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Much has been written about Don Knotts's career, especially about his iconic role as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, but personal views into the man himself are few and far between. In Tied Up in Knotts, a loving daughter provides a full-life narrative of her father: Don's difficult childhood in an abusive home, his escape into comedic performance, becoming a household name, his growth as a feature film actor, his failing health, and his family life throughout, leading to touching and hilarious moments that will make the reader laugh and cry.
Those looking for a behind-the-scenes peek at the show, from the nuts and bolts of production to the hilarious pranks and heartfelt moments between the cast and crew, will see it all through the eyes of the little girl who grew up on the set. Knotts will delight readers with the memories of celebrities touched by Don's life, including Ron Howard, Tim Conway, Andy Griffith, Elinor Donahue, John Waters, Barbara Eden, Katt Williams, and Jim Carrey.
Tied Up In Knotts delves beyond Barney Fife nostalgia to tell the life story of a man and father.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 21, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781641605144
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781641605144
- File size: 6810 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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August 30, 2021
Legendary funnyman Don Knotts (1924–2006) receives a heartwarming tribute in this humorous and intimate debut by his daughter. Since her father’s death in 2006, Knotts, an actor and comedian, has performed a one-woman show honoring her dad—the man who made Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show one of the most beloved characters in television comedy. Here, her act becomes a touching love letter, inviting readers behind the curtain to reveal the shy and kind-natured man she knew as her father. Growing up impoverished in Morgantown, W.Va., Don was, unsurprisingly, popular in high school. After graduating college, he married Knotts’s mother, Kay Metz, and moved to New York, where small roles on television led to his big break with The Steve Allen Show in 1956. When he heard that his former costar Andy Griffith was cast in a new TV series, Knotts convinced “Sheriff Andy Taylor” that he needed a deputy. While Don won over America’s hearts, Knotts watched nearby on set with Ron Howard and other child actors. She depicts this time with a palpable reverence that permeates every memory she recounts, such as being cast in her father’s movies, touring with him in dinner theater, and witnessing the enduring love of his many admirers. Fans will be rapt. -
August 13, 2021
Don Knotts's daughter Karen, an actress who performs a one-woman show about her dad, offers an affectionate account of his life and career, with down-home anecdotes from friends and family. Born Jessie Donald Knotts in 1924 in rural Morgantown, WV, Don didn't seem a likely candidate for TV and movie stardom. Karen describes how her father grew up poor, as the youngest of four sons, and got the acting bug from watching Laurel and Hardy movies. When he graduated from high school, he headed for New York, but failing to launch an acting career, he enlisted in the army, where his talent led him to the Special Services unit, entertaining the troops. With those contacts, he landed a part on a soap opera, then a regular role on The Steve Allen Show, followed by a part in No Time for Sergeants on Broadway with Andy Griffith, which in turn led to his most famous role, as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. VERDICT This is more a puff piece than an expos� (Don Knotts was a genuinely nice guy), which might disappoint celebrity gossip mavens. But fans and those interested in the actor's life after Mayberry might enjoy it.--Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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