Don Knotts is my first pick - in my humble opinion he is the most deserving. First of all I think he is hilarious. not the type of humor that translates as well today, but it still carries over (my kids laugh when they watch him!). So my bias is revealed. Here are some highlights of my Don Knotts case for a Disney Legend.
He is the uptight half of the legendary comedy team of Tim Conway and Don Knotts. Tim Conway was honored as a Disney Legend in 2004, and his election without Knott's inclusion is a bit perplexing.
Conway and Knotts were wonderful in one my childhood favorites - The Apple Dumpling Gang and its sequel. Knotts played Theodore Ogelvie.
Another of my favorites a kid was the movie Gus - the football kicking mule. Don Knotts starred as Coach Venner the coach for the California Atoms.
He also played the Denver Kid in Hot Lead Cold Feet.
He voiced Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Chicken Little.
He starred with Dean Jones as Wheely Applegate in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
He also hosted the Mouse Factory episode "Physical
Fitness" and guest-starred on The Muppet Show in episode 201.
He is also the subject of a famous Michael Eisner quote.
When being courted for the top job at Disney, Eisner scoffed and sarcastically said: “They still think Don Knotts
is a movie star.”
Granted some of these movies are considered from one of the dark ages of Disney, but maybe Knotts should get an award just for helping the studios survive the 1970s with some box office successes.
Don Knotts is a American Icon and should be rembered as such many of my favorite Disney movies would not have been the same without that loveable lanky man from morgantown.
Don Knotts is a American Icon and should be rembered as such many of my favorite Disney movies would not have been the same without that loveable lanky man from morgantown.
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