How did Barney Fife get his name?
According to Andy Griffith, the character of Barney Fife was suggested by Don Knotts himself. At the same time that The Steve Allen Show was ending, Knotts was looking for work. When he saw the episode of The Danny Thomas Show featuring Andy Taylor, he called Griffith suggesting that his sheriff character might reasonably need a deputy.
Who is Barney Fife on Andy Griffith?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show, portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow-paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North Carolina.
Did Don Knotts ever meet Barney Fife in real life?
Don Knotts beautifully played Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show.” When asked if he’d ever met a real-life Fife, Knotts said yes. “I ran into one in my hometown (of Morgantown, W.Va.), a perfect deputy Barney — ordering people around, acting efficient, loving his job,” Knotts said according to a MeTV article.
Why did Barney Fife leave Mayberry?
Barney becomes a hero in Raleigh when visiting Andy helps him solve a string of robberies. When Don Knotts left the series in 1965 to pursue film roles, the character Barney Fife was said to have left Mayberry to join the police department in Raleigh.
What was the cause of death of Barney Fife?
Don Knotts, the rail-thin comic actor who was perhaps best known to millions of television viewers as the bungling Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife in "The Andy Griffith Show" and the squirrelly landlord in "Three's Company," died of lung cancer Feb.
What was Don Knotts illness?
lung cancerKnotts died at age 81 on February 24, 2006, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from pulmonary and respiratory complications of pneumonia related to lung cancer.
How tall was Barney Fife and how much did he weigh?
Barney is 5 Feet 7 inches and weighs 138 pounds.
What type of person was Don Knotts?
In the end, Don Knotts' closest friends remembered him fondly. Andy Griffith commented, "He was modest, he was humble, and he was very bright," while Ron Howard added, "He was just one of those truly kind people."
What were Don Knotts last words?
While his final words were not recorded, Knott's Daughter, Karen Knotts, recalls having to leave the room to laugh out loud. Long-time friend and co-star Andy Griffith was also at Knott's bedside during his final moments. Griffith gave Knotts words of encouragement, saying “Jess (Don's real name), breathe.
How old was Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show when she died?
86from 1960 to 1970. Aunt Bee logged more Mayberry years (ten) than any other character....Frances BavierDiedDecember 6, 1989 (aged 86) Siler City, North Carolina, U.S.Resting placeOakwood Cemetery, Siler City, North Carolina, U.S.6 more rows
How tall is Andy Griffith?
6′ 0″Andy Griffith / Height
How much did Don Knotts weigh when he was on The Andy Griffith Show?
between 138-138½ poundsBarney Fife (Don Knotts)'s weight fluctuated between 138-138½ pounds.
How old was Don Knotts when he died?
81 years (1924–2006)Don Knotts / Age at death
How much did Don Knotts weigh?
At 5 feet 6 1/2 inches and maybe 140 pounds after a big meal, Knotts was the national definition of “nerd” before the word even existed.
What was Andy Griffith worth at death?
Andy Griffith net worth: Andy Griffith was an American actor and singer who had a net worth of $60 million at the time of his death....Andy Griffith Net Worth.Net Worth:$60 MillionDate of Birth:Jun 1, 1926 - Jul 3, 2012 (86 years old)Gender:MaleHeight:6 ft (1.83 m)2 more rows
Where is Andy Griffith buried?
July 3, 2012Andy Griffith / Date of burial
Who played Barney Fife on Andy Griffith?
World War II. Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He was 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 .
How many seasons did Andy Griffith have?
Knotts believed remarks by Griffith that The Andy Griffith Show would end after five seasons, and he began to look for other work, signing a five-film contract with Universal Studios.
Who played Andy Griffith in No Time for Sergeants?
In 1958, Knotts appeared for the first time on film with Andy Griffith in the film version of No Time for Sergeants. In that film, Knotts reprises his Broadway role and plays a high-strung Air Force test administrator whose routine is disrupted by the hijinks of a provincial new recruit.
Who was the Sheriff on the Andy Griffith Show?
The Andy Griffith Show. As Barney Fife, Knotts gets the help of Sheriff Taylor when his gun gets stuck on his finger. Knotts receives his first Emmy Award for The Andy Griffith Show, 1961. In 1960, Andy Griffith was offered the opportunity to headline his own sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968).
What is Barney known for?
A gossip and gadfly, Barney is known for blabbing both personal and police secrets (such as Andy's scrutiny of women's rings at the jewelry store, or the locale and time of a stakeout or arrival of an armored car). While this may expose him as a halfwit, Barney is at heart a caring, amiable soul.
Who is Barney's girlfriend?
When he's not patrolling the streets of Mayberry, Barney spends his free time dating a local girl named Thelma Lou ( Betty Lynn) (whom he met in 1960 at Wilton Blair's funeral and whom he eventually marries in Return to Mayberry, a 1986 NBC movie). Thelma Lou is Barney's main girlfriend until his 1965 departure.
Why was Barney absent from Andy and Don?
According to Daniel De Vise's book, Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show, Don Knotts begged for time off during his time on the show, which would explain why Barney was absent from time-to-time during the first five seasons.
What episode does Barney get revenge on Andy?
Nonetheless, Barney still has his rare moments of courage and loyalty. Two episodes demonstrate Barney's ability to rise up to challenges. In the second season episode, Andy on Trial, a millionaire wants revenge on Andy for giving him a traffic ticket.
What does Barney suggest to Andy in The Keeper of the Flame?
In The Keeper of the Flame, when Jubile Foster accuses a group of kids (which includes Andy's own son Opie) of burning down his barn, Barney suggests to Andy that they conduct a "line-up", where they "call in every kid in Mayberry", presumably to line them all up for serious questioning.
What are Barney's talents?
Although, due to audition nerves, Barney missed his chance to be included in the folk album recorded in the episode Mayberry on Record, his performance talents range from the Harmonica, Bongo Drums, Cymbals, stage acting, and many types of dancing.
What is Barney's false bravado?
Conversely, Andy knows that Barney's false bravado is a smokescreen for his insecurities and low self-confidence.
Who owns the show RTRGI8?
FSP/HB - RTRGI8 (Reuters) Andy Griffith owned 50 percent of the show and reaped a lion’s share of the profits. Don Knotts, however, was a salaried employee and quit the show after five seasons when he was denied an ownership stake. 2. Secret behind the theme song.
Where is Mayberry located?
Griffith’s hometown, Mount Airy, North Carolina, is the inspiration for Mayberry. The community of 10,000 residents is home to the Andy Griffith Museum and the annual "Mayberry Days" celebration, which attracted nearly 50,000 visitors for the show's 50th anniversary in 2010.
How many hours did Andy Griffith work?
“We didn’t see him a lot, because he worked 10, 12 hours a day,” said Karen. “And when he was home, he was always holed up in his room working on his lines and stuff like that.
When was the last time the Sniffer was in Air Buddies?
His last credited role was in 2006 for voicing a deputy bloodhound named Sniffer in “Air Buddies.”. “He was also a very loving father,” said Karen. “He didn’t like to go out and do things like you picture most fathers going out and doing — you know, outdoorsy stuff — because he was a very internal kind of person.
What is Karen's memoir about her childhood called?
Karen is currently in the process of writing a memoir and is now performing a show about her childhood titled “Tied Up In Knotts!”. She told Closer Weekly Saturday that anyone who knew her father wouldn’t be surprised by her shocking response. “Here’s the thing about my dad,” she explained.
Did Knotts have children?
Knotts always had his children in mind. Karen recalled how she frequently visited the set and befriended Griffith. “He was very friendly to me; he was like an uncle,” she explained. “He had different sides. You could see that sometimes he would be intense, and other times very, very warm and endearing.
What happened to Andy Griffith and Don Knotts?
By that time, he and longtime friend Andy Griffith had fallen a bit out of touch, but Griffith rushed to his side and was right there with him as he fought it. According to their Matlock co-star Nancy Stafford, "As soon as the two of them were together, it was like they never skipped a beat. They fell into this routine of singing, laughing, and telling jokes together — it was hysterical. They had this amazing communication."
Why did Don Knotts leave Andy Griffith?
His daughter, Karen, told Closer Weekly that it was "hard, hard work," and "There's only so many stories you can tell." According to the LA Times, though, Knott s had only ever intended on doing five seasons of the show when it started — and that's what he did. In 1967, he told them, "The grind gets to you in television, and that's primarily the reason I'm concentrating on pictures."
What did Don Knotts struggle with?
Don Knotts struggled with hypochondria and anxiety. Wikipedia. It was Don Knotts who went to Andy Griffith and suggested himself for the role of Barney Fife, and according to the LA Times, he was almost joking when he said it. But Griffith absolutely went for it, and it was a match made in TV heaven.
What caused Don Knotts to die?
The official cause of death was "pulmonary and respiratory complications, " and reports suggest Don Knotts had been struggling with "unspecified health problems" that had required he cancel appearances in the previous years. In the end, Don Knotts' closest friends remembered him fondly.
Why was Knotts a good sidekick?
The small, thin, nervous Knotts was the perfect sidekick to make others look more manly. Knotts, the NYT explains, made anyone look "one step closer to leading men.".
How old was Knotts when his mother asked him about his father's threat?
Around age 30, Knotts' mother Elsie asked him if he remembered a horrifying confrontation where his father had threatened him with a knife. In order to get from his kitchen bedroom to literally anywhere else, he needed to walk through the living room, and past the sofa where his father spent most of his time.
Who was the director of Andy Griffith?
The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeney was even brought in to try to fix things, M*A*S*H 's Gary Burghoff was brought in as a recurring sketch comedy character, and they even debuted acts like The Carpenters. Still, it came to a premature end, while Don Knotts continued to make appearances on other variety shows.
Overview
Running Gags
- One major comedic source is Barney's lack of ability with a firearm. After numerous misfires (usually a Colt or Smith & Wesson M&P .38 caliber revolver), Andy restricts Barney to carrying only a single bullet in his shirt pocket, "in case of an emergency." However, the bullet always seems to find its way back into the pistol where, predictably, it is accidentally discharged. The accidental d…
Personal Life
- Early in the series, Andy and Barney comment that they are cousins. However, several episodes muddy the lineage and suggest that Barney may not be directly related to the Taylors. On Aunt Bee's Invisible Beau, Barney tells Andy, "If she (Aunt Bee Taylor) were my aunt, I'd wanna investigate this fella" (no familial Taylor ties). In one porch dialogue, Barney speaks to Andy abo…
Performance Talents
- Although, due to audition nerves, Barney missed his chance to be included in the folk album recorded in the episode Mayberry on Record, his performance talents range from the Harmonica, Bongo Drums, Cymbals, stage acting, and many types of dancing. He also has a trained singing voice which is arguably on par with Leonard Blush. He was frequently a member of the Mayberr…
Slip-Ups
- Some continuity slip-ups can be expected, as the series had several writers. An illustration of this is with the various middle names given for both Barney and Andy. In the episode Class Reunion, Barney's middle name is Milton, though at other times he is called "Bernard P. Fife". In another episode, where he believes he is the descendant of Nathan Tibbs, a Mayberry Revolutionary hero…
World War II
- Like Andy, who was stationed in France, Barney served in World War II, although he was a file clerk who never left the United States (he stated that "me and this other fella ran the PX library" on Staten Island). (It should be noted that both Andy and Barney graduated from Mayberry Union High School in June, 1945 and that the war in Europe was over in May 1945. With at least six we…
Other Appearances
- Don Knotts appeared as Barney Fife on an episode of "The Joey Bishop Show" ("Joey's Hideaway Cabin") and the pilot episode of The New Andy Griffith Show, with Andy Griffith playing the character of Andy Sawyer. He also performed with Andy and Jim Nabors in The Andy Griffith-Don Knotts-Jim Nabors Show. He later parodied Barney Fife on the "Christmas Story" episode of "Ste…
Notes
- Calling a police officer or authority figure "Barney Fife" has become an American slang term for gross ineptitude or over-zealousness.
- Eagle Eye Barney is just one of Barney's many nicknames. A full list can be found Here.
- A full list of Barney's songs can he found here.
- Barney's Blunder are can be found here.
Famous Quotes
- "Nip it in the bud!"
- "Heartaches! Nothing but heartaches!"
- "Nip it! Nip it! Nip it!"
- "You're not talking to a jerk, you know!"
See Also