984. He starred in many funny movies, like The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). In 2004, TV Guide magazine named him one of the top 50 greatest TV stars of all time.
Knotts was born in West Virginia. He was the youngest of four children. In the 1940s, he served in the United States Army during World War II. While in the army, he became a ventriloquist and comedian. He performed in a show for soldiers called "Stars and Gripes."
After the army, he got his first big TV role in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. He appeared on that show from 1953 to 1955. He then became well-known on Steve Allen's variety show. There, he played a very nervous man in funny "Man in the Street" interviews. In 1958, Knotts made his first movie, No Time for Sergeants.
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Growing Up in West Virginia
Don Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was the youngest of four sons. His father was a farmer named William Jesse Knotts. His mother was Elsie Luzetta Knotts.
Don's mother was 40 years old when he was born. His father passed away when Don was 13 years old. His mother raised Don and his brothers. She ran a boarding house in Morgantown.
Don Knotts went to Morgantown High School. After high school, he joined the United States Army. He served during World War II. Later, he went to West Virginia University. He graduated in 1948 with a degree in education.
Becoming a Star: Early Career
Before high school, Don Knotts started performing. He was a ventriloquist and comedian. He performed at church and school events. After high school, he tried to become a comedian in New York City. But it didn't work out at first.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1943. He spent most of his time entertaining soldiers. He traveled to islands in the Pacific Ocean. He performed in a show called "Stars and Gripes." His ventriloquist act included a dummy named Danny. Don Knotts later said he didn't like the dummy and even threw it overboard!
Don Knotts left the army in 1946. He then went back to West Virginia University. After graduating, he moved back to New York. He started doing stand-up comedy in clubs. He also worked on the radio. He played a smart-aleck character named "Windy Wales" on a radio Western show.
His first big TV role was in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. He was on that show from 1953 to 1955. In 1956, he became famous on Steve Allen's variety show. He played a very nervous man in funny interviews. In 1958, he made his first movie, No Time for Sergeants. He acted alongside Andy Griffith in this film.
The Andy Griffith Show
In 1960, Andy Griffith got his own TV show, The Andy Griffith Show. Don Knotts was cast as Barney Fife, the deputy sheriff. Barney was also the cousin of Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Griffith.
Don Knotts' acting as the deputy made him very popular. He won five Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy. When the show first started, Andy Griffith was supposed to be the main funny character. Don Knotts was meant to be the serious one. But they soon realized that the show was funnier with Don Knotts being the comedic lead. Andy Griffith said, "By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny, and I should play straight."
Don Knotts thought The Andy Griffith Show would end after five seasons. So, he started looking for other jobs. He signed a contract to make five movies with Universal Studios. He left the show in 1965. His character, Barney Fife, was said to have joined the police force in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Life After Mayberry
After leaving The Andy Griffith Show, Don Knotts starred in many funny movies. These films often showed his nervous and high-strung character. He had a small role in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He also starred in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964).
His five-movie contract with Universal Studios included films like The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), and The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968).
Don Knotts returned to play Barney Fife several times in the 1960s. He made five guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show. He also appeared once on the spin-off show Mayberry R.F.D.. He was the best man at Andy Taylor's wedding to Helen Crump.
He continued to work steadily. In 1979, he got another very famous role. He played the funny landlord Ralph Furley on Three's Company. He joined the show after the original landlords left. Don Knotts stayed on Three's Company until it ended in 1984.
Don Knotts also appeared in several Disney films. He teamed up with Tim Conway in movies like The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979). They also made other comedies together, such as The Prize Fighter (1979) and The Private Eyes (1980).
Later Years and Legacy
In 1986, Don Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith. They starred in the TV movie Return to Mayberry, where Don played Barney Fife again. From 1988 to 1992, he joined Andy Griffith on the TV show Matlock. He played the recurring role of Les Calhoun.
After that, his acting roles were less frequent. He had a small but important role in the movie Pleasantville (1998). In 1998, his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia, honored him. They changed the name of a street to Don Knotts Boulevard. He was also named an honorary deputy sheriff in his home county.
In 2000, Don Knotts received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He continued to act on stage. Much of his later work was providing voices for animated characters. In 2002, he voiced a character in the video game Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights. He also worked with Tim Conway again. They voiced characters for the children's video series Hermie and Friends. In 2005, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in the Disney movie Chicken Little.
In 2003, his former Three's Company co-star, John Ritter, passed away. Don Knotts had appeared with Ritter one last time earlier that year. It was a small role on the show 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
Towards the end of his life, Don Knotts had eye problems that made it very hard to see. His last live-action TV appearance was on That '70s Show in 2005. His final acting role was voicing the dog Sniffer in the movie Air Buddies (2006).
Don Knotts' Family Life
Don Knotts was married three times. His first marriage was to Kathryn Metz. They were married from 1947 until 1964. He raised his daughter, Karen, as a single parent. His daughter, Karen Knotts, is also an actress. He also had a son, Thomas Knotts.
He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974. They later separated in 1983. His third marriage was to Frances Yarborough. They were married from 2002 until his death in 2006.
Don Knotts was known for being a very quiet and sweet person. His co-star, Betty Lynn, said he was "Nothing like Barney Fife." Many people in show business loved him.
Passing Away
Don Knotts passed away on February 24, 2006. He was 81 years old. He died in Los Angeles from lung problems related to an illness. He was buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Many people said Don Knotts was a big influence on other entertainers. In 2011, his simple grave marker was replaced. It now has a bronze plaque showing some of his famous movie and TV roles. A statue honoring him was put up in his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia, in 2016.
Images for kids
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Don Knotts as Barney Fife in 1966.
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Don Knotts (right) with Andy Griffith in 1960.
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Don Knotts receiving his first Emmy Award in 1961.
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Don Knotts (center) with Andy Griffith and Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1967.
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Don Knotts' grave in Los Angeles.
See also
In Spanish: Don Knotts para niños
