One of the most beloved actors in TV and movie history, Don Knotts is best known for his portrayal of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife.
NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Did you know that famed comedic actor Don Knotts was actually a very shy, introverted person?
That’s according to his nephew Bill, who will present “Mayberry Memories of Don Knotts” at the historic Newtown Theatre on Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m.
“Ron Howard once said that Don was the actor who was most unlike the character he played on The Andy Griffith Show,” Bill says. “That’s just one of the many personal tales and anecdotes I’ll share during this highly entertaining presentation.”
One of the most beloved actors in television and movie history, Don Knotts is best known for his portrayal of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role for which he earned five Emmy Awards.
Two years ago, Bill began presenting “Mayberry Memories” as a way of keeping the memory of Don alive.
“The idea was born when I attended Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, N.C., and saw a professor give a lecture about The Andy Griffith Show,” Bill says. “I used to teach college so I thought I could do the same thing.”
Bill began with a four-part class at his local community college in Prescott, AZ. It wasn’t long before he gave his first “Mayberry Memories” presentation on a cruise ship.
“I did one and thought I was done,” Bill says with a chuckle. “But about a week later I got a call from the cruise line, and they said they got all kinds of positive responses on their surveys at the end of the cruise. Apparently, a lot of people enjoyed the presentation. I now do anywhere from four to eight cruises a year, plus presentations all over the country.”
During “Mayberry Memories,” Bill guides the audience to a simpler time; back to the idyllic, fictional town of Mayberry. He delves into the Knotts’ family history, Don’s early career, how he landed the part of Barney Fife, his movie career and memorable partnering with Tim Conway in multiple Disney movies, his return to television on Three’s Company and Matlock, and his many stage productions across the country.
According to Bill, Don was an introvert in real life.
“At family events like Thanksgiving, he’d be sitting on the couch with his arms and legs folded…he was most definitely not being an entertainer,” he says. “You had to go talk to him and draw things out of him.”
But just because Don was an introvert didn’t mean he wasn’t funny.
“He was low-key funny,” Bill recalls. “I remember us sitting at the dinner table and the only thing on the table was a gravy boat. Don took the ladle full of gravy, put it on his plate and began trying to eat the gravy with his fork. He looks over at me with his deadpan face and dryly says, “Well this is a little thin.’”
Bill, himself a professional actor for many years, uses photos and video clips to help reintroduce the iconic and lovable characters and the actors who brought them to life.
“People will have fun at my show and leave educated and entertained…expect a lot of laughter,” Bill says. “They’ll see old clips of The Andy Griffith Show but also of Don before he was a household name. I also share personal stories of when I lived with Don and his wife while I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in the 1970s.”
This past July 21 would have been Don’s 100 th birthday. When asked why he is still held in such high esteem by those who remember him, Bill answers:
“The character of Barney Fife had a lot to do with it. Don once told me that he played Barney like a nine-year-old boy. He couldn’t hide anything. If you looked at him, you always knew what he was thinking and feeling. His heart was so big, you just wanted to protect him.”
Tickets for “Mayberry Memories” are available at TheNewtownTheatre.com for $27 per person or $22 for theatre members. If available, any remaining tickets will be sold for $37 at the door on the day of the show.
