His character in the segments was a very nervous man obviously uptight about being interviewed on camera. He became well-known for his "nervous man" shtick in the "Man-on-the-Street" segments that were a staple of Allen's show. Don also appeared in the film adaption of the play with Griffith.ĭon's big break before he hooked up again with Andy Griffith was a regular gig on the "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show" (1956) hosted by Steve Allen, starting in 1956. Destiny intervened when he was cast in the small role of the psychiatrist in the Broadway play "No Time For Sergeants", which starred Andy Griffith, who would play a large part in Don's future career. From 1953 to 1955, he was a regular on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow" (1951). In addition to doing stand-up comedy at clubs, he appeared on the radio, eventually playing the character "Windy Wales" on "The Bobby Benson Show". After graduating with a degree in theater in 1948, he married and moved back to New York, where connections he had made while in the Special Services Branch helped him break into show business. It was while in the army that Don ditched ventriloquism for straight comedy.ĭon returned to West Virginia University after being demobilized. The 19-year-old soldier was assigned to the Special Services Branch, where he entertained the troops. He decided to go to college, enrolling at West Virginia University but, when World War II engulfed America, he enlisted in the army. He decided to make a stab at a career in show business, moving to New York City after graduating from high school, but he only lasted in the Big Apple for a few weeks. His first stint as an entertainer was as a ventriloquist, performing paid gigs at parties and other events in Morganstown. He was the youngest of four sons in a family that had been in America since the 17th century. Don Knotts, the legendary television character actor, was born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924, in Morgantown, West Virginia, to William Jesse Knotts and the former Elsie L.
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