Don Knotts was a big help in The Andy Griffith Show writer's room

Knotts wasn't just an actor.

September 24, 2024, 10:57AM By MeTV Staff

CBS Television Distribution

Look, as much as we enjoy a good love story, nothing warms the heart like a good old-fashioned friendship story.

No story of friendship is sweeter than that of Don Knotts and Andy Griffith, two men who forged a friendship that would last a lifetime. Both from the South, Knotts, and Griffith found plenty of common ground when they worked together during The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts explained their history during an interview with the Scripps Howard News Service, including the fact that when the two met, the connection was instant.

"We just hit it off," he said. "We got along real well."

Their friendship wasn't based solely on television; it continued long after Knotts had left The Andy Griffith Show, and even after Griffith had left Hollywood.

"He's moved back to North Carolina now, but he comes out (to California) about once a year and I get to see him," he said.

While the two shared a lot of laughs, Griffith also valued the creative opinions that Knotts had. "Sometimes Andy would ask me to write a bit for him and me," he said. "I had always written my own stuff with The Steve Allen Show...and (had written) a lot of monologues. So I was already somewhat experienced at it."

Knotts also mentioned that at times, he was encouraged to write entire scenes, and even rewrite pieces of the script.

Even after Knotts left The Andy Griffith Show, he didn't just keep in touch with Griffith; he also kept in touch with Barney Fife, bringing the character out sparingly during his stage routine.

"I don't do much (in the stage act) as Barney," said Knotts. "It's too hard to do out of context (of The Andy Griffith Show). Sometimes (audiences) ask me to do a couple of lines I'm known for and I shout those out."