Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 â€" February 24, 2006) was an
American actor, voice actor and comedian, widely known for his role as
Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom
for which he earned five Emmy Awards,:18 and for his role as Ralph
Furley on the highly rated sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984.
He also starred in multiple comedic films, including the leading role
in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet
(1964). In 1979, TV Guide ranked him #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars
of All Time list.Jesse Donald Knotts was born in Morgantown, West
Virginia, the youngest of three sons born to farmer William Jesse
Knotts and his wife, Elsie Luzetta Knotts (née Moore). His parents
were married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. His English paternal ancestors
emigrated to America in the 17th century, originally settling in Queen
Anne's County, Maryland. Knotts' brothers were named William and
Sid.:5Don's mother was 40 at the time of his birth and his father
suffered from mental illness; he had a nervous breakdown due to the
stress of Don's birth. Afflicted with schizophrenia and alcoholism, he
sometimes terrorized Don with a knife, causing Don to turn inward at
an early age. The elder Knotts died of pneumonia when Don was 13 years
old. Don and his brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a
boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at age 84. Her son
William preceded her in death in 1941 at age 31. They are buried in
the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park in Morgantown. Don
graduated from Morgantown High School. After enlisting in the United
States Army and serving in World War II, Don earned a bachelor's
degree in education with a minor in speech from West Virginia
University in Morgantown, graduating in 1948. He was a member of Phi
Sigma Kappa fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society while at WVU.
American actor, voice actor and comedian, widely known for his role as
Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom
for which he earned five Emmy Awards,:18 and for his role as Ralph
Furley on the highly rated sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984.
He also starred in multiple comedic films, including the leading role
in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet
(1964). In 1979, TV Guide ranked him #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars
of All Time list.Jesse Donald Knotts was born in Morgantown, West
Virginia, the youngest of three sons born to farmer William Jesse
Knotts and his wife, Elsie Luzetta Knotts (née Moore). His parents
were married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. His English paternal ancestors
emigrated to America in the 17th century, originally settling in Queen
Anne's County, Maryland. Knotts' brothers were named William and
Sid.:5Don's mother was 40 at the time of his birth and his father
suffered from mental illness; he had a nervous breakdown due to the
stress of Don's birth. Afflicted with schizophrenia and alcoholism, he
sometimes terrorized Don with a knife, causing Don to turn inward at
an early age. The elder Knotts died of pneumonia when Don was 13 years
old. Don and his brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a
boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at age 84. Her son
William preceded her in death in 1941 at age 31. They are buried in
the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park in Morgantown. Don
graduated from Morgantown High School. After enlisting in the United
States Army and serving in World War II, Don earned a bachelor's
degree in education with a minor in speech from West Virginia
University in Morgantown, graduating in 1948. He was a member of Phi
Sigma Kappa fraternity and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society while at WVU.
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