Celebratin'... The Mighty Don Knotts

Today we celebrate the comic genius that is Mr. Don Knotts. Even some of his most ardent fans don't know that Knotts got his first big break on a soap opera, "Search for Tomorrow," where he appeared from 1953 to 1955. He first found primetime fame in 1956 on Steve Allen’s variety show, most notably as a nervous guy in Allen’s mock “Man in the Street” interviews.

Around that same time, Knotts and a some hick named Andy Griffith starred on Broadway together in a play called "No Time For Sargents." Knotts made his Broadway debut as "Corporal Manual Dexterity" and Griffith got nominated for a Tony. The subsequent film of the same name cemented a professional and personal relationship between the two men that would last for decades, deep into the Matlock-era. Knotts passed away in 2006. A little TV trivia: his last live-action television appearance was on an episode of "That ’70s Show," playing Fez and Jackie’s new landlord, a tribute to his role as Ralph Furley.

Master of self-defense Barney Fife giving young Opie Taylor a few pointers on handling bullies. Badly.


"No Time For Sargents," the first on-screen appearance of that awesome Knotts/ Griffith chemistry.


Don Knotts is "The Love God?" It's not a typo, the movie had a question mark in the title.


Knotts with Tim Conway in "Cannonball Run 2." See if you recognize the chimp.



And we didn't even have time for the "Three's Company" stuff or clips from "The Shakiest Gun in the West." Maybe next time.