Don Knotts was one of the best performers of all-time, look where he ranks among his Contemporaries, just think if how many emmys he would have won had he stayed for the duration of the Andy Griffith show:


Most Emmys Won By a Male Performer
Ed Asner 7
Art Carney 6
Alan Alda 5
Peter Falk 5
Don Knotts 5
Laurence Olivier 5
Dick Van Dyke 5
Hal Holbrook 5
Carroll O'Connor 5
Harvey Korman 4
John Larroquette 4

Yep Knotts was one of the all time greats, but actually he won three of his emmys after he quit being a regular on the Griffith show, I believe he won his last three emmys in the guest star category for his guest appearances on the Griffith Show (1965-1968).

Actually it was 2 emmys as a guest star role, but that still does not deminish his talent. His emmys are as follows:

Don Knotts won 5 Emmys for his role on "The Andy Griffith Show."

1960 -61 Season Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series.

1961 -62 Season
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor.

1962 -63 Season
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor.

1965-66 Season
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy. in "The Return of Barney Fife"

1966-67 Season
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy. in "Barney Comes to Mayberry"