THE LIFE OF AN ULTIMATE WIMP AND TRUE NATIONAL TREASURE

 Know who this is?  Well, what about this person.

That is Don Knotts as both himself and tilefish from The Incredible Mr. Limpet. This was his first starring role in 1964, and as would be expected, got 40/64 ratings from Rotten Tomatoes.  After all, he was the ultimate wimp.

But was he, really, in actual life?  How much do you know about Knotts?

• He was born Jesse Donald Knotts in Morgantown, Virginia just about a century ago and passed away in 2006.  His mother was 40 at his birth.
• His father, who had schizophrenia and suffered from alcoholism, terrified the family, and passed away when Don was 13.  Had a terrible childhood, but built up an imagination.  Grew up thin and pale, and never really changed.
• Turned to ventriloquism while still in high school.  Thus that first photo above with Danny.
• Became class president.
• 
  Joined the Army when he first could and toured the western Pacific Islands in a GI variety show called Stars and Gripes, and as a nurse when needed.  Made it up to corporal.  Awarded:  World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 4 bronze service stars), Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge (with an M1 Carbine) and Honorable Service lapel pin.  
• Carried Danny around with him in the Army, but one day threw him off the ship in the South Pacific, ending his ventriloquist career.
• Then went on to earn a degree in education from West Virginia University, graduating in 1948 at the age of 23.

• 
  Got married to Kay Metz, moved to New York and broke into show business doing stand-up comedy.
• Had a long struggle with massive feelings of inferiority, becoming distraught before most performances, leading to addiction with anti-anxiety drugs.  Had insomnia, too, and almost died once from an overdose of sleeping pills.  
• Got his first TV break in a soap opera, Search for Tomorrow from 1953-1955.
• Got roles because he made others look good,  "one step closer to leading men."

• 
  From 1956 played a nervous man in Steve Allen's variety show, and stuck on until 1960.
• In between he appeared in the Broadway stage version of No Time for Sergeants, appearing in that movie starring Andy Griffith in his film debut.  Became lifelong friends.
• 
  Movie was a big hit, so came The Andy Griffith Show from 1960-1968, where he won three Emmys for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy.  Andy's son was Oppie, Ron Howard, who later became a film star and noted director.
• He left that series in 1965 to make films, but returned in guest appearances several times, earning two more Emmys.  Turned out that Knotts was the draw in the series.
• Starred a few years in Three's Company, served as the spokesman for Dodge trucks, and got his own show in 1970, which flopped.  To quote:

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.

• 
  Beginning in 1975, teamed with Tim Conway in a series of slapstick films aimed at children, like the The Apple Dumpling Gang.
• In 1986 reunited with Andy Griffith in the made-for-television Return to Mayberry.

• 
  His hometown of Morgantown changed South University Avenue to Don Knotts Boulevard in 1998.
• Got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.
• While appreciating success, was continuously depressed for being the butt of all jokes in his performances.  Suffered from hypochondria all his life and began experiencing macular degeneration at the age of 57, turning him eventually virtually blind, then was diagnosed with lung cancer in the early 2000s.  Said his daughter Karen at the end:

"Here's the thing about my dad," she said. "He had this funniness that was just completely, insanely natural. When he was dying, he was making us laugh in hysterics. He was literally dying, but he did something or said something that caused my stepmother and I to go into fits of laughter, which is why I ran out.

• 
  The reality is that he was known to be a happy person who truly loved people.  He fancied himself as a ladies' man, something like a Frank Sinatra.  Dated a lot and was married three times.
• TV writer Mark Evanier called him "the most beloved person in all of show business."
• TV Guide in 2004 ranked him as #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.

So this ultimate wimp actually became a true national treasure.

On Sunday, as I was composing my posting I kept mentioning what was happening in the Dolphins-Broncos game.  Well, when the game was over.

• The Dolphins scored 70 points, the fourth-most in NFL history.
• Could have been more, for there were 8 minutes left when they hit 70.
• Knew they could break the all-time record with one more TD and a field goal would have tied it.
• They were on the Broncos 23-yard line with two minutes left.
• 
  Coach Mike McDaniel took the high road, with the team running and kneeling at the end.
• Got up to 726 yards, the second most ever.  They could have beaten the 1951 Rams 735 by scoring.
• Their two running backs, Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane EACH scored four touchdowns.

• 
  Tua Tagovailoa completed his first 17 passes, and finished with more TDs (4) than incompletions (3).  Watch his "no look" TD pass to Achane.
• One of his best receivers, Jaylen Waddle, was injured.  They were teammates at Alabama.
• The Dolphins' 1651 yards are the most by any team through three games since 1940.
• They are now the only undefeated team in the AFC.
• Oh, the Broncos missed 25 tackles on Sunday, the most by any pro team since this stat-category began.

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