Don Knotts’ Family Finally Share What Made the Actor a Comedy Legend

Comedic actor Don Knotts took on many roles throughout his long career, but one of the most iconic roles he played was that of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom, “The Andy Griffith Show.” Sadly, Knotts passed away on February 24, 2006.

A few years after he left the world, his family decided to share some interesting facts about the many things that made Knotts a true comedy legend, and one story that his daughter Karen told about the comedic talent left his fans stunned at her honesty.

Even in his final moments, Knotts was a true entertainer.

Karen Knotts Loved Her Father

Looking back on the moment that her father passed away in 2006, Karen Knotts recalled a detail that stuck out in her memory. While her father was on his death bed, Karen was incredibly sad, but she couldn’t help but laugh out loud during the days leading up to her father’s death.

But what could have caused this emotional reaction in her?

He Was Born to Entertain

Karen Knotts remembers laughing a lot during the days leading up to Don’s death because even in his weakened state, he was still able to crack jokes and make everyone around him crack up in an instant. Karen recalled, “He had this funniness that was just completely, insanely natural.

When he was dying, he was making us laugh in hysterics.” But Knotts’ life wasn’t always filled with humor.

His Success Was Well Deserved

Knotts endured a lot of emotional stress from his father and older brother, who were both alcoholics, while he was growing up. Karen Knotts remembers that it wasn’t until Don’s father passed away when he was 13 years old that Don truly began to come out of his shell without fear.

And it was then that he started to hone his craft for comedy and begin to share his gift with the world.

His Co-Stars Never Left His Side

In Knotts’ final moments, his wife and children were in the room, but his longtime co-star in Mayberry also came to say his goodbyes.

And he recalled the fact that while most people knew Knotts by the name “Don,” Andy Griffith preferred to call him by his first name Jesse, even though Knotts disliked the name.

And it wasn’t just his incredible career that made his friends stick by his side, but Knotts’ devotion to creating joy and laughter for everyone in his life, which he had done for decades…