RIP – Don Knotts

We’ve lost an acting legend and an American Icon today. Don Knotts died of lung cancer at the age of 81.

I have more memories of seeing Don Knotts on television and in movies than I can say. He was, in every way, an icon on American television. He’ll be remembered mostly, I’d imagine, for his role as Barney Fife for five on “The Andy Griffith Show”. But his comedy genius wasn’t limited to playing the google-eyed, squeaky-voiced, one-bulleted deputy.

Knotts also played Mr. Roper on “Three’s Company” for five years and his “spit takes” were always enough to make me laugh out loud.

I remember Knotts most, though, for his movies (and one television show – but more on that in a moment). He was a staple of my childhood in movies like “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo”, and “Hot Lead and Cold Feet”. I think his most genius roles, though were in “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” and “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”. It was those movies where he really showed that he could star in a comedy movie and hold up the whole thing.

Oh, and that TV show. Back in the dark, sad days of Scooby Doo, the powers that be decided to match the gang up with various “celebrities” like Batman and Robin, Mama Cass Elliot, and Sonny and Cher. They called them “The New Scooby Doo Movies” and, mostly, they were terrible.

Except for the one where Don Knotts played a self-professed master of disguise. That one was pure funny, especially in the beginning when Scooby would see Knotts pop up in one of his disguises, see right through it, and exclaim to the gang “Ron Rotts! Ron Rotts!” Knotts played his role to the hilt, and even though it was a cartoon, his character didn’t seem like one because of the genius Knotts brought to all of his roles.

We really have lost a fine actor and an ireplaceable American treasure.

Thanks for some wonderful childhood memories, “Ron Rotts”.

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Category: In Memoriam, It's Entertainment!