5 Things You May Not Know About Comedic Legend Don Knotts

Dave Sundstrom Yesterday, 12:00 pm

THE DON KNOTTS SHOW, Don Knotts, 1970-71 — Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Everett Collection

What To Know

Don Knotts overcame a difficult childhood, eventually finding solace in entertainment.
Knotts achieved success as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show and remained close with Andy Griffith.
Knotts brought his comedic talent to new audiences as Ralph Furley on Three’s Company.

Don Knotts rose to fame in the early ’60s as Deputy Barney Fife on the classic TV series The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts had a way of making fun of himself with his physical mannerisms, but underneath it all, there was just so much heart. When Knotts left after Season 5, there was a void that no one could fill. So, with all that said, here are five things that you may not know about this funny feller.

First off, Knotts was born to older parents. They’d already raised a couple of kids. When they got word that another was on the way, the story goes that it almost gave Knotts’ dad a heart attack just thinking about what was in store.

According to journalist Ed Gross, writing for Woman’s World magazine, Don’s father struggled with both schizophrenia and alcoholism and “during Don’s earliest years, his father’s psychotic episodes could erupt without warning, sometimes escalating to the point where the young boy was terrorized with a knife held to his throat. It was an environment that allowed no sense of safety—only vigilance.”

WAKE ME WHEN IT'S OVER, Don Knotts, 1960,

20th Century Fox Film Corp./courtesy Everett Collection

Secondly, eager to escape a stressful life at home, Knotts enlisted in the Army as part of the Signal Corps originally, and then later, a radio operator. Over time, Knotts’ duties also included entertaining the troops as a ventriloquist as well as performing stand-up.

Number three, Knotts won five Emmy awards during the run of The Andy Griffith Show. And what’s especially interesting is that two of those awards were won after he left the show as a full-time cast member. Yep, it was a couple of guest appearances that snagged Knotts two of those highly coveted Emmy statues.

And speaking of The Andy Griffith Show, that takes us to number four. Knotts was a lifelong friend of Andy Griffith up until the very end. In fact, Griffith was one of the last people to speak with Knotts before he passed away.

In a Today show clip found on YouTube, Griffith recalled their final moments together, saying: “I lost my best friend. I was with him just before he died. He was kind of unconscious. I don’t know that he could hear me, but we all believe he heard my voice. I told him I loved him”

THREE'S COMPANY, Don Knotts, John Ritter, 1977-1984

Everett Collection

Lastly, those of you who have followed Knotts’ career after The Andy Griffith Show know that he played landlord Ralph Furley on Three’s Company after Stanley and Helen Roper (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) left for their own TV show. While fans loved the Ropers, it is undeniable that Knotts added something extra special to that show. And it was truly a joy to watch Knotts work with such a talented young actor as John Ritter, whom he became very close with as well.

One more piece of bonus trivia about Knotts’ character, Barney: Throughout the run of The Andy Griffith Show, Barney’s middle name was inconsistent to say the least. In the episode “A Plaque for Mayberry,” Andy states that Barney’s middle name is Oliver. In later episodes, Barney refers to himself as Bernard P. Fife. And in the episode “Class Reunion,” the Mayberry Union High School yearbook lists Barney’s name as Bernard Milton Fife.