Don Knotts: Mr. Furley and much more

Don Knotts as Ralph Furley in the sitcom "Three's Company".

Source: https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/Ralph_Furley

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How could he not have known? How was it possible that Ralph Furley could never see that Jack Tripper was not gay? That it was just a ruse so he could go on living with two female roommates? No matter how often Jack seemed to slip up, Mr. Furley never caught on.

That actually was part of Ralph Furley’s charm on the sitcom “Three’s Compant”. As the years went on, he became more than just another obtuse landlord, but a multi-layered character.

I attribute that to the acting of Don Knotts, who brought a lot of experience with him to that role.

It is his birthday today, and a good chance to look back.

The years before
Don Knotts got his start on TV on the soap opera “Search for Tomorrow”, but really got rolling with his turn as Barney Fife in “The Andy Griffith Show” from 1960 to 1968. He appeared in 162 episodes and won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, and 1967.

He would also appear in “McHale’s Navy”; “Mayberry R.F.D.” and “The New Andy Griffith Show”, reprising the role of Barney Fife; “Here’s Lucy”; “The Girl With Something Extra”; “Fantasy Island”; “The Muppets Go Hollywood”; and much more.

Knotts was also in a lot of movies including “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”; “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”; “The Reluctant Astronaut”; “The Shakiest Gun in the West”; “The Love God?”; “How to Frame a Figg”; “The Apple Dumpling Gang”; “Gus”; “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo”; “Hot Lead and Cold Feet”; “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again”; “The Prize Fighter”; and more.

Stray thoughts

I have some odd memories about some of these movies.

“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” is about a cross-country treasure hunt that had Jimmy Durante literally kick the bucket to start the movie, and touch off the hunt for treasure. I started watching the movie one weekday afternoon in the summer, on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, when I had no school, but never saw the end.

“The Apple Dumpling Gang” and its sequel were both on TV, and I am pretty sure I have seen them, but when I read up on them I just don’t have any memory. The thing is, every Sunday we would usually have company. These movies would air on the “Wide World of Disney” on Channel 9 of the peasant vision dial, usually in two parts of an hour each over two successive Sundays. Often our company would stay until 8 p.m., so even if we wanted to watch the movie, the adults would be talking through it. With it hard to understand, I am not surprised I formed few memories about some movies.

One I do remember well is “Gus”, about a donkey recruited by the California Atoms, a professional football team, to kick field goals. Knotts plays Coach Venner, the hapless coach of the Atoms. In the end, the farm boy who holds the ball for Gus and yells the word that makes him kick, himself becomes the hero by scoring the championship winning touchdown.

“Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo” is another installment in the series of movies about a Volkswagen Beatle who comes to life. Knotts plays the mechanic to driver Jim Douglas, played by Dean Jones, who take Herbie in a road race from Paris to Monte Carlo. I actually bought the novelization of this movie through Scholastic Books.

“Hot Lead and Cold Feet” is a movie I wanted to see, and have faint recollection that I may have, in a matinee at the Paramount Theatre in Lethbridge. It is another novelization that I bought through Scholastic Books.

It may not have been as big a role as Barney Fife, but in 1979, Don Knotts landed another memorable role.

Three’s Company
In 1979, Don Knotts, who was already an established star, joined the cast of “Three’s Company” as landlord Ralph Furley. He replaced Stanley and Helen Roper, played by Norman Fell and Audra Lindley, who had left for their own sitcom “The Ropers”.

Over time he would turn in some great scenes. In one episode, he comes upon a dog and, when by himself, tells the dog he will call him “Patches”. He then recounts the story of a dog he lost when he was a boy. It was a touching scene. In another episode, Jack Tripper, played by John Ritter, is the victim of harassment. Jack’s roommate Janet Wood, played by Joyce DeWitt, and Jack go back and forth in this passionate discussion. Furley notes they are each pronouncing harassment differently and blurts out, “Which is it?” It was the perfect comic relief.

Knotts would stay on until the show ended in 1984, for a total of 115 episodes.

The years after
Knotts appeared in movies such as “Cannonball Run II”; “Big Bully”; “Pleasantville”; “Tom Sawyer”; “Chicken Little”; a number of short films; and more.

He appeared on television in “The Love Boat”; lent his voice to “Inspector Gadget”; reprised his role as Barney Fife in the television movie “Return to Mayberry” in 1986; had a recurring role for 11 episodes in “What a Country!” in 1987; and was in “She’s the Sheriff” in 1988 with former “Three’s Company” star Suzanne Somers.

Knotts played Les Calhoun, Matlock’s pesky neighbour in 17 episodes of “Matlock” from 1988 to 1992, reuniting with his old co-star Andy Griffith.

There were also appearances in “Newhart”; “Step by Step”, again appearing with Suzanne Somers; “Burke’s Law”; “8 Simple Rules (to Dating my Teenage Daughter)”; “That ‘70s Show”; “Fatherhood”; “Las Vegas”; and more.

Don Knotts would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.

He died on February 24, 2006.

He was 81 years old.

Parting thoughts
Don Knotts was an actor who seemed to transcend time. I never once saw him play Barney Fife in “The Andy Griffith Show”, but it is obviously an iconic role, validated by the five Emmys he won for the part.

I did see him in a lot of Disney and Disney-type comedies, and he was very effective.

Initially, he brought that same sensibility to his role as Ralph Furley on “Three’s Company”. Wikipedia revealed many of the slapstick lines intended for Suzanne Somers were given to Knotts when she departed the show. Yet, over time, as he became more familiar with Jack, Janet and the others, the role deepened, and he brought new dimensions to it. He was no longer their landlord, he was their friend, and they were all part of a family.

Wikipedia says that in 2004 “TV Guide” named Don Knotts number 27 on their list of “50 Greatest TV Actors of All Time”.

I can see why.

But I still have one question:

How could he not have known?