The part began a string of appearances in low-budget family films for Knotts, including The Ghost and Mr. Chicken , The Reluctant Astronaut and The Shakiest Gun in the West , winning him widespread recognition as a film actor. By , however, Knotts's clean-cut humor seemed somewhat out of place in a more sophisticated film industry, and he began to appear in a series of somewhat more juvenile films, beginning in with the Disney comedy-Western The Apple Dumpling Gang , co-starring comedian Tim Conway, who became a frequent collaborator.
He remained on the show until it went off the air in Teaming with Griffith once more, Knotts played a pesky neighbor in a recurring role on Griffith's courtroom drama series, Matlock , from to Knotts, who at various times in his career struggled with severe hypochondria and a degenerative eye disease, had somewhat of a career resurgence in the late s.
In , he played a key role in the acclaimed movie Pleasantville , as a mysterious TV repairman who ushers two s youngsters into the black-and-white world of s television. Knotts died of lung cancer on February 24, , at the age of 81, in Los Angeles, California. He was survived by two children, Karen and Thomas, from his first marriage to Kathryn Metz.
While in high school, Don Knotts picked up ventriloquism and began practicing as a comedian. Always a performer, Don Knotts is said to have been cracking jokes and telling stories, even on his death bed.
On his grave is a plaque that features depictions of Knotts in a few of his more famous roles. Contact us to request to contribute to our blog. Around The Web Provided by Taboola. Create a list ». Favorite Sidekick. My 20 Favorite Comedic Actors. Would-be Batman '66 villain actors. See all related lists ». Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDb page. Find out more at IMDbPro ». How Much Have You Seen? How much of Don Knotts's work have you seen?
Favorite TV Bromance? TV Sidekicks with Kick See more polls ». Won 5 Primetime Emmys. See more awards ». Known For. Pleasantville TV Repairman. Three's Company Ralph Furley. Show all Hide all Show by Hide Show Actor 84 credits. Mauzer - Birds, Bees and Bindlebeep Edwin Mazur voice. Mauzer voice. The Landlord. Don Knotts voice. Dirk Douglas. Additional Voices voice. Turtle voice. Deputy Feif. Les Calhoun. Show all 17 episodes. As a child, he was unhappy and self-conscious about his lean-limbed appearance.
He had a brother who was so thin family members called him "Shadow. Knotts began performing in his teens, developing a ventriloquist routine alongside a dummy named Danny. He enlisted in the U. Next, Knotts studied speech at West Virginia University. He auditioned for radio gigs and spent the early s playing a know-it-all geezer handyman on the children's radio western Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders. Knotts also landed television roles and appeared on Search for Tomorrow from to On this CBS soap, Knotts played a maladjusted young man so unstable he refused to communicate with anyone but his sister.
This was Knotts' first—and only—non-comedic role of his career. Knotts generated a buzz in playing a fussy military evaluator on Broadway in the Ira Levin comedy No Time for Sergeants.
One of the recruits Knotts' character evaluated in the play was a hillbilly draftee played by a little-known actor named Andy Griffith. Morrison, the "nervous man. Knotts' character was clearly nervous and agitated about the situation.
Whenever Allen asked him if he was nervous, his eyes would pop out, yet he would answer with a quivery "nope" that set the crowd howling. The routine made him famous. Knotts and Griffith teamed up again for the feature film version of No Time for Sergeants.
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