Apartment Finder: Acting Colleges

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Acting Colleges

Don Knotts was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, about an hour south of Pittsburgh, to Elsie L. Moore (1885-1969) and William Jesse Knotts (1882-1937). He was the youngest of four sons in a family struggling through the Depression. His father, who had suffered hysterical blindness and a nervous collapse before Don was born, rarely left his bed. His mother kept the family going by taking in boarders. One of his brothers, Shadow, died of an asthma attack while Don was a teenager.Don's skills at acting and comedy appeared early. Even before entering high school Don was performing as a ventriloquist and comedian at area church and school functions. He moved to New York City after graduation to try and make his way as a comedian, but when his career failed to take off he returned home to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University. He moved to New York City after graduation to try and make his way as a comedian, but when his career failed to take off he returned home to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University.