Don Knotts
Don Knotts (born Jesse Donald Knotts; July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show and Ralph Furley on Three's Company. Knotts was married three times. His marriage to Kathryn Metz lasted from 1947 until their divorce in 1964, and he raised his daughter as a single parent. He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974 and they divorced in 1983. His third marriage was to Frances Yarborough, from 2002 until his death in 2006. From his first marriage, Knotts had a son, Thomas Knotts, and a daughter, actress Karen Knotts (born April 2, 1954). Knotts died at age 81, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from pulmonary and respiratory complications of pneumonia related to lung cancer.
Mike Jones's Video Boneyard archive currently preserves 67 physical recordings spanning 4 productions featuring Don Knotts.
Archival Holdings in The Video Boneyard
The following 4 canonical motion pictures and broadcast master recordings featuring Don Knotts are preserved in the studio archives:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Director / Studio | The Video Boneyard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show 57 Copies | Co-Star | Unknown / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1960 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: S01E39 - Rock-A-Bye Dobie 2 Copies | Leading Role | Unknown / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1964 | The Incredible Mr. Limpet 6 Copies | Featured Cast | Robert McKimson / Warner Bros. Entertainment | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1966 | The Ghost and Mr. Chicken 2 Copies | Supporting Cast | Alan Rafkin / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
Complete Career & Landmark Filmography
Major theatrical features, landmark television appearances, and key credited roles across Don Knotts's historic screen career:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Department / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Dr. Bradley | Actor (Television) |
| 1953 | The Oscars | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1956 | The Steve Allen Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1957 | The Lux Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1958 | Kraft Music Hall | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1959 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1960 | The Andy Griffith Show | Barney Fife | Actor (Television) |
| 1960 | Wake Me When It's Over | Percy Warren | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1961 | The Joey Bishop Show | Barney Fife | Actor (Television) |
| 1961 | The Last Time I Saw Archie | Capt. Harry Little | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Curly Kid | Actor (Television) |
| 1963 | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Nervous Motorist | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1963 | Move Over, Darling | Shoe Clerk | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1963 | The Danny Kaye Show | Self | Actor (Television) |
| 1964 | No Time for Sergeants | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1964 | The Incredible Mr. Limpet | Henry Limpet | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1966 | The Ghost and Mr. Chicken | Luther Heggs | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1967 | The Reluctant Astronaut | Roy Fleming | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1968 | Here's Lucy | Ben Fletcher | Actor (Television) |
| 1968 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Barney Fife | Actor (Television) |
| 1968 | Rowan & Martin at the Movies | Self | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show | Self - Guest | Actor (Television) |
| 1968 | The Shakiest Gun in the West | Dr. Jesse W. Heywood | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1969 | The Bill Cosby Show | Leo Swann | Actor (Television) |
| 1969 | The Leslie Uggams Show | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1969 | The Love God? | Abner Audubon Peacock IV | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1970 | The Don Knotts Show | Self - Host | Actor (Television) |
| 1971 | How to Frame a Figg | Hollis Alexander Figg | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1971 | The New Andy Griffith Show | Barney Fife | Actor (Television) |
| 1972 | The Best of The New Scooby-Doo Movies | Homer Pipsqueak (voice) | Actor (Television) |
| 1972 | The Man Who Came to Dinner | Dr. Bradley | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1972 | The New Scooby-Doo Movies | Homer Pipsqueak (voice) | Actor (Television) |
| 1972 | Wait Till Your Father Gets Home | Actor | Actor (Television) |
| 1973 | I Love a Mystery | Alexander Archer | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1973 | Keep U.S. Beautiful | Self | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1973 | Keep US Beautiful | Actor | Actor (Television) |