Stories
Don Knotts said that trying to make Andy Griffith break character on The Andy Griffith Show made him funnier
They were best pals, and even better actors.
May 1, 2025, 4:20PM
Don Knotts' favorite episode of The Andy Griffith Show is probably yours too
Can you guess which episode won his heart?
May 1, 2025, 2:14PM
Andy Griffith and Don Knotts had an opportunity to reconnect when Griffith offered Knotts the role of Barney Fife
The two pals were long overdue for a reunion.
April 28, 2025, 2:53PM
One producer on The Andy Griffith Show said he knew ''Andy and Don's weaknesses so well,'' and said Don Knotts was fragile
Learn how writers Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell shaped The Andy Griffith Show's slapstick comedy, drawing from their experience and crafting unforgettable moments for Don Knotts.
April 17, 2025, 10:19AM
Deputy Don: The real-life Barney Fife's relationship with the police
How was Mayberry's finest treated by the boys in blue?
April 4, 2025, 3:20PM
Don Knotts taught Jim Nabors how to handle a rifle to help him prepare for his role in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Barney Fife couldn't be trusted with more than one bullet, but Don Knotts was an expert.
April 2, 2025, 2:20PM
Don Knotts was only possessive of one of his characters
This was one of the actor's favorite roles.
March 19, 2025, 11:54AM
Don Knotts had uncredited help from an old friend in crafting ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken''
Here's how Andy Griffith pitched in!
March 17, 2025, 10:44AM
Andy Griffith: ''We're going to have to be careful'' without Don Knotts
The series may have been different, but they were still working hard!
February 24, 2025, 3:36PM
Frances Bavier's final moments: The special arrangements provided by Chatham County Hospital
"She wants to put it behind her."
February 13, 2025, 11:33AM
Don Knotts was at the head table of his high school reunion— But not because he was famous!
The 60-year gathering was held in 2002.
February 7, 2025, 1:37PM
Don Knotts and Andy Griffith shared a dislike for sitcoms
"You see, Andy I have a pet hate - situation comedy," said Knotts.
February 7, 2025, 11:30AM
Don Knotts: ''There's a little Barney in me, I'm sure.''
Knotts revealed where the character came from in a conversation with Conan O'Brien.
January 21, 2025, 11:35AM
Don Knotts and Andy Griffith helped put Jim Nabors at ease when he was nervous during his first appearance on The Andy Griffith Show
The two comedy giants were also two pretty cool guys.
December 27, 2024, 2:41PM
Don Knotts preferred the schedule of The Andy Griffith Show to his variety show past
The dependable calendar was a reward after years of hard, topsy-turvy work.
December 13, 2024, 11:47AM
Don Knotts said that Ron Howard was ''the best-behaved child actor I ever worked with''
He also praised Rance Howard!
November 14, 2024, 11:13AM
Andy Griffith hoped that he and Don Knotts would go on to star in films together after The Andy Griffith Show ended
The two actors were inseparable.
November 7, 2024, 2:01PM
Don Knotts said that this secret was ''the only way to survive in show business.''
He foresaw the work that a long career would necessitate!
November 6, 2024, 10:45AM
Don Knotts' expert advice on how to deal with bullies
To quote Singin' in the Rain, "Make 'em laugh!"
November 5, 2024, 3:41PM
Here's why Andy Griffith said that they'd have to be ''careful'' filming a new season of The Andy Griffith Show without Don Knotts
Knotts leaving left an opening.
October 25, 2024, 3:40PM
Don Knotts called playing Barney Fife ''the richest experience of my life.''
For Knotts, nothing compared to playing Barney.
October 25, 2024, 2:08PM
Don Knotts revealed the most humiliating moment in his acting career
Knotts was kind enough to reveal one of his more embarrassing days on set to us.
October 11, 2024, 2:30PM
Don Knotts was a nervous wreck when The Ghost and Mr. Chicken premiered
Leaving the safety of a regular TV show for the silver screen was a gamble, and Knotts was well aware of the risk.
October 10, 2024, 10:53AM
Don Knotts tried to audition for ''The Jackie Gleason Show''
Barney Norton?!
October 3, 2024, 11:39AM
Don Knotts explained the many sides of comedy
"You have to stick to a basic humor."
September 30, 2024, 11:09AM
Don Knotts was a big help in The Andy Griffith Show writer's room
Knotts wasn't just an actor.
September 24, 2024, 10:57AM
Don Knotts on the importance of timing in his career
Knotts knew that timing was everything.
September 24, 2024, 10:41AM
Don Knotts: Working with Orson Welles was ''a fascinating learning experience''
There were ups and downs, but it was always interesting!
September 23, 2024, 12:24PM
Tim Conway intended to be a part of a movie duo— but not with Don Knotts
Hollywood, it seems, had other plans.
September 19, 2024, 2:21PM
Andy Griffith had the seat Don Knotts used during table readings bronzed and sent it as a goodbye gift when Knotts left the series
Griffith gave Knotts a present he wouldn't soon forget.
August 30, 2024, 10:22AM
Don Knotts' insight into humor's ever-changing landscape
"Comedians are in a tough position now"
April 25, 2024, 2:51PM
Don Knotts revealed that one of the best bits of ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken'' was actually created by Andy Griffith
The Andy Griffith Show was more than just a television series.
April 23, 2024, 11:52AM
Andy Griffith Show memories led Don Knotts to ''The Ghost and Mr. Chicken''
Here's how the iconic show informed the hit movie!
April 19, 2024, 1:10PM
Don Knotts' son reveals the most intense phase of his father's career
1970 was a rough year!
April 17, 2024, 3:37PM
The last-ditch effort to save The Don Knotts Show
A behind-the-scenes look at the ill-fated show's decline
April 17, 2024, 11:58AM
Don Knotts' ''The Incredible Mr. Limpet'' was almost remade with Jim Carrey in the lead role
Brad Bird, director of The Incredibles, was signed on, too!
April 5, 2024, 11:21AM
Don Knotts: ''there'll be some Barney Fife'' in Matlock character Les Calhoun
Andy Griffith stacked the cards in his favor by casting his friend.
April 1, 2024, 9:39AM
Don Knotts: "If I had known that Andy intended to go on with [The Andy Griffith Show], of course I would've stayed."
Knotts might have been prepared to be Barney Fife forever.
March 29, 2024, 1:07PM
Despite his talent for comedy, it was always Don Knotts' dream to play a serious character
"I doubt that I'll ever get that chance."
March 25, 2024, 9:55AM
A Florida town once made Don Knotts an honorary deputy
While making an appearance to promote his film, Knotts was given the award of a lifetime.
March 22, 2024, 1:48PM
The real reason why Don Knotts wasn't in the pilot episode of The Andy Griffith Show
Simply put, there wasn't a Barney, yet.
March 19, 2024, 11:07AM
Don Knotts was always willing to play Barney Fife again, if Andy Griffith asked
Knotts couldn't say no to Griffith.
March 18, 2024, 9:54AM
Don Knotts wanted to be an actor first, and then comedy followed
He loved movies first, and comedy second.
March 15, 2024, 11:23AM
Frances Bavier on Don Knotts: ''I don't think I said more than five words to him'' during the entire run of The Andy Griffith Show
Aunt Bee gives us the real scoop.
March 12, 2024, 3:32PM
Tim Conway said Barney Fife was ''one of the greatest, funniest, and truest personalities ever seen on the screen''
The movie pair held each other in high regard.
March 11, 2024, 2:13PM
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, and Ron Howard had a little ''Andy Griffith Show'' reunion at a wedding
Mayberry now, Mayberry forever!
March 8, 2024, 1:11PM
Don Knotts said that the cast of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' was ''terrified'' when the series hit number one in the ratings
Why the triumph had Knotts and the cast shaking in their boots.
March 7, 2024, 11:44AM
Don Knotts revealed why he actually preferred being the second banana to a television star
Knotts explained why there was some value in being the sidekick.
March 6, 2024, 1:55PM
Don Knotts dated a star from Little House on the Prairie. Here's why it didn't work out
Can you guess which actress it was?
March 6, 2024, 9:27AM
Don Knotts' financial feud with Andy Griffith: The real reason Barney left Mayberry?
Why did Knotts leave for Hollywood?
February 22, 2024, 10:30AM
Ron Howard and Betty Lynn cried when Don Knotts left Mayberry
Tears flowed when the actor left the show.
February 22, 2024, 8:54AM
About that time Don Knotts was ''Man of the Year'' at a college fraternity
We already knew Don Knotts was the man, but his former frat gave him the title of "Man of the Year."
February 14, 2024, 3:05PM
Andy Griffith coached his cast to speak with a North Carolina accent
Some of the actors were quicker to pick up on the drawl than others.
February 14, 2024, 9:09AM
Don Knotts admitted that he preferred ''The Andy Griffith Show'' to ''Three's Company''
Knotts would take Barney Fife over anyone, any day.
February 13, 2024, 3:38PM
Ron Howard on ''The Andy Griffith Show'': ''For Andy, the show was never the same after Don left''
Griffith was losing a friend and a partner in comedy.
February 6, 2024, 9:21AM
Don Knotts asked Tina Louise of ''Gilligan's Island'' out once a week for an entire year
The Andy Griffith Show/Gilligan's Island crossover we never knew we needed.
January 29, 2024, 3:39PM
Betty Lynn was told Thelma Lou was replaceable
Don Knotts said that they wouldn't have let her go, but Betty Lynn wasn't so sure.
January 17, 2024, 11:16AM
Don Knotts once embarrassed his daughter at college by driving to campus in a Mayberry squad car
Imagine: A cop crashes your college party, but that cop is Barney Fife.
January 8, 2024, 2:23PM
A 2006 tribute to Don Knotts ended in controversy
A statue built to commemorate Barney Fife resulted in a PR disaster.
January 5, 2024, 10:40AM
Betty Lynn remembered her first time playing Thelma Lou with Don Knotts
Knotts would read Lynn his poetry.
January 3, 2024, 4:18PM
Don Knotts would make Andy Griffith laugh so hard he'd punch walls
Knotts had Griffith in stitches.
January 3, 2024, 2:36PM
Don Knotts would write poetry in his time away from The Andy Griffith Show
Knotts was a silly comedian who wrote some serious poetry after his time in Mayberry.
January 2, 2024, 3:14PM
Don Knotts said TV was ''like being in a big tomb''
Being deputy of Mayberry was no easy feat!
December 6, 2023, 11:18AM
Here's how Don Knotts dealt with critics
NBC executives wanted to ruin The Don Knotts Show.
November 17, 2023, 3:23PM
Don Knotts always thought of Barney as a kid
"You can always look into the faces of kids and see what they're thinking."
November 8, 2023, 4:14PM
Jim Carrey once thanked Don Knotts when he visited the set of How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Even idols have their own idols.
November 8, 2023, 10:27AM
After Don Knotts left ''The Andy Griffith Show,'' Betty Lynn was offered another storyline — but she wouldn't take it
After Knotts left the show, Lynn decided it was time to leave Mayberry.
October 24, 2023, 3:34PM
Do you remember when Don Knotts guest-starred on Matlock?
From Mayberry to Matlock, Knotts could do it all.
October 23, 2023, 2:51PM
Don Knotts understood what made The Andy Griffith Show special
Mayberry just wasn't like other TV towns.
October 23, 2023, 11:20AM
The story of the Don Knotts Film Festival
Which Knotts movies would you pick to show?
October 23, 2023, 10:50AM
Don Knotts didn't want anyone thinking Barney Fife was ''nervous''
Barney Fife was no "nervous man."
October 16, 2023, 10:15AM
Jim Nabors' comedy chops made him the envy of his co-stars
Gomer was so funny that Andy and Don were secretly jealous
October 4, 2023, 11:11AM
Don Knotts was almost in Disney's Haunted Mansion (2003)
The star of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was nearly the mansion's groundskeeper.
September 19, 2023, 10:17AM
Andy Griffith was a fan of Don Knotts years before they met
''I knew I recognized that voice!''
August 29, 2023, 4:27PM