So Long To The Original Barney

o_deadly furby · 02-26-2006, 03:32 PM

Don Knotts, star of 'The Andy Griffith Show,' dead at 81

Full Story

US actor Don Knotts, famous for his portrayal of the bumbling, jittery deputy on the television comedy series "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at the age of 81, news reports said.

Knotts died late Friday of lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his manager Sherwin Bash told the Los Angeles Times.

Knotts appeared in numerous television series and films but he rose to fame playing the high-strung Deputy Barney Fife in a fictional small town sheriff's office on the Griffith show.

Knotts won five Emmy Awards for his role and often ended up stealing the spotlight from Griffith, who played Sheriff Andy Taylor.

The series consistently earned top ratings during its eight-year run on CBS television between 1960 to 1968, with many of the episodes focused on the sheriff rescuing Fife from his latest panicky predicament.

Sheriff Taylor allowed his nervous deputy to carry only one bullet and required him to keep it in his shirt pocket to avoid more disasters.

On Friday, his former co-star Griffith was one of his last visitors at the hospital, family members said.

Born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924 to a poor family in Morgantown, West Virginia, Knotts dropped out of college to make a career as a comedian and actor.

His big break came in the late 1950s, when he joined a comedy team on "The Steve Allen Show," where he cultivated his "nervous man" routine.

Despite leading roles in several comedy movies, including "The Incredible Mr Limpet" (1964), "The Ghost and Mr Chicken" (1966) and "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), Knotts never achieved genuine film stardom.

A younger generation of comedians has come to admire Knotts, including Jim Carrey who expressed interest at one point in a remake of "The Incredible Mr Limpet." The film tells the story of a meek man rejected by the Navy who is transformed into a graceful fish.

Knotts is also known for his role on another television comedy series in the 1970s and 80s, "Three's Company."

He played Ralph Furley, the suspicious landlord with delusions about being a swinger.

Despite health problems, Knotts continued to work in recent years. He provided the voice for Turkey Mayor in Walt Disney's animated family film "Chicken Little," released in November 2005.

He also appeared on "Las Vegas" on NBC and on Fox's "That '70s Show."

o_yomamashouse · 02-26-2006, 04:38 PM

Man you had me all excited.

o_vampiricus · 02-26-2006, 07:38 PM

Interesting life he had, too bad it lacked recognition. But something tells me he wasnt in it for that.

o_geokill-----> · 02-26-2006, 09:59 PM

Damn This sucks, I admire this guy, brough me laughs when I use to watch the show as a kid.

I also remember him showing up on Scooby Doo

o_sobe green · 02-26-2006, 10:01 PM

What was strange was just a month ago I was thinking about how old he was and how weird it would be when he died. Well now we've lost Barney and Miyagi.

o_lithium · 02-26-2006, 10:02 PM

Who the hell is Barney

o_etzell · 02-26-2006, 10:20 PM

Of course, no one mentions "The Old Man"'s death.

Darren McGavin

NOTAFINGA!

o_broodingdude · 02-27-2006, 01:33 AM

was I supposed to care?

I hated the Andy Griffith show... it usually meant the end of cartoons for the day.

o_puppychow · 02-27-2006, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etzell

Of course, no one mentions "The Old Man"'s death.

Darren McGavin

NOTAFINGA!

that made me sad.

christmas story remains one of my favorite movies ever.

o_thedarkone · 02-28-2006, 07:55 AM

"Where's Otis? He's not in his cell."
"I shot him."
"Well that's... what?!"
"And now, I'm going down to Emmett's Fix-It Shop... to fix Emmett."

02-26-2006, 03:32 PM	#1
o_deadly furby Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cell Block 17 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	So Long To The Original Barney Don Knotts, star of 'The Andy Griffith Show,' dead at 81 Full Story US actor Don Knotts, famous for his portrayal of the bumbling, jittery deputy on the television comedy series "The Andy Griffith Show," has died at the age of 81, news reports said. Knotts died late Friday of lung cancer at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his manager Sherwin Bash told the Los Angeles Times. Knotts appeared in numerous television series and films but he rose to fame playing the high-strung Deputy Barney Fife in a fictional small town sheriff's office on the Griffith show. Knotts won five Emmy Awards for his role and often ended up stealing the spotlight from Griffith, who played Sheriff Andy Taylor. The series consistently earned top ratings during its eight-year run on CBS television between 1960 to 1968, with many of the episodes focused on the sheriff rescuing Fife from his latest panicky predicament. Sheriff Taylor allowed his nervous deputy to carry only one bullet and required him to keep it in his shirt pocket to avoid more disasters. On Friday, his former co-star Griffith was one of his last visitors at the hospital, family members said. Born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924 to a poor family in Morgantown, West Virginia, Knotts dropped out of college to make a career as a comedian and actor. His big break came in the late 1950s, when he joined a comedy team on "The Steve Allen Show," where he cultivated his "nervous man" routine. Despite leading roles in several comedy movies, including "The Incredible Mr Limpet" (1964), "The Ghost and Mr Chicken" (1966) and "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), Knotts never achieved genuine film stardom. A younger generation of comedians has come to admire Knotts, including Jim Carrey who expressed interest at one point in a remake of "The Incredible Mr Limpet." The film tells the story of a meek man rejected by the Navy who is transformed into a graceful fish. Knotts is also known for his role on another television comedy series in the 1970s and 80s, "Three's Company." He played Ralph Furley, the suspicious landlord with delusions about being a swinger. Despite health problems, Knotts continued to work in recent years. He provided the voice for Turkey Mayor in Walt Disney's animated family film "Chicken Little," released in November 2005. He also appeared on "Las Vegas" on NBC and on Fox's "That '70s Show."

02-26-2006, 04:38 PM	#2
o_yomamashouse Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Your Mamas House Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Man you had me all excited.

02-26-2006, 07:38 PM	#3
o_vampiricus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Interesting life he had, too bad it lacked recognition. But something tells me he wasnt in it for that.

02-26-2006, 09:59 PM	#4
o_geokill-----> Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Fort Worth, Tejas Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Damn This sucks, I admire this guy, brough me laughs when I use to watch the show as a kid. I also remember him showing up on Scooby Doo

02-26-2006, 10:01 PM	#5
o_sobe green Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	What was strange was just a month ago I was thinking about how old he was and how weird it would be when he died. Well now we've lost Barney and Miyagi.

02-26-2006, 10:02 PM	#6
o_lithium Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Who the hell is Barney

02-26-2006, 10:20 PM	#7
o_etzell Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Of course, no one mentions "The Old Man"'s death. Darren McGavin NOTAFINGA!

02-27-2006, 01:33 AM	#8
o_broodingdude Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	was I supposed to care? I hated the Andy Griffith show... it usually meant the end of cartoons for the day.

02-28-2006, 07:55 AM	#10
o_thedarkone Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	"Where's Otis? He's not in his cell." "I shot him." "Well that's... what?!" "And now, I'm going down to Emmett's Fix-It Shop... to fix Emmett."

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