Why was Don Knotts so thin? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 08-01-2011, 03:05 AM

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.

tiredmike59 · 08-01-2011, 03:10 AM

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.

Frump · 08-01-2011, 08:03 AM

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.

old grouch · 08-01-2011, 09:46 AM

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

Yong Fang · 08-01-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiredmike59

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.

Frump · 08-01-2011, 10:31 PM

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

Coffeecup · 10-28-2011, 10:50 AM

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.

born2late · 10-28-2011, 08:11 PM

Don with first wife and kids. Daughter Karen Knotts.

Sterling Holobyte · 10-28-2011, 08:47 PM

He's all muscle.

DJlaysitup · 12-18-2011, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterling Holobyte

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".

Coffeecup · 12-19-2011, 10:47 AM

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.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 03-16-2019, 03:23 AM

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!

OH Nuts! · 03-16-2019, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

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!

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

SitcomsHeydayfan · 03-16-2019, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

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.

Coffeecup · 03-16-2019, 03:13 PM

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.

08-01-2011, 03:05 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Why was Don Knotts so thin? 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.

08-01-2011, 08:03 AM	#3
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	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.
	__________________ Frump

10-28-2011, 08:11 PM	#8
born2late Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Location: Tn Posts: 360	Don with first wife and kids. Daughter Karen Knotts. Attached Images

10-28-2011, 08:47 PM	#9
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	He's all muscle.
	__________________ "Let it go. Forget about it. Try smiling." -Michael Harris WPIV studio producer/shoe salesman/grocery store employee/Ex-sanitarium patient/Stephanie's boyfriend-then husband --------------------------------------------------- My 2nd First Blog:http://saturdaymorningfunnies.wordpress.com/

08-01-2011, 03:10 AM	#2
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	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.

08-01-2011, 09:46 AM	#4
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Some people are just naturally thinand have a high metabolism. Don probably ate like a horse and burned it off.

08-01-2011, 10:31 PM	#6
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	Also he might have kept himself in that shape for the role, b/c he was supposed to be small and wirey.

10-28-2011, 10:50 AM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,184	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.

12-19-2011, 10:47 AM	#11
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,184	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.

03-16-2019, 03:23 AM	#12
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	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!

03-16-2019, 03:13 PM	#15
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,184	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.