I am watching some TAGS online. I live overseas (why online) and I have noticed how THIN Don Knotts is. Seeing him stand next to Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors or even the actresses in the cast, he's a small dude. The guy looks to be about 5'9" and weighs maybe 120 lbs. Aunt Bee was easily twice his size.

Why was he so thin? Had anyone ever asked him? He wasn't, but the man looked anorexic on TAGS, but he never really gained any weight, ever. I wonder if he was one of those guys who could eat and drink all he wanted and never gain a pound. I could never see Knotts as a drinker though, he was such a bantam that one mixed drink would have passed him out.

That's the question, why was he so thin? Also, is there any pictures of his wife or child?

Most of you know this, but Knotts' (real) first name is Jesse. Never looked like a Jesse to me. This is the name that Griffith called Knotts by.

Back in the 60s,you wouldn't have noticed it that much, but seeing people like that these days, they really stand out,don't they ? Maybe he had ricketts as a kid.

Why not? He was just thin.

ANd I don't really know how tall he was but he didn't look 5'9, he looked pretty short.

Some people are just naturally thinand have a high metabolism. Don probably ate like a horse and burned it off.

Back in the 60s,you wouldn't have noticed it that much, but seeing people like that these days, they really stand out,don't they ? Maybe he had ricketts as a kid.

No insult to Jessie Don Knotts. I loved the man.

I dont think he did anything unnatural to himself, he wasn't an anorexic or a speed freak. The man was naturally this size, probably ate whatever the hell he wanted to eat, but maybe in smaller portions. When Griffith and Knotts went out, Griffith could eat whole steak and several cocktails while Don could only eat half and after two cocktails is drunk and sleepy.

But next to the other actors of the show, he was smaller than even possibly the female actresses. I think that probably the actress who played Thelma Lou was the same weight as Knotts. Griffith and Nabors were huge next to him. They could have mosquito slapped him with an arm and killed him.

Like I said, Knotts never gained any weight. He was the same size when he died a famous man as he was when he was a starving actor in New York. Really.

Also he might have kept himself in that shape for the role, b/c he was supposed to be small and wirey.

It is funny how people age. I remember seeing Andy in the show as so slim and tall. Kind of a Abe Lincoln figure. Then decades later in the Matlock show he look shorter and rounder. We all age. Don aged too. He wasn't so thin in Three's Company.

Don with first wife and kids. Daughter Karen Knotts.

He's all muscle.

He's all muscle.

LOL ...his whole body is a weapon :) .

Honestly though - my grandpa was the oldest of eight boys. My g'pa was the "athlete" of the bunch (broad shoulders - strong legs)...four of his brothers were heavy set (fat) and the other three were bean poles, even in their later years...all were big eaters if I remember right. I think it's just the genetic "luck of the draw".

It must be tough to be in show business. You mentioned his first wife and kids. Did he marry again? I always wonder how the children cope. I couldn't imagine my folks separating.

It seems Don Knotts was always worried about his health. He's one of those people that looked kinda old even when he was young!

He was very skinny. That might have just been in his genes. He certainly didn't look very healthy as he did always appear rather frail and old.

He did a fine job in Mayberry but I preferred him in There's Company. Ralph Furley was HILARIOUS! :lol:

It seems Don Knotts was always worried about his health. He's one of those people that looked kinda old even when he was young!

He was very skinny. That might have just been in his genes. He certainly didn't look very healthy as he did always appear rather frail and old.

He did a fine job in Mayberry but I preferred him in There's Company. Ralph Furley was HILARIOUS! :lol:
I agree. I thought he was much funnier and more entertaining in T.C. as well.

I agree. I thought he was much funnier and more entertaining in T.C. as well.

Yeah that's why it's strange why so many people only or automatically think of the Andy Griffith show when you bring up Don Knotts.

Yes he was slim compared to people today. I just think it was genetics and he just probably came from an era where you didn't have so much as we have today to eat. I remember when Michael Jackson was on trial and the commentators mentioned his weight. I was astounded he weighted 120lbs. I don't think the trial completely strunk his figure. As I glanced at the crowds watching Michael arrived in the parasol entourage of attornies, I said He weighs less than I do and I was 125lb and I am 5 ft tall.

God bless him. If he had good health and kept that thin, good for him.

God bless him. If he had good health and kept that thin, good for him.

Being too thin can also be a sign of bad health you know. In addition unexplained weight loss can be a potential death sentence and a symptom of many serious cancers & other diseases.

Don with first wife and kids. Daughter Karen Knotts.

Very attractive.

I think I read he was 5'7, so he was a pretty petite person.

Don Knotts was thin???

Usually when I think of thin, I think of someone like JJ Walker. Don Knotts just seemed to be normal weight for his height.

It must be tough to be in show business. You mentioned his first wife and kids. Did he marry again? I always wonder how the children cope. I couldn't imagine my folks separating.

Are you kidding?? People like Knotts made MILLIONS & lived in mansions! I assure you the kids were very well taken care of. You realize there are MANY unhappy homes where the parents are still married?

I'd be a kid any day in Knott's kids' situation where I would've been shuttled between mom and dad's separate homes in a LIMO! :)

Don Knotts also has a son who looks like him, balding and as about as thin.

Are you kidding?? People like Knotts made MILLIONS & lived in mansions! I assure you the kids were very well taken care of. You realize there are MANY unhappy homes where the parents are still married?

I'd be a kid any day in Knott's kids' situation where I would've been shuttled between mom and dad's separate homes in a LIMO! :)

To be honest, I have never know anyone to be divorced. I live in small town. My parents were not rich, but had a love for each other and their children. As for being a child of Hollywood star, I would not want it. I like my small town.

I am watching some TAGS online. I live overseas (why online) and I have noticed how THIN Don Knotts is. Seeing him stand next to Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors or even the actresses in the cast, he's a small dude. The guy looks to be about 5'9" and weighs maybe 120 lbs. Aunt Bee was easily twice his size.

Why was he so thin? Had anyone ever asked him? He wasn't, but the man looked anorexic on TAGS, but he never really gained any weight, ever. I wonder if he was one of those guys who could eat and drink all he wanted and never gain a pound. I could never see Knotts as a drinker though, he was such a bantam that one mixed drink would have passed him out.

That's the question, why was he so thin? Also, is there any pictures of his wife or child?

he was in an episode in a tv show before the AG show without a shirt on and its scary how thin he was.of course if he wasnt a cousin of andys I doubt he would been a deputy.
Most of you know this, but Knotts' (real) first name is Jesse. Never looked like a Jesse to me. This is the name that Griffith called Knotts by.

Don with first wife and kids. Daughter Karen Knotts.

His daughter is beautiful.

Don Knotts just seemed to have a hug metabolism, not to mention being very active.

I was just as skinny all my life until later years, and was healthy as a horse.

How ET has gone to hell in an anorexic tabloid frenzy! (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081857/reviews)

February 2006

Don Knotts, Darrin McGavin & Dennis Weaver died this weekend. RIP. ET only talked about how Don was anorexic! ET and the Insider are the two biggest pieces of crap on the air. I used to never miss it. Now its all self-promotion and medical tabloid garbage! I remember in the old days when someone of Don Knotts stature, Dennis Weaver or Mr. McGavin passed the entire show would be a tribute to them, I would tape them --now Dancing With The Stars 10 min. 700 LB MAN OR 40 LB FASHON STICK 12 min. --- Mr. Knotts with a 50 year entertainment history- 2min !!!! Maltin gives 1 min. on Weaver and 30 seconds about McGavin and A Christmas Story! SHAME!

For the record, I couldn't find any hardcore proof or evidence that Entertainment Tonight (https://web.archive.org/web/20140403063040/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2864743-entertainment-tonight/page-9) actually said on air that Don Knotts must of been anorexic. This is how Entertainment Tonight initially reported the news of his death:
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