Don Knotts is one of those rare actors who can make you laugh without saying a word. Best remembered for his role as the lovably bumbling sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, Knotts brought his own nervous charm to every role. Born on July 21, 1924, Knotts rose from a tough childhood in Morgantown, West Virginia, to become one of television’s most iconic comedians — and all this week, his work is being celebrated as part of MeTV’s “Mayberry Month,” as the network airs the best Barney Fife episodes of all time.
Over his decades-long career, he won five Emmy Awards, starred in a number of hit comedy series, and left his mark on generations of fans. Knotts died on February 24, 2006, at the age of 81, from complications related to lung cancer. Whether you grew up watching his role in Mayberry or his role as the flashy Mr. Furley on Three’s Company, here are some things you might not know about the man behind the laughs:
He Started Performing with a Ventriloquist Puppet Named Danny
Long before he stepped in front of the camera, Knotts was entertaining people with a wooden companion. Shortly after graduating from high school, he began ventriloquism and began performing with his puppet, Danny. He moved to New York City to try to make it as a comedian, but after failing to make it, he returned home and joined the Army. However, he soon realized that he could never give up on his comedy dreams.
He served in World War II as part of the G.I. variety show.
At just 19 years old, Knotts enlisted in World War II and was eventually assigned to a special service unit. Instead of going into combat, he joined a traveling G.I. variety show called Stars and Gripes, where he performed comedy and entertained fellow soldiers. Although he did not carry a weapon, he played an important role in boosting morale. He served from June 21, 1943, to January 6, 1946, in the Army’s 6817th Special Service Battalion.
He left The Andy Griffith Show at the height of its popularity (and later regretted it)
Knotts’ performance as Barney Fife earned him five Emmy Awards, and his chemistry with Andy Griffith was undeniable. But after five seasons, he left the show, thinking it was over; the producers had planned to wrap things up, so Knotts signed a multi-film deal with Universal Studios. When the network pushed Griffith to continue, Knotts was committed elsewhere. He later admitted that he regretted leaving and missing out on more time in Mayberry.
He had a lifelong friendship with John Ritter
Although they came from different eras of television, Knotts and John Ritter shared a deep and lasting friendship. They worked together on Three’s Company, and even appeared together one last time in 8 Simple Rules in 2002. When Ritter died in 2003, Knotts was performing On Golden Pond in Kansas City. He made sure to attend the funeral, just four days after Ritter passed away.
He Never Gave Up Acting, Even After Being Told to Quit
Knotts once took a job plucking chickens because he was told he had no future in acting. But he refused to give up on his dream. After the war, he earned a degree in education from West Virginia University and gradually moved into television, starting with the long-running TV series Search for Tomorrow. He eventually got his big break on Steve Allen’s variety show, which led to him meeting Griffith and being cast in the beloved comedy.
He Had a Hard Childhood but Found Joy Through Comedy
Born the youngest of four brothers in West Virginia, his family life was not easy. His father, who suffered from mental illness, once threatened his mother with a knife, and his older brother Earl, nicknamed “Shadow” because of his skinny physique, died of asthma when Knotts was just a teenager. Despite the pain, Knotts found an outlet in humor and turned it into a successful career.
