Sunday, February 26, 2006

Coach Venner of the California Atoms, RIP

Little late on this one, so most of you guys probably know - Don Knotts passed away at age 81 February 24, 2006 from pulmonary and respiratory complications. Don Knotts was one of the few actors that could make me smile or sometimes laugh just by looking at him. The guy had more hilarious facial and body expressions than anyone I can recall, including the likes of Tim Conway and Jim Carrey. Probably most famous for his role as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, Knotts has a plethora of TV and movie roles to his credit. The Global Asylum's got a shrine to Don Knotts. Here's his filmography and the like.

A lot of sub-par movies were made funny just by having Don Knotts in them. Walt Disney's Gus was one such movie, and he and Tim Conway cracked me up in The Private Eyes, which was another. Ironically, the bug-eyed comic started off as a regular in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. Then, I know a lot of people hated Three's Company, but I enjoyed him as Ralph Furley on that show. And sure, he was just as liable to show up on a Love Boat or Fantasy Island episode as he was any kind of mega-movie, but Fife has to bow to no one. I, for one, will miss him.

Anyone have any favorite Don Knotts memories?

4 comments:

DougALug said...

Barney Fife... there are so many, but almost all of them are around the Andy Grifith show:

==> Nip it in the bud! Barney tries to help Opie confront a bully.

==> Used Car: Barney buys a used car from a little old widow who only drove it on Sundays... too bad she was the leader of stolen-car ring.

==> Barney quits the force and tries to sell vacume cleaners.

==> Numerous times that Barney is preaching to Otis about being drunk and ends up locking himself in the cell.

-Doug

Diabolical Genius said...

For more info on Don Knotts' passing and all things Mayberry, check out my friend Allan's site:

The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club

Anonymous said...

I loved him in the movie The Incredible Mr. Limpett. Thought it was cool.

And yes, I thought Barney Fife was a hoot. He left behind a lot of laughter, did Don.

Wanda

Anonymous said...

Scott,

Was that the movie where the guy made all the toilets salute? I remember seeing it and thought it was funny. Didn't remember Don Knotts being in it.

Hey! How about the "Apple Dumpling Gang"? Anybody remember that movie?

Wanda