Don Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia.
He was born on July 21, 1924. Don is probably best rembered for his role on "the Andy Griffith Show." He played Barney Fife,
the sheriff's deputy of Mayberry. Even though he ended up as a famous comedian, Don's first attempt to get into show buisness
didn't go so well. Right after highschool, Don went to New York to audition as a comedian. He returned home after being rejected
by both the Major Bows Amateur Hour and Camel Caravan radio shows. Once back home, he enrolled as a speech major at West Virginia
University.
Don was still in college when the United Sates became involved in World
War Two. Don was one of the many young men who joined the army. After joining he became part of an entertaining group. Don
toured for two years throughout the southwest Pacific as part of the show "Stars and Gripes." After his tour was over, Don
went back to college to complete his degree.
Don's next trip to New York was more sucssesful than his first. He preformed
in several radio shows, one of which was a soap opera called "Search for Tomorrow." These little things may have helped his
career, but it was the Broadway play No Time for Sergeants that was the real springboard for his career.
After that, he became a regular on the televsion shows the Gary Moore and
Steve Allen shows. He starred in many different movies such as The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Shakiest Gun in the West,
The Reluctant Astronaunt, and The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Even with all of those great acts, his most famous role was
still that of Barney Fife.
