Posted on 02/25/2006 2:38:42 PM PST by lunarbicep
LOS ANGELES - Don Knotts, the skinny, lovable nerd who kept generations of television audiences laughing as bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on "The Andy Griffith Show," has died. He was 81.
Knotts died Friday night of pulmonary and respiratory complications at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, said Paul Ward, a spokesman for the cable network TV Land, which airs "The Andy Griffith Show," and another Knotts hit, "Three's Company."
Unspecified health problems had forced him to cancel an appearance in his native Morgantown in August 2005.
The West Virginia-born actor's half-century career included seven TV series and more than 25 films, but it was the Griffith show that brought him TV immortality and five Emmies.
The show ran from 1960-68, and was in the top 10 of the Nielsen ratings each season, including a No. 1 ranking its final year. It is one of only three series in TV history to bow out at the top: The others are "I Love Lucy" and "Seinfeld." The 249 episodes have appeared frequently in reruns and have spawned a large, active network of fan clubs.
As the bug-eyed deputy to Griffith, Knotts carried in his shirt pocket the one bullet he was allowed after shooting himself in the foot. The constant fumbling, a recurring sight gag, was typical of his self-deprecating humor.
Knotts, whose shy, soft-spoken manner was unlike his high-strung characters, once said he was most proud of the Fife character and doesn't mind being remembered that way.
His favorite episodes, he said, were "The Pickle Story," where Aunt Bea makes pickles no one can eat, and "Barney and the Choir," where no one can stop him from singing. "I can't sing. It makes me sad that I can't sing or dance well enough to be in a musical, but I'm just not talented in that way," he lamented. "It's one of my weaknesses
Remember the time Barney tried to recite the pre-amble to the Constitution for Andy, and Andy had to prompt him through the whole thing. Classic American comedy! Don Knotts was great.
R.I.P. "Deputy".
One of the best TV shows ever. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
Rest in peace Mr. Knotts.
The The Andy Griffith Show would never have made without old Barney.
You done good, Don.
If this planet is around in a thousand years, people will still be laughing at (and with) Deputy Fife.
Don Knotts passes.
You could learn alot about life from watching Andy Griffith. And insecure Barney was at the heart of the show. I loved the way Andy always looked out for his goofy friend.
What a loss.
Thank You Mr. Knotts, for the FREEDOM and the laughs.
Don Knotts spent a great deal of time in Traverse City, Michigan at the Cherry County Playhouse...In later years when the theater was move to Muskegon, Michigan, Don frequented that city as well...
Some of the old time actors spent a lot of time in Traverse City...The Ponderosa crew were seen there often...There were a few scenes in the Ponderosa series that were actually filmed in Traverse City, Mich...
These 'giants' of television also participated in the annual local parade during the Grand Traverse Cherry Festival...
Just a little history I am familiar with...
Nobody made me laugh harder than Don Knotts. RIP
Oh I remember..I watch Andy on Classic TV when ever it is on!
I will miss him..the greatest deputy!
And Hillary lives.
Go figure.
Barney Fife, best sitcom character ever.
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