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Don Knotts

Actor

"I think it requires being conscious of timing and conscious of your straight man.   Andy and I, in essence, I was really being a second banana.  Not that Andy played it that funny, but he had jokes. Not jokes, but he had some humor to his character. It's just all part of comedy."

About This Interview

Don Knotts (1924-2006) was interviewed for three hours in Los Angeles, CA.  Mr. Knotts discussed his early comedy routines and ventriloquism acts which led to radio and television appearances on The Lanny Ross Show (radio), Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (radio/TV), The Garry Moore Show (television) and Steve Allen's Tonight show (television).  The latter show's appearances segued into Knotts's work as a regular on The Steve Allen Show , appearing memorably in the "Man on the Street" sketches with Tom Poston and Louis Nye, which Mr. Knotts described.  He also discussed his early work in radio as a regular on the juvenile western adventure show Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders as well as the television soap opera Search For Tomorrow .  Mr. Knotts went into great detail in his discussion of The Andy Griffith Show , in which he played "Deputy Barney Fife," a role that won him five Emmy Awards.  He talked about his personal and professional relationship with actor Andy Griffith that began with their appearance together on Broadway in "No Time For Sergeants" and continued throughout both of their respective careers.  He also discussed his appearances on various television variety shows and specials; his feature film appearances; and his work on the series The Don Knotts Show, Three's Company, and Matlock .  The interview was conducted by Gary Rutkowski on July 22, 1999.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
  • Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors Special, The
  • Andy Williams Show, The
  • Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
  • Don Knotts Show, The
  • Don Knotts' Nice Clean Decent Wholesome Hour
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
  • Garry Moore Show, The
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame
  • Here's Lucy
  • Imogene Coca Show, The
  • Jerry Lewis Show, The (1963, ABC)
  • Matlock
  • Red Skelton Show, The
  • Return to Mayberry
  • Search For Tomorrow
  • Steve Allen Show, The (1956-1961, NBC)
  • Three's Company
  • To Tell the Truth
  • Tonight (The Tonight Show with Steve Allen)

People

  • Steve Allen
  • Lucille Ball
  • Tim Conway
  • Bill Dana
  • Lee Grant
  • Everett Greenbaum
  • Andy Griffith
  • Ron Howard
  • Sheldon Leonard
  • Howard Morris
  • Tom Poston
  • Aaron Ruben
  • Suzanne Somers
  • Orson Welles
  • Andy Williams

Topics

  • Bloopers
  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Pop Culture
  • We Laughed

Professions

  • Performers

Featured Content

Video: Don Knotts as "Wilbur Peterson" on an episode of Search for Tomorrow (c. 1953-54) also with: Mary Stuart, Coe Norton, and Cliff Hall; w. Irving Vendig, d. Ira Cirker (from the Internet Archive)

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Highlights

  • Don Knotts on where his sense of humor came fromDon Knotts on where his sense of humor came from
    Clip begins at: 00:04, Duration: 03m 13s
  • Don Knotts on working with Andy Griffith: the ultimate "straight man"Don Knotts on working with Andy Griffith: the ultimate "straight man"
    Clip begins at: 03:39
  • Don Knotts on the premise of <i>Three's Company</i>  and his character, "Mr. Furley"Don Knotts on the premise of Three's Company and his character, "Mr. Furley"
    Clip begins at: 00:19
  • Don Knotts on the regular cast of <i>The Steve Allen Show</i>  with Louis Nye, Tom Poston.Don Knotts on the regular cast of The Steve Allen Show with Louis Nye, Tom Poston.
    Clip begins at: 00:04

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his hometown and background; on his interest in magic, the movies, and radio; on performing as a ventriloquist as a teenager; on his schooling
    Clip begins at: 0:50
  • On performing during his WWII service; on breaking in to professional show business on radio (through singer Lanny Ross) and television, including an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
    Clip begins at: 09:37
  • On his regular role as "Windy Wales" on the radio show Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders; on his radio colleagues; on getting a part from actor-turned-producer Charles Irving on Search for Tomorrow; on his character ("Wilbur Peterson"), fellow actors, and performing "live" (including a story about actor Les Damon going up on his lines) on Search for Tomorrow
    Clip begins at: 19:17
  • Part 2
  • On appearing on The Imogene Coca Show;  on seeing a funny act of Ben Blue, prompting him to get his first television set; on his "nervous man" act that he performed on The Garry Moore Show and Tonight (with Steve Allen)
    Clip begins at: 0:30
  • On appearing on The Garry Moore Show; on his regular appearances on The Steve Allen Show and the famed "Man on the Street" recurring sketch that he did with Allen, Louis Nye, and Tom Poston
    Clip begins at: 14:30
  • On a big laugh he got playing the nervous character in the "man on the Street" sketch on The Steve Allen Show; on Steve Allen (and his writers); on a funny take-off of To Tell the Truth (he accidentally references What's My Line) that he participated in on The Steve Allen Show with guest star Errol Flynn
    Clip begins at: 20:17
  • Part 3
  • On his Steve Allen Show co-stars Louis Nye, Tom Postman, and Dayton Allen; on co-star/writer Bill Dana (and on the weatherman sketch on The Steve Allen Show); on when The Steve Allen Show went to Havanna
    Clip begins at: 0:30
  • On getting cast on The Andy Griffith Show;  on Andy Griffith Show executive producer Sheldon Leonard and producer-writer Aaron Ruben; on a production workweek of The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 10:53
  • On the settling in of the Barney/Andy Taylor characterizations on The Andy Griffith Show;  on  director Bob Sweeney; on how The Andy Griffith Show developed into a character-driven (rather than joke-driven) sitcom; on Andy Griffith personally
    Clip begins at: 20:32
  • Part 4
  • On shooting exteriors for The Andy Griffith Show; on The Andy Griffith Show's setting of Mayberry; on working with Andy Griffith: the ultimate "straight man"; on Andy Griffith Show co-stars Frances Bavier, Ron(ny) Howard, Howard McNear
    Clip begins at: 0:22
  • On Andy Griffith Show co-stars Hal Smith, Betty Lynn, Jim Nabors, and Howard Morris; on the working methods of Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney
    Clip begins at: 11:18
  • On Andy Griffith Show writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum; on winning his first Emmy Award; on leaving The Andy Griffith Show as a regular (in 1965)
    Clip begins at: 19:52
  • Part 5
  • On Red Skelton, and his famed "blue" rehearsals and joke file; guesting on The Andy Williams Show;  on a funny bit he did with director Stanley Kramer on The Jerry Lewis Show); on being typecast; on his subsequent Emmy wins for playing "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his work on a string of Disney films; on working with Tim Conway in movies; on The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and The Incredible Mr. Limpet; on his impressions of MCA executive/agent Lew Wasserman; on TV specials: The Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors Special and Don Knotts' Nice Clean Decent Wholesome Hour
    Clip begins at: 10:05
  • On his short-lived comedy-variety series The Don Knotts Show;  on Lucille Ball (whom he worked with on Here's Lucy); on working with Orson Welles on Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner"; on TV pilots; on getting Three's Company
    Clip begins at: 18:24
  • Part 6
  • On Three's Company producers Michael Ross and Bernard West; on his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley" and his outrageous clothes; on getting used to the three-camera sitcom filming style; on going up on his lines when first doing Three's Company;  
    Clip begins at: 0:48
  • On his Three's Company co-stars; on performing his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley's" 'fainting spell' backward falls; on Suzanne Somers' departure from Three's Company; on Three's Company director Dave Powers' one-take policy and a joke he played on Powers on his first day; on the end of Three's Company
    Clip begins at: 08:59
  • On the experience of doing the Andy Griffith Show reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry; on his appearance as a recurring character on Matlock, without the comedy he could play off of, as he did with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show; on the feature film Pleasantville; on his approach to acting
    Clip begins at: 20:52

Shows

  • Andy Griffith Show, The
    • Don Knotts on getting cast on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 10:53, Duration: 02m 12s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show executive producer Sheldon Leonard
      Clip begins at: 13:23, Duration: 01m 13s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show producer-writer Aaron Ruben (and Knotts' contribution to the writing of the show)
      Clip begins at: 15:31, Duration: 01m 29s
    • Don Knotts on the workweek during production of The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 18:10, Duration: 02m 22s
    • Don Knotts on his Andy Griffith Show character "Barney Fife"
      Clip begins at: 20:35, Duration: 00m 14s
    • Don Knotts on the settling in of the Barney/Andy Taylor characterizations on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 22:21, Duration: 01m 05s
    • Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney
      Clip begins at: 24:45, Duration: 01m 18s
    • Don Knotts on how The Andy Griffith Show developed into a character-driven (rather than joke-driven) sitcom 
      Clip begins at: 26:26, Duration: 01m 20s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith, personally
      Clip begins at: 27:48, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Don Knotts on shooting exteriors for The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 01:08, Duration: 00m 59s
    • Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show's setting of Mayberry (and the episode "Man in a Hurry")
      Clip begins at: 02:07, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Don Knotts on working with Andy Griffith: the ultimate "straight man"
      Clip begins at: 03:08, Duration: 01m 13s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Frances Bavier ("Aunt Bee")
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 00m 57s
    • Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show episode "The Pickle Story"
      Clip begins at: 05:40, Duration: 01m 11s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Ron(ny) Howard ("Opie")
      Clip begins at: 07:05, Duration: 01m 05s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Howard McNear ("Floyd, the Barber") and the episode "Convicts-at-Large"
      Clip begins at: 09:18, Duration: 02m 00s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Hal Smith ("Otis, the town drunk")
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 00m 49s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show semi-regular Betty Lynn ("Thelma Lou")
      Clip begins at: 12:17, Duration: 00m 24s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-stars Jim Nabors ("Gomer") and George Lindsey ("Goober")
      Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 00m 34s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show semi-regular Howard Morris ("Ernest T. Bass")
      Clip begins at: 14:16, Duration: 00m 28s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney's method for getting a funny take (even at the expense of the actor)
      Clip begins at: 15:45, Duration: 02m 31s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney's interest in the depth of a scene (and director Alan Rafkin's approach)
      Clip begins at: 19:13, Duration: 00m 39s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum
      Clip begins at: 20:52, Duration: 01m 18s
    • Don Knotts on a funny sight gag from the Andy Griffith Show episode "Barney's Sidecar"
      Clip begins at: 22:43, Duration: 00m 22s
    • Don Knotts on winning his first Emmy Award (for The Andy Griffith Show)
      Clip begins at: 24:27, Duration: 00m 24s
    • Don Knotts on leaving The Andy Griffith Show as a regular (in 1965)
      Clip begins at: 25:32, Duration: 01m 28s
    • Don Knotts on being typecast from his popularity as "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 06:52, Duration: 00m 38s
    • Don Knotts on his subsequent Emmy wins for playing "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 08:12, Duration: 00m 27s
    • Don Knotts on the experience of doing the Andy Griffith Show reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry
      Clip begins at: 20:54, Duration: 02m 53s
  • Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors Special, The
    • Don Knotts on how The Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Jim Nabors Special came about
      Clip begins at: 16:00, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Andy Williams Show, The
    • Don Knotts on how he came to guest on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 03:05, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
    • Don Knotts on asking a friend to be a talent scout to "discover" him when he was booked on (the radio/TV simulcast of) Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
      Clip begins at: 17:30, Duration: 00m 40s
  • Don Knotts Show, The
    • Don Knotts on his short-lived comedy-variety series The Don Knotts Show
      Clip begins at: 18:36, Duration: 03m 37s
  • Don Knotts' Nice Clean Decent Wholesome Hour
    • Don Knotts on the premise of the special Don Knotts' Nice Clean Decent Wholesome Hour
      Clip begins at: 17:03, Duration: 01m 21s
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
    • Don Knotts on winning his first Emmy Award (for The Andy Griffith Show)
      Clip begins at: 24:27, Duration: 00m 24s
    • Don Knotts on his subsequent Emmy wins for playing "Barney Fife" on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 08:12, Duration: 00m 27s
  • Garry Moore Show, The
    • Don Knotts on his "nervous man" act that he performed on The Garry Moore Show and Tonight (with Steve Allen)
      Clip begins at: 04:37, Duration: 02m 53s
    • Don Knotts on his "nervous man" act that he performed on The Garry Moore Show and Tonight (with Steve Allen)
      Clip begins at: 04:37, Duration: 02m 53s
    • Don Knotts on a practical joke Garry Moore played-- passing Don Knotts off as a network executive
      Clip begins at: 14:30, Duration: 01m 00s
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame
    • Don Knotts on working with Orson Welles on Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 01m 47s
  • Here's Lucy
    • Don Knotts on Lucille Ball (whom he worked with on Here's Lucy)
      Clip begins at: 22:24, Duration: 00m 33s
  • Imogene Coca Show, The
    • Don Knotts on appearing on The Imogene Coca Show
      Clip begins at: 01:29, Duration: 00m 32s
  • Jerry Lewis Show, The (1963, ABC)
    • Don Knotts on a funny bit he did with director Stanley Kramer (when cast members of the movie It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World were reunited on The Jerry Lewis Show)
      Clip begins at: 05:20, Duration: 01m 24s
  • Matlock
    • Don Knotts on his appearance as a recurring character on Matlock, without the comedy he could play off of, as he did with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show
      Clip begins at: 24:27, Duration: 00m 33s
  • Red Skelton Show, The
    • Don Knotts on Red Skelton, and his famed "blue" rehearsals and joke file
      Clip begins at: 00:52, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Return to Mayberry
    • Don Knotts on the experience of doing the Andy Griffith Show reunion TV movie Return to Mayberry
      Clip begins at: 20:54, Duration: 02m 53s
  • Search For Tomorrow
    • Don Knotts on getting cast on Search for Tomorrow through fellow radio actor-turned producer Charles Irving
      Clip begins at: 22:12, Duration: 01m 07s
    • Don Knotts on his character "Wilbur Peterson" on Search for Tomorrow (that he played from 1953-55) and working with his co-stars Lee Grant and Nita Talbot
      Clip begins at: 24:00, Duration: 01m 16s
    • Don Knotts on a moment in "live" TV in the 1950s when fellow actor Les Damon went up on his lines on soap opera Search for Tomorrow
      Clip begins at: 25:17, Duration: 00m 56s
  • Steve Allen Show, The (1956-1961, NBC)
    • Don Knotts on his regular appearances on The Steve Allen Show and the famed "Man on the Street" recurring sketch that he did with Allen, Louis Nye, and Tom Poston
      Clip begins at: 17:25, Duration: 02m 52s
    • Don Knotts on a big laugh he got playing the nervous character in the "Man on the Street" sketch on The Steve Allen Show
      Clip begins at: 20:17, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Don Knotts on Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 23:42, Duration: 01m 34s
    • Don Knotts on a funny take-off of To Tell the Truth (he accidentally references What's My Line) that he participated in on The Steve Allen Show with guest star Errol Flynn
      Clip begins at: 26:56, Duration: 00m 41s
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Louis Nye
      Clip begins at: 00:41, Duration: 00m 26s
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Tom Poston
      Clip begins at: 01:07, Duration: 00m 16s
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Dayton Allen's sense of humor
      Clip begins at: 02:00, Duration: 00m 36s
    • Don Knotts on co-star/writer Bill Dana (and on the weatherman sketch on The Steve Allen Show)  
      Clip begins at: 02:47, Duration: 01m 33s
    • Don Knotts on when The Steve Allen Show went to Havanna
      Clip begins at: 05:08, Duration: 00m 48s
    • Don Knotts on a "moment" for him when ventriloquist Edgar Bergen asked him to hold famed puppet "Charlie McCarthy"
      Clip begins at: 07:32, Duration: 00m 25s
  • Three's Company
    • Don Knotts on taking matters into his own hands, calling executive Fred Silverman's office to get him out of his CBS contract (so he could do Three's Company)
      Clip begins at: 27:04, Duration: 00m 38s
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company producers Michael Ross and Bernard West
      Clip begins at: 03:06, Duration: 01m 19s
    • Don Knotts on his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley" and his outrageous clothes
      Clip begins at: 04:30, Duration: 01m 06s
    • Don Knotts on getting used to the three-camera sitcom filming style on Three's Company (after doing one-camera on The Andy Griffith Show)
      Clip begins at: 05:38, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Don Knotts on going up on his lines when first doing Three's Company
      Clip begins at: 06:40, Duration: 00m 52s
    • Don Knotts on a typical workweek on Three's Company
      Clip begins at: 07:53, Duration: 00m 54s
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star John Ritter
      Clip begins at: 08:59, Duration: 00m 53s
    • Don Knotts on performing his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley's" 'fainting spell' backward falls
      Clip begins at: 09:35, Duration: 00m 17s
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star Joyce DeWitt
      Clip begins at: 10:43, Duration: 00m 16s
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star Suzanne Somers
      Clip begins at: 11:38, Duration: 01m 15s
    • Don Knotts on Suzanne Somers' departure from Three's Company
      Clip begins at: 13:44, Duration: 00m 34s
    • Don Knotts on one of his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley's" memorable 'fainting spell' backward falls
      Clip begins at: 15:08, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company director Dave Powers' one-take policy and a joke he played on Powers on his first day
      Clip begins at: 18:00, Duration: 02m 03s
    • Don Knotts on the end of Three's Company
      Clip begins at: 20:12, Duration: 00m 40s
  • To Tell the Truth
    • Don Knotts on a funny take-off of To Tell the Truth (he accidentally references What's My Line) that he participated in on The Steve Allen Show with guest star Errol Flynn
      Clip begins at: 26:56, Duration: 00m 41s
  • Tonight (The Tonight Show with Steve Allen)
    • Don Knotts on his "nervous man" act that he performed on The Garry Moore Show and Tonight (with Steve Allen)
      Clip begins at: 04:37, Duration: 02m 53s

People

  • Dayton Allen
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Dayton Allen's sense of humor
      Clip begins at: 02:00, Duration: 00m 36s
  • Steve Allen
    • Don Knotts on Steve Allen
      Clip begins at: 23:42, Duration: 01m 34s
  • Lucille Ball
    • Don Knotts on Lucille Ball (whom he worked with on Here's Lucy)
      Clip begins at: 22:24, Duration: 00m 33s
  • Frances Bavier
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Frances Bavier ("Aunt Bee")
      Clip begins at: 04:42, Duration: 00m 57s
  • Edgar Bergen
    • Don Knotts on a "moment" for him when ventriloquist Edgar Bergen asked him to hold famed puppet "Charlie McCarthy"
      Clip begins at: 07:32, Duration: 00m 25s
  • Ben Blue
    • Don Knotts on seeing a funny act of Ben Blue, prompting him to get his first television set
      Clip begins at: 02:13, Duration: 00m 50s
  • Imogene Coca
    • Don Knotts on appearing on The Imogene Coca Show
      Clip begins at: 01:29, Duration: 00m 32s
  • Tim Conway
    • Don Knotts on essentially playing the "straight man" in films with Tim Conway
      Clip begins at: 11:25, Duration: 00m 52s
  • Les Damon
    • Don Knotts on a moment in "live" TV in the 1950s when fellow actor Les Damon went up on his lines on soap opera Search for Tomorrow
      Clip begins at: 25:17, Duration: 00m 56s
  • Bill Dana
    • Don Knotts on co-star/writer Bill Dana (and on the weatherman sketch on The Steve Allen Show ) 
      Clip begins at: 02:47, Duration: 01m 33s
  • Joyce DeWitt
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star Joyce DeWitt
      Clip begins at: 10:43, Duration: 00m 16s
  • Errol Flynn
    • Don Knotts on a funny take-off of To Tell the Truth (he accidentally references What's My Line) that he participated in on The Steve Allen Show with guest star Errol Flynn
      Clip begins at: 26:56, Duration: 00m 41s
  • Jim Fritzell
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum
      Clip begins at: 20:52, Duration: 01m 18s
  • Lee Grant
    • Don Knotts on his character "Wilbur Peterson" on Search for Tomorrow (that he played from 1953-55) and working with his co-stars Lee Grant and Nita Talbot
      Clip begins at: 24:00, Duration: 01m 16s
  • Everett Greenbaum
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum
      Clip begins at: 20:52, Duration: 01m 18s
  • Andy Griffith
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith, personally
      Clip begins at: 27:48, Duration: 00m 44s
    • Don Knotts on working with Andy Griffith: the ultimate "straight man"
      Clip begins at: 03:08, Duration: 01m 13s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney's method for getting a funny take (even at the expense of the actor)
      Clip begins at: 15:45, Duration: 02m 31s
    • Don Knotts on how he considers Andy Griffith to have been a mentor in his career
      Clip begins at: 03:15, Duration: 00m 37s
  • Ron Howard
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Ron(ny) Howard ("Opie")
      Clip begins at: 07:05, Duration: 01m 05s
  • Sheldon Leonard
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show executive producer Sheldon Leonard
      Clip begins at: 13:23, Duration: 01m 13s
  • George Lindsey
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-stars Jim Nabors ("Gomer") and George Lindsey ("Goober")
      Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Betty Lynn
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show semi-regular Betty Lynn ("Thelma Lou")
      Clip begins at: 12:17, Duration: 00m 24s
  • Howard McNear
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Howard McNear ("Floyd, the Barber") and the episode "Convicts-at-Large"
      Clip begins at: 09:18, Duration: 02m 00s
  • Garry Moore
    • Don Knotts on a practical joke Garry Moore played-- passing Don Knotts off as a network executive
      Clip begins at: 14:30, Duration: 01m 00s
  • Howard Morris
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show semi-regular Howard Morris ("Ernest T. Bass")
      Clip begins at: 14:16, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Jim Nabors
    • Don Knotts on Andy Grifith Show co-stars Jim Nabors ("Gomer") and George Lindsey ("Goober")
      Clip begins at: 12:52, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Louis Nye
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Louis Nye
      Clip begins at: 00:41, Duration: 00m 26s
  • Tom Poston
    • Don Knotts on his Steve Allen Show co-star Tom Poston
      Clip begins at: 01:07, Duration: 00m 16s
  • Dave Powers
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company director Dave Powers' one-take policy and a joke he played on Powers on his first day
      Clip begins at: 18:00, Duration: 02m 03s
  • Alan Rafkin
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney's interest in the depth of a scene (and director Alan Rafkin's approach)
      Clip begins at: 19:13, Duration: 00m 39s
  • John Ritter
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star John Ritter
      Clip begins at: 08:59, Duration: 00m 53s
  • Michael Ross
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company producers Michael Ross and Bernard West
      Clip begins at: 03:06, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Gary Ross
    • Don Knotts on meticulous Pleasantville writer-director Gary Ross
      Clip begins at: 27:03, Duration: 00m 41s
  • Aaron Ruben
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show producer-writer Aaron Ruben
      Clip begins at: 15:31, Duration: 01m 29s
  • Red Skelton
    • Don Knotts on Red Skelton, and his famed "blue" rehearsals and joke file
      Clip begins at: 00:52, Duration: 02m 09s
  • Hal Smith
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Hal Smith ("Otis, the town drunk")
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 00m 49s
  • Suzanne Somers
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company co-star Suzanne Somers
      Clip begins at: 11:38, Duration: 01m 15s
    • Don Knotts on Suzanne Somers' departure from Three's Company
      Clip begins at: 13:44, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Bob Sweeney
    • Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney
      Clip begins at: 24:45, Duration: 01m 18s
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney's interest in the depth of a scene (and director Alan Rafkin's approach)
      Clip begins at: 19:13, Duration: 00m 39s
  • Nita Talbot
    • Don Knotts on his character "Wilbur Peterson" on Search for Tomorrow (that he played from 1953-55) and working with his co-stars Lee Grant and Nita Talbot
      Clip begins at: 24:00, Duration: 01m 16s
  • Lew Wasserman
    • Don Knotts on his impressions of MCA executive/agent Lew Wasserman
      Clip begins at: 14:07, Duration: 01m 37s
  • Orson Welles
    • Don Knotts on working with Orson Welles on Hallmark Hall of Fame's "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 01m 47s
  • Bernard West
    • Don Knotts on Three's Company producers Michael Ross and Bernard West
      Clip begins at: 03:06, Duration: 01m 19s
  • Andy Williams
    • Don Knotts on how he came to guest on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 03:05, Duration: 00m 28s

Topics

  • Bloopers
    • Don Knotts on a moment in "live" TV in the 1950s when fellow actor Les Damon went up on his lines on soap opera Search for Tomorrow
      Clip begins at: 25:17, Duration: 00m 56s
  • Memorable Moments on Television > We Laughed
    • Don Knotts on Andy Griffith Show co-star Howard McNear ("Floyd, the Barber") and the episode "Convicts-at-Large"
      Clip begins at: 09:18, Duration: 02m 00s
  • Pop Culture
    • Don Knotts on The Andy Griffith Show's setting of Mayberry (and the episode "Man in a Hurry")
      Clip begins at: 02:07, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Don Knotts on performing his Three's Company character "Ralph Furley's" 'fainting spell' backward falls
      Clip begins at: 09:35, Duration: 00m 17s

Genres

  • Comedy Series
    • Don Knotts on how The Andy Griffith Show developed into a character-driven (rather than joke-driven) sitcom 
      Clip begins at: 26:26, Duration: 01m 20s
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Submitted by Eric Butler on Sun, 2013-05-05 13:16.

The King. Period.

Submitted by KYLE BOWEN on Fri, 2013-03-01 18:50.

Don Knotts rocks!

Submitted by lite1979 on Fri, 2011-07-15 05:30.

@mike72988 The interviewer is miked, but only on the right audio channel... Are you listening to just the left side output?

Submitted by xanh01 on Fri, 2011-06-03 03:02.

Mr. Don Knotts makes me laugh every time I watch his shows. Thank you so much sir. RIP

Submitted by MWJEFF1 on Sun, 2011-05-08 01:51.

NIP IT IN THE BUD ! ;)~

Submitted by timerino2 on Wed, 2011-04-06 20:10.

We all miss you alot Don. Rest in peace.

Submitted by cervezero11 on Mon, 2011-04-04 20:34.

I only watch The Andy Griffith Show if Don comes out in it.

Submitted by shmuli9 on Tue, 2011-02-22 21:40.

There was an ironic and hilarious line in the 1994 film "Serial Mom" where some kids buy a 3-d portrait of Don Knotts, and the guy exclaims gleefully "fuckin Don Knotts!"

Submitted by TheMagik007 on Fri, 2011-02-04 01:19.

@TranshumanCyborg
um...familiar with the depression? duh

Submitted by MrGziss on Thu, 2011-01-20 23:35.

@LAComedyAwards for sure!!

Submitted by jeepers2655 on Sat, 2011-01-08 08:59.

we all miss you and the show.

Submitted by banjax01 on Sun, 2010-12-26 04:01.

@TranshumanCyborg
perhaps because of the freaking depression? oh my god.

Submitted by TranshumanCyborg on Wed, 2010-12-15 02:10.

Why on earth would a farmer in the 1930's have a nervous breakdown?

Submitted by rltuthill on Mon, 2010-11-01 21:07.

What a nice man! Don Knotts really made The Andy Griffith Show. It was never the same after he left. I'm just a couple of years younger than Ron Howard and I can remember being a really little kid watching Andy Griffith and liking the show because I could relate to Ron Howard because I was a little boy myself at the time. A show like that could never work today because of its clean gentle humor. Its a shame.

Submitted by Vulcanman86 on Mon, 2010-09-27 08:08.

Love his characters!

Submitted by micmoable on Fri, 2010-09-10 00:17.

One great comic---rest in peace Don

Submitted by omyajt on Sun, 2010-08-29 01:56.

We watch the Andy Griffith Show every night with my kids. Don Knotts makes the show for us. What a cool guy.

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