Their work on The Andy Griffith Show during Knotts’ five seasons ... Knotts tossed in some of his “Nervous Man” ticks for Deputy Barney Fife. Griffith found his rhythm as a straight man ...

Ron Howard as Opie Taylor and Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show, circa 1963. Unlike many sitcoms of its time, The Andy Griffith Show avoided filming before a live studio ...