Don Knotts was one of those rare actors who could make you laugh without saying a word. Best remembered as the loveably bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, Knotts brought his own brand of jittery charm to every role he played. Born July 21, 1924, Knotts rose from a difficult 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 “Month of Mayberry,” as the channel airs the all-time best Barney Fife episodes.
Over his decades-long career, he won five Emmy Awards, starred in a string of hit comedy films, and left a mark on generations of fans. Knotts passed away on February 24, 2006, at the age of 81, from complications related to lung cancer. Whether you grew up watching him in Mayberry or as the flamboyant Mr. Furley on Three’s Company, here are some things you may not know about the man behind the laughs:
1. He got his start performing with a ventriloquist dummy named Danny
Long before he stepped in front of a camera, Knotts was entertaining people with a wooden sidekick. Right out of high school, he took up ventriloquism and began performing with his dummy, Danny. He moved to New York City to try to make it as a comedian but after failing to find success, he moved back home and enlisted in the military. However, he soon realized he could never give up his comedy dreams.
2. He served in World War II as part of a G.I. variety show
At just 19, Knotts enlisted in the Army during World War II, and was eventually assigned to a special services unit. Rather than heading into combat, he joined a touring G.I. variety show called Stars and Gripes, where he performed comedy and entertained fellow soldiers. While he may not have carried a weapon, he still played a vital role by boosting morale. He served from from June 21, 1943, to January 6, 1946, in the Army’s 6817th Special Services Battalion.
3. He left The Andy Griffith Show at its peak (and later regretted it)
Knotts’ portrayal of Barney Fife won him five Emmy Awards, and his chemistry with Andy Griffith was undeniable. But after five seasons, he left the show, thinking it was ending; the producers had planned to wrap things up, so Knotts signed a multi-picture deal with Universal Studios. When the network pushed Griffith to keep going, Knotts was already committed elsewhere. He later admitted he regretted leaving and missing out on more time in Mayberry.
4. He had a lifelong friendship with John Ritter
Though they were from different eras of television, Knotts and John Ritter shared a deep and lasting friendship. They worked together on Three’s Company, and even made a final appearance together on 8 Simple Rules in 2002. When Ritter passed away in 2003, Knotts was performing On Golden Pond in Kansas City. He made sure to attend the funeral, just four days after Ritter’s passing.
5. He never gave up on acting, even after being told to quit
Knotts once took a job plucking chickens because someone told him he didn’t have a future in acting. But he refused to give up on his dreams. After the war, he earned a degree in education from West Virginia University and slowly worked his way into television, beginning with the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. He eventually got his big break on Steve Allen‘s variety show, which led to him meeting Griffith and being cast on the beloved sitcom.
6. He had a difficult childhood but found joy through comedy
Born the youngest of four boys in West Virginia, his family life was far from easy. His father, who suffered from mental illness, once threatened his mother with a knife, and his older brother Earl, nicknamed “Shadow” for his thin frame, died of asthma when Knotts was just a teen. Despite the pain, Knotts found an escape in humor and translated it to a successful career.
