Karen Knotts (born April 2, 1954) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. She is also the daughter of Don Knotts.[3]

Karen Knotts
Born (1954-04-02) April 2, 1954 (age 70)[1][2]
EducationUSC School of Cinematic Arts
Occupation(s)Actress, stand-up comedian
Years active1967–present
FatherDon Knotts
Websitekarenknotts.com

Career

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During her childhood and teen years, Knotts says she and her father often "butted heads" over her desire to enter show business: "I always wanted to be an actress, even when I was young, but he said, 'No, that's not a good life for a child.'" She went on to say that he supported her "100 percent in the end".[4][5][3] She studied at Beverly Hills High School, followed by USC School of Cinematic Arts.[6]

Knotts works as a stand-up comic and SAG/AFTRA actor. Her one-woman show, "Tied Up in Knotts", is the story of growing up with her comedian father.[3] It was directed by Andersen Gabrych.[7] She performed it at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008. She also performs standup comedy on the road. Her television and film credits include “Mayberry Man”, Return to Mayberry,[3] An Occurrence at Black Canyon,[8] One of Our Own,[9] and the Vice Academy series.[10]

She also writes for the stage; her one-woman play Roger and Betsy was nominated for the Merce Awards in 2009.[11] In 2021, she wrote a memoir about her father called Tied Up in Knotts.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "In MEMORY of DON KNOTTS on his BIRTHDAY - Career years: 1953–2006 Born Jesse Donald Knotts, American actor and comedian, best known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom for which he earned five Emmy Awards, and for his role as Ralph Furley on the highly rated sitcom Three's Company from 1979 to 1984. He also starred in multiple comedic films, including the leading role in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). In 1979, TV Guide ranked him #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list".
  2. ^ "🎉 Happy Birthday to my beautiful friend KAREN KNOTTS... actress/comedienne & daughter of TV Legend DON KNOTTS #Birthday #AndyGriffin #ThreesCompany #LadyBoss #CEO #Host". instagram.com.
  3. ^ a b c d Meyer, Carla (March 20, 2014). "Karen Knotts celebrates her late father's life in a one-woman show". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  4. ^ The Murfreesboro Post, Ken Beck, April 10, 2011
  5. ^ BECK, KEN (17 January 2023). "Tied Up in Knotts".
  6. ^ "Karen Knotts: The Dad I Didn't Know - Lee Lofland". 12 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Karen Knott in Tied Up in Knotts". www.brownpapertickets.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Daily News-Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee". March 9, 2011. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  9. ^ Bonfiglio, Jeremy D. (February 12, 2015). "Tied up in Knotts". Herald-Palladium. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  10. ^ McTavish, Brian (August 25, 1996). "25 Aug 1996, 143 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  11. ^ "Karen Knotts pays tribute to a funny, terrific dad". 16 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Don 'Barney Fife' Knotts' daughter Karen's new book: 'Tied up in Knotts!'". 23 June 2022.
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