Not Donna Knotts, Donatella or Demi Knotts...but Karen Knotts - Actress, Playwright, Producer, Stand-up Comic!
Yes, Karen is the Real Deal! Part Clown, Part Bearded lady, Part Ringmaster!
(sorry about the Bearded part, Karen - I have something for that)
Born to be on Stage; Karen's a Combination of Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Fanny Brice & Charles Nelson Reilly!
Daughter of Beloved Funnyman Don Knotts - Karen has the Comedy Chops & Timing of any Veteran Showman - from Vaudeville to The Borscht Belt to "The Housewives of Mayberry"!
Just when you think she's emptied her bag of tricks; she surprises us with more - Actress in a TV Mini-Series, Sit-Com with Caroll O'Connor, TV Roles "Return to Mayberry" & "Vice Academy", Equity Regional Theatre receiving an ADA Actor's Award & has her sights on Broadway.
In her loving Tribute to her father, her One Woman Show - "Tied Up In Knotts"; shows her mastery of the art form with her inventiveness & range of characters, whimsical musings & deep, deep love for her Dad - the legendary Comic the World has taken to its heart.
What a thrill it must've been for her to perform this Touring Show recently in Mt. Airy, North Carolina - at "The Mayberry Days Celebration".
Known best for his hilarious portrayal of "Barney Fife" in iconic "The Andy Griffith Show" in which he won 5 Emmys & played the Landlord, Mr. Furley in "Three's Company" - Don Knotts worked all his life starring in a multitude of Movies, Stage, TV & had the Face for Radio!
Meeting with her here in L.A. was a joy & while she couldn't possibly name all the Greats her Father worked with - besides Andy Griffith & Ron Howard - I got a feeling it was an extra treat to have played with Bill Cosby & Tim Conway.
The first time I saw Karen's Father was on early TV in 1956; on "The Steve Allen Show" in "The Man On The Street" Interviews.
Don was both exhaustingly funny & endearing with his portrayal of an extremely nervous man. At different times, he said he was "A Brain Surgeon or Explosives Expert"!
Things I didn't know: he was a small town boy from Morgantown, West Virginia & started out as a Ventriloquist, then formed a Comedy Team, enlisted in the Army & Entertained Troops & got to work on stage in "The Odd Couple" with Art Carney!
And in 1992 on "Don Knotts Day" - not only did his Hometown change the name of the Street to "Don Knotts Boulevard" - they named him Honorary Deputy Sheriff AND...there's a Statue of him - but I heard it's a little "Shaky"!
As a new Fan I can say; Karen Knotts is not at all shaky - strong on natural talent & grace - passionate & compelling in her quest for laughs in a world hungry for her bountiful wit.
Any Father would be proud!
Don & Karen Knotts
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Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Personal note: I'll be observing a month of blog fasting at OS on Monday in support of the protest among those moving to OurSalon.ning for at least 30 days. This is a time for reading and reflection and thinking about where I (and we) want to go from here. Did you mention whether you had a view on this matter? I'm finding OS almost unusable these days and will be looking for alternatives.
I especially like the OurSalon tagline: "Writers at Play." That would be us.