Don Knotts - wikipedia Don Knotts This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2016 ) Don Knotts Knotts in March 1975 Jesse Donald Knotts ( 1924 - 07 - 21 ) July 21, 1924 Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S. February 24, 2006 ( 2006 - 02 - 24 ) ( aged 81 ) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Resting place Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Los Angeles, California, U.S. Occupation Actor, comedian Years active 1953 -- 2006 Spouse ( s ) Kathryn Metz ( m. 1947 ; div. 1964 ) Loralee Czuchna ( m. 1974 ; div. 1983 ) Frances Yarborough ( m. 2002 ) Children 2, including Karen Knotts Jesse Donald Knotts ( July 21, 1924 -- February 24, 2006 ) was an American actor and comedian, best known as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom for which he earned five Emmy awards. He also played Luther Heggs in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and Henry Limpet in The Incredible Mr. Limpet. He also portrayed Ralph Furley on Three 's Company. In 1996, TV Guide ranked him # 27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early career 2.2 The Andy Griffith Show 2.3 Post-Mayberry film career 2.4 Three 's Company 2.5 Later years 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Filmography 5.1 Film 5.2 Television 5.3 Video games 5.4 Animation videos 6 Awards 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Early life Jesse Donald Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, the youngest of four sons born to farmer William Jesse Knotts and his wife, Elsie Luzetta Knotts ( née Moore ). His parents were married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. His English paternal ancestors immigrated to America in the 17th century, originally settling in Queen Anne 's County, Maryland. Knotts ' brothers were named Willis, William, and Ralph. Knotts ' mother was 40 at the time of his birth and his father suffered from mental illness ; he had a nervous breakdown due to the stress of Knotts ' birth. Afflicted with schizophrenia and alcoholism, he sometimes terrorized Knotts with a knife, causing Knotts to turn inward at an early age. He died of pneumonia when Knotts was 13 years old. Knotts and his three brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at age 84. Her son William preceded her in death in 1941, at age 31. They are buried in the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park. Knotts is a sixth cousin of Ron Howard. Knotts graduated from Morgantown High School. After enlisting in the United States Army and 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. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society while at WVU. Career Early career Before he entered high school, Knotts began performing as a ventriloquist and comedian at various church and school functions. 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. After his college freshman year, Knotts joined the United States Army and spent most of his service entertaining troops. He toured the Pacific Islands as a comedian as part of a G.I. variety show called Stars and Gripes. His ventriloquist act included a dummy named Danny `` Hooch '' Matador. In a TV Guide interview in the 1970s, he said that he had grown tired of playing straight man for a hunk of wood when he was in the Army. According to Knotts, he tossed the dummy overboard off a ship in the South Pacific. He swore that he could hear the dummy calling for help as the ship sailed on, leaving him bobbing helplessly in the waves. Knotts served in the United States Army from June 21, 1943 to January 6, 1946. Discharged in the rank of Technician Grade 5, which was the equivalent of a Corporal. During his military service, Knotts was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal ( with 4 bronze service stars ), Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge ( with a Carbine BAR ) and Honorable Service Lapel Pin. Knotts returned to West Virginia University after being demobilized and graduated in 1948. He married and moved back to New York, where connections he had made while in the Special Services Branch helped him break into show business. In addition to doing stand - up comedy at clubs, he appeared on the radio, eventually playing the wisecracking, know - it - all character `` Windy Wales '' on a radio western called `` Bobby Benson and the B - Bar - B Riders ''. Knotts got his first major break on television in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow where he appeared from 1953 to 1955. He came to fame in 1956 on Steve Allen 's variety show, as part of Allen 's repertory company, most notably in Allen 's mock `` Man in the Street '' interviews, always as an extremely nervous man. He remained with the Allen program through the 1959 -- 1960 season. From October 20, 1955 through September 14, 1957, Knotts appeared in the Broadway version of No Time for Sergeants, in which he played two roles, listed on the playbill as a Corporal Manual Dexterity and a Preacher. In 1958, Knotts appeared for the first time on film with Andy Griffith in the film version of No Time for Sergeants. In that film, Knotts reprises his Broadway role and plays a high - strung Air Force test administrator whose routine is disrupted by the hijinks of a provincial new recruit. The Andy Griffith Show As Barney Fife, Knotts gets the help of Sheriff Taylor when his gun gets stuck on his finger. Knotts receives his first Emmy Award for The Andy Griffith Show, 1961. In 1960, Andy Griffith was offered the opportunity to headline his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show ( 1960 -- 1968 ). Knotts took the role of Barney Fife, the deputy -- and originally cousin -- of Sheriff Andy Taylor ( portrayed by Griffith ). Knotts ' portrayal of the deputy on the popular show earned him five Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy, three awards for the first five seasons that he played the character. A summary of the show from the website of the Museum of Broadcast Communications describes Deputy Barney Fife : `` Self - important, romantic, and nearly always wrong, Barney dreamed of the day he could use the one bullet Andy had issued to him, though he did fire his gun on a few occasions. He always fired his pistol accidentally while still in his holster or in the ceiling of the court house, at which point he would sadly hand his pistol to Andy. This is why Barney kept his one very shiny bullet in his shirt pocket. In episode # 196, Andy gave Barney more bullets so that he would have a loaded gun to go after a bad guy that Barney unintentionally helped escape. While Barney was forever frustrated that Mayberry was too small for the delusional ideas he had of himself, viewers got the sense that he could n't have survived anywhere else. Don Knotts played the comic and pathetic sides of the character with equal aplomb and he received three Emmy Awards during the show 's first five seasons. '' When the show first aired, Griffith was intended to be the comedic lead with Knotts as his straight man, similar to their roles in No Time for Sergeants. However, it was quickly discovered that the show was funnier with the roles reversed. As Griffith maintained in several interviews, `` By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny, and I should play straight. '' Knotts believed remarks by Griffith that The Andy Griffith Show would end after five seasons, and he began to look for other work, signing a five - film contract with Universal Studios. He was caught off guard when Griffith announced that he would continue the show after all, but Knotts ' hands were tied. In his autobiography, Knotts admitted that he had not yet signed a contract when Griffith announced his decision -- but he had made up his mind to move on, believing he would not get the chance again. Knotts left the series in 1965. Within the series, it was announced that Deputy Fife had finally made the `` big time, '' joining the Raleigh, North Carolina police force. Post-mayberry film career On a 1967 Andy Griffith special, Knotts plays the outraged wife of Tennessee Ernie Ford, as Griffith looks on. Knotts went on to star in a series of film comedies that drew on his high - strung persona from the television series : he had a cameo appearance in It 's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ( 1963 ), and starred in The Incredible Mr. Limpet ( 1964 ), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken ( 1966 ), The Reluctant Astronaut ( 1967 ), The Shakiest Gun in the West ( 1968 ), The Love God ? ( 1969 ) and How to Frame a Figg ( 1971 ). Knotts reprised his role as Barney Fife several times in the 1960s : he made five guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show ( gaining him another two Emmy Awards ), and he later appeared once on the spin - off Mayberry RFD, where he was present as best man for the marriage of Andy Taylor and his longtime love, Helen Crump. After making How to Frame a Figg, Knotts ' five - film contract with Universal finished. He continued to work steadily, though he did not appear as a regular on any successful television series until his appearance on Three 's Company in 1979. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Knotts served as the spokesman for Dodge trucks and was featured prominently in a series of print ads and dealer brochures. On television, he went on to host a variety show / sitcom hybrid on NBC, The Don Knotts Show, which aired Tuesdays during the fall of 1970, but the series was low - rated and short - lived. He also made frequent guest appearances on other shows such as The Bill Cosby Show and Here 's Lucy. In 1970, appeared as a Barney Fife - like police officer in the pilot of The New Andy Griffith Show. In 1972, Knotts voiced an animated version of himself in two episodes of The New Scooby Doo Movies : `` The Spooky Fog of Juneberry '', in which he played a lawman resembling Barney Fife, and `` Guess Who 's Knott Coming to Dinner ''. He also appeared as Felix Unger in a stage version of Neil Simon 's The Odd Couple, with Art Carney as Oscar Madison. Beginning in 1975, Knotts was teamed with Tim Conway in a series of slapstick films aimed at children, including the 1975 Disney film The Apple Dumpling Gang and its 1979 sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. They also did two independent films, the boxing comedy The Prize Fighter ( 1979 ), and the mystery comedy The Private Eyes ( 1980 ). Knotts co-starred in several other Disney films, including Gus ( 1976 ), No Deposit, No Return ( 1976 ), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo ( 1977 ) and Hot Lead and Cold Feet ( 1978 ). Three 's Company In 1979, Knotts returned to series television in his second most identifiable role, the wacky - but - lovable landlord Ralph Furley on Three 's Company. The series, which was already an established hit, added Knotts to the cast when the original landlords, Helen Roper and her husband Stanley Roper ( a married couple played by Audra Lindley and Norman Fell, respectively ) left the series to star in their own short - lived spin - off series ( The Ropers ). On set, Knotts easily integrated himself to the already - established cast who were, as John Ritter put it, `` so scared '' of Knotts because of his star status when he joined the cast. When Suzanne Somers left the show after a contract dispute in 1981, the writers started giving the material meant for Somers ' Crissy to Knotts ' Furley. Knotts remained on the series until it ended in 1984. The Three 's Company script supervisor, Carol Summers, became Knotts ' agent and often accompanied him to personal appearances. Later years In 1986, Don Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith in the made - for - television film Return to Mayberry, again reprising his Barney Fife role. In early 1987, Knotts joined the cast of the first - run syndication comedy What a Country !, playing Principal Bud McPherson for the series ' remaining 13 episodes. The sitcom was produced by Martin Rips and Joseph Staretski, who had previously worked on Three 's Company. In 1988, Knotts joined Andy Griffith in another show, playing the recurring role of pesky neighbor Les Calhoun on Matlock until 1992. After that, Knotts \roles were sporadic, including a cameo appearance in the film Big Bully ( 1996 ) as the principal of the high school. In 1998, Knotts played a small but pivotal role as a mysterious TV repairman in Pleasantville. That year, his home town of Morgantown, West Virginia, changed the name of the street formerly known as South University Avenue ( U.S. Route 119 ) to Don Knotts Boulevard on `` Don Knotts Day ''. Also that day, in honor of Knotts ' role as Barney Fife, he was named an honorary deputy sheriff with the Monongalia County Sheriff 's Department. Knotts was recognized in 2000 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He continued to act on stage, but much of his film and television work after 2000 was as voice talent. In Ghost World ( 2001 ) Enid ( Thora Birch ) is asked why she painted a portrait of Don Knotts. She says, `` I just like Don Knotts. '' The portrait in the film may be the last visual image of Knotts in a motion picture. In 2002, he appeared again with Scooby - Doo in the video game Scooby - Doo ! Night of 100 Frights. ( Knotts also spoofed his appearances on that show in various promotions for Cartoon Network and in a parody on Robot Chicken, where he was teamed with Phyllis Diller ). In 2003, Knotts teamed up with Tim Conway again to provide voices for the direct - to - video children 's series Hermie and Friends, which continued until his death. In 2005, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Chicken Little ( 2005 ), his first Disney movie since 1979. On September 12, 2003, Knotts was in Kansas City in a stage version of On Golden Pond when he received a call from John Ritter 's family telling him that his former Three 's Company co-star had died of an aortic dissection that day. Knotts and his co-stars attended the funeral four days later. Knotts had appeared with Ritter one final time in a cameo on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was an episode that paid homage to their earlier television series. Knotts was the last Three 's Company star to work with Ritter. During this period of time, macular degeneration in both eyes caused the otherwise robust Knotts to become virtually blind. His live appearances on television were few. In 2005, Knotts parodied his Ralph Furley character while playing a Paul Young variation in a Desperate Housewives sketch on The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards. He parodied that part one final time, `` Stone Cold Crazy '', an episode of the sitcom That ' 70s Show. In the show, Knotts played Fez and Jackie 's new landlord. This was his last live - action television appearance. His final role was in Air Buddies ( a 2006 direct - to - video sequel to Air Bud ), voicing the sheriff 's deputy dog, Sniffer. Personal life This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( August 2014 ) Knotts was married three times. His marriage to Kathryn Metz lasted from 1947 until their divorce in 1964. He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974 and they divorced in 1983. His third marriage was to Frances Yarborough, from 2002 until his death in 2006. From his first marriage, Knotts had a son, Thomas Knotts, and a daughter, actress Karen Knotts ( born April 2, 1954 ). Knotts struggled with hypochondria and macular degeneration. Death Knotts ' grave Knotts died at age 81 on February 24, 2006, at the Cedars - Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California from pulmonary and respiratory complications of pneumonia related to lung cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at Cedars - Sinai Medical Center in the months before his death, but he returned home after he had reportedly been feeling better. He was buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Knotts ' obituaries cited him as a major influence on other entertainers. In early 2011, his grave 's plain granite headstone was replaced with a bronze plaque that lists several of Knotts ' movie and television roles. A statue honoring Knotts was unveiled on July 23, 2016 in front of The Metropolitan Theatre on High Street in his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia. Filmography Film No Time for Sergeants ( 1958 ) as Cpl. John C. Brown Wake Me When It 's Over ( 1960 ) as Sgt. Percy Warren The Last Time I Saw Archie ( 1961 ) as Capt. Harry Little It 's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ( 1963 ) as the nervous motorist Move Over, Darling ( 1963 ) as Shoe Clerk The Incredible Mr. Limpet ( 1964 ) as Henry Limpet The Ghost and Mr. Chicken ( 1966 ) as Luther Heggs The Reluctant Astronaut ( 1967 ) as Roy Fleming The Shakiest Gun in the West ( 1968 ) as Dr. Jesse W. Heywood The Love God ? ( 1969 ) as Abner Audubon Peacock IV How to Frame a Figg ( 1971 ) as Hollis Alexander Figg The Apple Dumpling Gang ( 1975 ) as Theodore Ogelvie No Deposit, No Return ( 1976 ) as Bert Gus ( 1976 ) as Coach Venner Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo ( 1977 ) as Wheely Applegate Mule Feathers ( 1977 ) as Narrator / The Mule ( voice ) Hot Lead and Cold Feet ( 1978 ) as Sheriff Denver Kid The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again ( 1979 ) as Theodore The Prize Fighter ( 1979 ) as Shake The Private Eyes ( 1980 ) as Inspector Winship Cannonball Run II ( 1984 ) as CHP Officer # 2 Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night ( 1987 ) as Gee Willikers ( voice ) Big Bully ( 1996 ) as Principal Kokelar Cats Do n't Dance ( 1997 ) as T.W. Turtle ( voice ) Pleasantville ( 1998 ) as TV Repairman Tom Sawyer ( 2000 ) as Muff Potter ( voice ) Quints ( 2000 ) as Gov. Healy `` Ghost World '' ( 2001 ) as himself in a portrait Chicken Little ( 2005 ) as Mayor Turkey Lurkey ( voice ) Air Buddies ( 2006 ) as Sniffer ( voice ) Television Search for Tomorrow ( 1953 -- 1955 ) The Steve Allen Show ( 1956 -- 1960 ) as Himself The Gary Moore Show ( 4 episodes 1962 -- 1964 ) as himself McHale 's Navy ( Season 4, Episode 25 ) as Lt. Pratt The Joey Bishop Show ( TV series ) ( 1961 -- 1965 ) ( 1 episode 1964 ) as Barney Fife The Red Skelton Show ( TV series ) ( 5 episodes 1951 -- 1971 ), ( 1961 -- 1965 ) as Commodore of Lagoons / ' Steady Fingers ' Ferguson / Horaces Horatio / Mr. Pallid / Herbie The Andy Griffith Show ( 1960 -- 1968 ) as Barney Fife The New Steve Allen Show ( 1961 -- 1963 ) as Regular The Jerry Lewis Show ( 1 episode 1963 ) as Himself 38th Academy Awards ( 1966 ) ( TV ) himself co-presenter The Don Knotts Special ( 1967 ) ( TV ) himself host / performer The Hollywood Palace ( 1 episode # 7.17 1970 ) as Himself The Don Knotts Show ( 1970 -- 1971 ) as Himself -- Host Don Knotts ' Nice Clean, Decent, Wholesome Hour ( 1970 ) as Himself -- Host / Performer The Man Who Came to Dinner ( 1972 ) as Dr. Bradley The New Scooby - Doo Movies ( 2 episodes 1972 ) ( TV ) as Himself ( voice ) The Flip Wilson Show ( 1970 -- 74 ) ( TV ) ( 2 episodes 1972 -- 1973 ) as Himself Dinah Shore : In Search of the Ideal Man ( 1973 ) ( TV ) as Himself I Love a Mystery ( 1973 ) as Alexander Archer Here 's Lucy ( TV series ) ( 1968 -- 1974 ) ( 1 episode 1973 ) as Ben Fletcher Hollywood Squares ( 4 episodes, 1974 -- 1977 ) as Himself -- Panelist Steve Allen 's Laugh Back ( 1975 ) The Captain & Tennille Show ( 1976 - 1977 ) as Himself ( recurring guest ) The Muppet Show ( 1977 ) as Himself -- Special Guest Star Fantasy Island ( 1978 -- 1979 ) as Felix Birdsong / Stanley Scheckter The Love Boat ( 1979 ) as Herb Grobecker / Devon King Three 's Company ( 1979 -- 1984 ) as Ralph Furley George Burns Comedy Week ( 1985 ) as Himself Return to Mayberry ( 1986 ) as Barney Fife What a Country ! ( 1987 ) as F. Jerry ' Bud ' McPherson The Little Troll Prince ( 1987 ) as Professor Nidaros ( voice ) Matlock ( 1987 -- 1992 ) as Les Calhoun Newhart ( TV series ) ( 1982 -- 1990 ) ( 1 episode Iron 1990 ) as Iron Timmy 's Gift : A Precious Moments Christmas ( 1991 ) as Titus ( voice ) Andy Griffith Show Reunion ( 1993 ) ( TV ) as Himself Burke 's Law ( 1 episode 1994 ) Step by Step ( TV series ) ( 1991 -- 1998 ) ( 1 episode 1993 ) as Deputy Feif 101 Dalmatians : The Series ( TV series ) ( 2 episodes, 1997 - 1998 ) as Additional Voices ( voice ) E ! True Hollywood Story ( 1 episode 1998 ) as Himself Late Night with Conan O'Brien ( 1 episode 1999 ) as Himself Jingle Bells ( 1999 ) as Kris ( voice ) Quints ( 2000 ) as Gov. Healy Inside TV Land : The Andy Griffith Show ( 2000 ) as Himself Biography TV Documentary ( 1987 -- present ) ( 2 episodes 2000 -- 2002 ) as Himself Biography John Ritter : In Good Company ( 2002 ) as Himself Inside TV Land : Cops on Camera ( 2002 ) as Himself Odd Job Jack ( 2003 ) as Dirk Douglas 8 Simple Rules ( 2003 ) as Himself Larry King Live ( TV series ) ( 1985 -- 2010 ) ( 1 episode 2003 ) as Himself The Andy Griffith Show Reunion Back to Mayberry ( 2003 ) ( TV ) as Himself / Barney Fife TV Lands Top Ten ( 2004 ) ( 1 episode ) as Himself Johnny Bravo ( cartoon series ), episode `` Johnny Makeover '' ( 2004 ) as Don Knotts ( voice ) That ' 70s Show ( 2005 ) as The Landlord Las Vegas ( 2005 ) as Himself The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards ( 2005 ) ( TV ) as Paul Young ( segment `` Desperate Classic Housewives '' ) Robot Chicken ( cartoon series ) ( 2005 ) as Himself Hatching Chicken Little ( 2006 ) as Himself CMT : The Greatest -- 20 Greatest Country Comedy Shows ( 2006 ) as Himself Video games Scooby - Doo ! Night of 100 Frights ( 2002 ) Animation videos Hermie and Friends ( 2003 -- 06 ) Awards Year Award Role 2007 On - line Film and Television TV Hall of Fame Actors and Actresses 2005 TV Land Award ( nominated ) Favorite Nosy Neighbor Three 's Company TV Land Award, Legend Award The Andy Griffith Show Shared with : Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, George Lindsey, Elinor Donahue, Betty Lynn, Howard Morris, Maggie Mancuso, Harvey Bullock ( writer ), Earle Hagen ( composer ), Aaron Ruben ( producer ) TV Land Award ( nominated ) Favorite Fashion Plate -- Male Three 's Company 2003 TV Land Award Favorite Second Banana The Andy Griffith Show 2003 TV Land Award ( nominated ) Nosiest Neighbor Three 's Company 2000 Star on the Walk of Fame Television On 19 January 2000. At 7083 Hollywood Blvd. 1967 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy The Andy Griffith Show for episode `` Barney Comes to Mayberry ''. 1967 Golden Laurel ( nominated ) Male Comedy Performance The Reluctant Astronaut ( 5th place ) 1966 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy The Andy Griffith Show for episode `` The Return of Barney Fife ''. 1964 Golden Laurel ( nominated ) Top Male New Face ( 2nd place ) 1963 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor The Andy Griffith Show 1962 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor The Andy Griffith Show 1961 Primetime Emmy Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series The Andy Griffith Show References Jump up ^ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 596. ISBN 0 - 7607 - 5634 - 1. ^ Jump up to : `` Don Donald `` Don '' Knotts ``. Geni.com. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ancestry of Don Knotts ''. Genealogy.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2008. Jump up ^ de Visé, Daniel ( 2015 ). Andy and Don : The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show. New York : Simon & Schuster. p. 5. ISBN 1 - 476747 - 73 - 3. ^ Jump up to : `` Don Knotts -- Marine Drill Instructor ? ''. snopes.com. September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Academy of Distinguished Alumni ''. West Virginia University. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Biography of Don Knotts ''. biography.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Don Knotts Biography ''. imdb.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Don Knotts Obituary ''. legacy.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` No Time for Sergeants : Opening Night Cast ''. Playbill. March 30, 2014. Missing or empty url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Monush, Barry ( 2003 ). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors : From the Silent Era to 1965. 1. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 397. ISBN 1 - 55783 - 551 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Don Knotts. '' Museum of Broadcast Communications Jump up ^ Beck, Ken ; Clark, Jim ( 2000 ). Mayberry Memories : The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album ( 40 ed. ). Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 6. ISBN 1 - 55853 - 830 - 5. Jump up ^ Beck, Ken ; Clark, Jim ( 2000 ). The Andy Griffith Show Book ( 3 ed. ). Macmillan. p. 129. ISBN 0 - 312 - 26287 - 6. Jump up ^ Biography for Don Knotts on IMDb Jump up ^ Collins, Scott ( 25 February 2006 ). `` Don Knotts, star of ' The Andy Griffith Show, ' dead at 81 ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Lokale Nachrichten, Wetter, Entertainment, Wirtschaft, Politik, Sport und Shopping ''. NBC4.tv. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Don Knotts ''. Find a Grave. Retrieved August 30, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Don Knotts Statue Unveiled in Morgantown Knotts ''. wvpublic.org. Retrieved February 8, 2017. Jump up ^ Garlen, Jennifer C. ; Graham, Anissa M. ( 2009 ). Kermit Culture : Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson 's Muppets. McFarland & Company. p. 218. ISBN 078644259X. Further reading The Andy Griffith Show from the Museum of Broadcast Communications `` Emmy - winning comic actor Don Knotts dies at 81 ''. Reuters. February 25, 2006. Archived from the original on June 20, 2005. Estrada, Louie ( 25 February 2006 ). `` Don Knotts, TV 's Barney Fife, Dies ''. Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2010. `` Don Knotts, Actor Known As Shaky Deputy, Dies at 81 ''. The New York Times. February 26, 2006. Heffernan, Virginia ( February 27, 2006 ). `` Don Knotts, Ever Proud to Be a Bumbler ''. The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Klin, Richard. `` Fife and Drum ''. Flagpole, 2006. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Don Knotts. Biography portal Don Knotts on IMDb Don Knotts at the Internet Broadway Database Don Knotts at the TCM Movie Database Don Knotts interview video at the Archive of American Television The West Virginia & Regional History Center has a collection of materials related to the career or Don Knotts Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Art Carney ( 1954 ) Art Carney ( 1955 ) Art Carney ( 1956 ) Carl Reiner ( 1957 ) Carl Reiner ( 1958 ) Tom Poston ( 1959 ) Don Knotts ( 1961 ) Don Knotts ( 1962 ) Don Knotts ( 1963 ) Don Knotts ( 1966 ) Don Knotts ( 1967 ) Werner Klemperer ( 1968 ) Werner Klemperer ( 1969 ) Michael Constantine ( 1970 ) Edward Asner ( 1971 ) Edward Asner ( 1972 ) Ted Knight ( 1973 ) Rob Reiner ( 1974 ) Edward Asner ( 1975 ) Ted Knight ( 1976 ) Gary Burghoff ( 1977 ) Rob Reiner ( 1978 ) Robert Guillaume ( 1979 ) Harry Morgan ( 1980 ) Danny DeVito ( 1981 ) Christopher Lloyd ( 1982 ) Christopher Lloyd ( 1983 ) Pat Harrington, Jr. ( 1984 ) John Larroquette ( 1985 ) John Larroquette ( 1986 ) John Larroquette ( 1987 ) John Larroquette ( 1988 ) Woody Harrelson ( 1989 ) Alex Rocco ( 1990 ) Jonathan Winters ( 1991 ) Michael Jeter ( 1992 ) Michael Richards ( 1993 ) Michael Richards ( 1994 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 1995 ) Rip Torn ( 1996 ) Michael Richards ( 1997 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 1998 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 1999 ) Sean Hayes ( 2000 ) Peter MacNicol ( 2001 ) Brad Garrett ( 2002 ) Brad Garrett ( 2003 ) David Hyde Pierce ( 2004 ) Brad Garrett ( 2005 ) Jeremy Piven ( 2006 ) Jeremy Piven ( 2007 ) Jeremy Piven ( 2008 ) Jon Cryer ( 2009 ) Eric Stonestreet ( 2010 ) Ty Burrell ( 2011 ) Eric Stonestreet ( 2012 ) Tony Hale ( 2013 ) Ty Burrell ( 2014 ) Tony Hale ( 2015 ) Louie Anderson ( 2016 ) Alec Baldwin ( 2017 ) VIAF : 2681377 LCCN : n87922126 ISNI : 0000 0001 0863 484X GND : 106130549X BNF : cb141941031 ( data ) MusicBrainz : 7c8eceb0 - 68ce - 4245 - ba2c - 349bfdb30c55 BNE : XX1561793 IATH : w6n90k70 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Knotts&oldid=815734204 '' Categories : 1924 births 2006 deaths 20th - century American comedians 20th - century American male actors 21st - century American comedians 21st - century American male actors American male comedians American male film actors American male soap opera actors American male television actors American male voice actors American military personnel of World War II American people of English descent Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from lung cancer Disney people Male actors from West Virginia Military personnel from West Virginia Morgantown High School alumni Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Morgantown, West Virginia United States Army soldiers Ventriloquists West Virginia University alumni Hidden categories : All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from February 2016 Pages using web citations with no URL Find a Grave template with ID same as Wikidata Use mdy dates from December 2016 Articles needing additional references from December 2016 All articles needing additional references Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2010 Articles to be expanded from August 2014 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles with IBDb links Articles using Template : EmmyTVLegends name Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Acèh Aragonés Arpetan Asturianu Azərbaycanca Bân - lâm - gú Bikol Central Boarisch Brezhoneg Català Cebuano Čeština Chavacano de Zamboanga Deutsch Dolnoserbski Eesti Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Esperanto Estremeñu Euskara فارسی Français Frysk Galego 한국어 Igbo Italiano Basa Jawa Kiswahili Kurdî Nāhuatl Nederlands 日本 語 Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Papiamentu Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog Türkçe Türkmençe Українська Vèneto Volapük Winaray Yorùbá Zazaki Edit links This page was last edited on 16 December 2017, at 19 : 51. 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Question: who played barney fife on the andy griffith show
Answer: Jesse Donald Knotts