https://www.metv.com/stories/don-knotts-called-playing-barney-fife-the-richest-experience-of-my-life

For Knotts, nothing compared to playing Barney.

Here's why Andy Griffith said that they'd have to be ''careful'' filming a new season of The Andy Griffith Show without Don Knotts (https://www.metv.com/stories/heres-why-andy-griffith-said-that-theyd-have-to-be-careful-filming-a-new-season-of-the-andy-griffith-show-without-don-knotts)

Knotts leaving left an opening.