His first leading role in a film came in 1964, with The Incredible Mr.

Though he left The Andy Griffith Show in 1965 to pursue a film career, his periodic returns in 1966 and '67 earned him two more Emmys. Knotts stayed with the tremendously successful show for five seasons, during which time he won three Emmy Awards for outstanding performance in a supporting role in a series. In 1960, Knotts joined Griffith on a new sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show, playing Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife to Griffith's Sheriff Andy Taylor. Commercial Breakthrough: 'The Andy Griffith Show' He also reprised his No Time for Sergeants role in the 1958 film version, alongside Griffith, a fellow regular on The Steve Allen Show. Knotts appeared as a regular member of the ensemble cast on NBC's The Steve Allen Show, from 1956 to 1960 he moved to Hollywood when the show relocated in 1959. In 1955, he made his debut on Broadway in the hit comedy, No Time For Sergeants, which marked his first collaboration with Andy Griffith. Acting DebutĪfter graduating from college in 1948, Don Knotts again moved to New York, where he quickly became a regular on several television and radio programs. Army, and during World War II, he toured the Pacific Islands as a comedian as part of a G.I. After his freshman year, Knotts joined the U.S.

He traveled to New York City to try and make his way as a comedian, but returned home to attend West Virginia University when his career failed to take off. Before he entered high school, Knotts began performing as a ventriloquist and comedian at various church and school functions. Jesse Donald Knotts was born on July 21, 1924, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Knotts died of lung cancer on February 24, 2006, at age 81, in Los Angeles, California. Later starring in several film comedies, Knotts also was part of the cast of Three's Company until its 1984 demise.

For his role on the show, he won three Emmy Awards for outstanding performance in a supporting role in a series. In 1960, actor Don Knotts joined the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.

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