My brother and I often reminisce about old American television sitcoms we enjoyed while they aired and continue to enjoy them through DVD and streaming services. One of these shows is ‘Three’s Company’ with the late John Ritter (1948-2003). The show was a massive success but a cast change during its run helped cement its place in television history. A supporting character named “Mr. Furley” was the landlord and after the departure of the first actor retained to play the role, a well-known comedic star named Jesse Donald “Don” Knotts (1924-2006) was brought in to replace him. And the rest, as they say, is history. Knotts had earned his stripes in Hollywood before being cast as Furley, but this show undoubtedly helped propel his legacy as a television great. But who was the real Don Knotts? His daughter Karen has carried her father’s legacy and authored this book about the man she called her dad.

As opposed to a standard biography, this book is a collection of memories from friends, family members, former co-stars, and Karen herself. The interviews are eye-opening and provide valuable insight into the personal life of a man who made millions of people laugh. His early life is discussed, and we learn of his origins in the Appalachian town of Morgantown, West Virginia. There were a few things that did surprise me, as I had no prior knowledge of them beforehand. The most surprising thing is that Knotts was a decorated World War II veteran. He was not the first star to serve in the war but joins an honored list of performers who served in a war that turned the world upside down. Following the war, Knotts set his sights on bigger goals, and embraced his role as a husband and father. But his life changes significantly when he meets a fellow star who was blazing his own trail in Hollywood, Andy Griffith (1926-2012). Fans of the ‘Andy Griffith Show‘ will love this part of the book. Karen is there to provide comments about behind the scenes events that reveal the personal side of the stars who created the beloved fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Knotts became “Barney Fife” the deputy who provided comic relief to Griffith’s “Andy Taylor”. The show was a hit and is still fondly remembered today. But behind the camera, Knotts had his own personal struggles which Karen and his son Thomas recall as they talk about their late father.

As I read, I was surprised to learn of Knotts’s multiple marriages, and string of romances. In contrast to the fictional Fife who provides comedic relief, the real life Knotts was well-liked by women. But as Karen explains, his love life was not always stable, however, this also shows that Knotts was human, and no one has the “perfect life”. Additionally, the reality of divorce, addiction, and physical ailments could not be overlooked with the star learning of a condition that would affect him for the rest of his life. Knotts refused to let anything get him down and continued perfecting his craft, and even reels his daughter in on occasion to join him on camera. Karen was a keen observer and discusses stars she met as her father guided her around Hollywood. Her story is fascinating and her friendships with other childhood stars are interesting. The two that stand out are Ron Howard and Desi Arnaz, Jr. Although their father was famous, both Karen and Thomas had their own personal struggles which they frankly discuss in the book. Hollywood may create fiction, but the lives of its stars are very real.

Karen Knotts continues to keep her father’s legacy alive, but for readers looking to understand her famous dad, this book is invaluable. The stars we love give us shows, films and interviews to last a lifetime, but behind the camera, they too fight their own personal battles. But as they say in Hollywood, the show must go on, and for Don Knotts it always did. And as a testament to his character, none of the people interviewed had a negative word to say about him. Knotts himself also speaks in the book, looking at himself objectively and observing the world around him as comedians have always done. This is his story, and that of his children who proudly carry the Knotts name.

ASIN :‎ B08XQZGNPY