His ventriloquist act included a dummy named Danny "Hooch" Matador. He toured the Pacific Islands as a comedian as part of a G.I. After his college freshman year, Knotts joined the United States Army and spent most of his service entertaining troops. After high school, he traveled to New York City to try to make his way as a comedian, but returned home to attend West Virginia University when his career failed to take off.
He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society while at WVU.īefore he entered high school, Knotts began performing as a ventriloquist and comedian at various church and school functions. After enlisting in the United States ArmyĪnd serving in World War II, Knotts earned a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in speech from West Virginia University, graduating in 1948. Knotts graduated from Morgantown High School. Knotts is a sixth cousin of Ron Howard, a co-star on The Andy Griffith Show. They are buried in the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park. Her son William preceded her in death in 1941, at age 31. Knotts and his three brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a boarding house in Morgantown. He died of pneumonia when Knotts was 13 years old. Afflicted with schizophrenia and alcoholism, he sometimes terrorized Knotts with a knife, causing the boy to turn inward at an early age. Knotts's father suffered from mental illness he had a nervous breakdown due to the stress of Knotts's birth. Knotts's mother was 40 at the time of his birth. Knotts's brothers were named Willis, William and Ralph.
Knotts's paternal ancestors emigrated from England to America in the 17th century, originally settling in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. Knotts's parents were married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. May he rest in peace.Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, the youngest of four sons born to William Jesse Knotts and his wife, Elsie Luzetta Knotts (née Moore). Today, his legacy lives on while watching old episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Three’s Company, and more. He was 81 years old at the time of his passing.
#DON KNOTTS ANDY GRIFFITH SERIES#
He only appeared in a few episodes again after he left town.ĭon’s Emmy awards for his role on the series include Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series in 1961, Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor in 19, and Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy in 19. His reason for leaving the town of Mayberry on the show was to join the police force in Raleigh, N.C. In the role, he portrayed the deputy sheriff in the slow-moving town of Mayberry, NC.īarney’s personality in the show is very by-the-book, egotistical, and a know-it-all, but he’s also very insecure with low self-esteem at the same time. Which character did Don Knotts play on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’?ĭon Knotts played the very memorable character of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. Don made guest appearances in two episodes in Seasons 6 and 7, and one episode in Season 8.
#DON KNOTTS ANDY GRIFFITH FULL#
The show went on for three more full seasons lasting from 1965 until 1968. “It was a tough time for me because I enjoyed the show so much that I hated to leave,” he explained.
In fact, it was quite a difficult time for him. I hadn’t signed but I had said I would and I had focused all my attention in that direction and I don’t know, I just went ahead.” “And then Andy suddenly said he was going to stay on another two or three years. “I wound up getting an offer from Universal to do movies and do my own pictures,” he further explained. “I had a five-year contract and during the fifth season I thought ‘I better start looking around for more work.'” SOURCE: GETTY IMAGESĪnd that’s exactly what he did. “I left because Andy said he would never do the show more than five years,” Don explained in a previous interview. It seems Don left the comedy all those years ago due to miscommunication with the show’s star, Andy Griffith. Scroll down for everything we know! Why did Don Knotts leave ‘The Andy Griffith Show’?
Now, 55 years later, reruns of the show are raising questions about why Don left The Andy Griffith Show in the first place. He portrayed Barney Fife on the hit show from 1960 until 1965 (Seasons 1 to 5) until he decided to leave the show and his leading role behind. That arguably had a lot to do with the star-studded cast, specifically comedic actor Don Knotts. The Andy Griffith Show was one of the most popular series on television from 1960 until 1968.
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