Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian, best known as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, a 1960s sitcom for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He also starred in multiple comedic films, including playing Luther Heggs in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and Henry Limpet in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964). He also portrayed landlord Ralph Furley on the sitcom Three\'s Company. In 1979 TV Guide ranked him #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.\n', '

Jesse Donald Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, the youngest of four sons born to farmer William Jesse Knotts and his wife, Elsie Luzetta Knotts (née Moore). His parents were married in Spraggs, Pennsylvania. His English paternal ancestors emigrated to America in the 17th century, originally settling in Queen Anne\'s County, Maryland. Knotts\' brothers were named Willis, William, and Ralph.\n', '

Knotts\'s mother was 40 at the time of his birth and his father suffered from mental illness; he had a nervous breakdown due to the stress of Knotts\'s birth. Afflicted with schizophrenia and alcoholism, he sometimes terrorized Knotts with a knife, causing Knotts to turn inward at an early age. The elder Knotts died of pneumonia when Jesse Donald was 13 years old. Knotts and his three brothers were then raised by their mother, who ran a boarding house in Morgantown. She died in 1969 at age 84. Her son William preceded her in death in 1941 at age 31. They are buried in the family plot at Beverly Hills Memorial Park. Knotts is a sixth cousin of actor and film director Ron Howard.[citation needed]\n', '

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