Barney Fife

Don Knotts was a gifted comedian. When he passed away last week at age 81, the clips and credits of his career filled several entertainment shows. He was "Mr. Limpet," — the mousey clerk who becomes a fish. He was the laughable landlord, Mr. Furley, on "Three's Company" and the clueless television repairman in the movie "Pleasantville." But as Don Knotts, the person, is laid to rest, one of his roles promises to live forever: Barney Fife, the bumbling "everyman" on the Andy Griffith show. The portrayal garnered five Emmys for Knotts. But more than that, it garnered him a place in the Hall of Fame of American types.

If someone describes a man as a "Barney Fife figure," everybody knows the type. And under the gentle care of Knotts, Barney became a classic. He was blustery, yet cowardly; sneaky, yet noble. He had illusions of grandeur about his singing voice, his bravery and his talents for everything from doing bird calls to wooing women. But like a Disney character, no matter how out of control he got, he was never threatening. And that allowed the nation to find not only something in Barney to love, but something in themselves that smacked of Barney. When Barney finally landed a girlfriend in the pert and sensible Thelma Lou, viewers asked "What does she see in the guy?"

She saw what everybody saw: a man with a good heart and a lot of energy. Yes, his ego needed to be stoked daily. And his heart was broken almost as often. But when something truly important was on the line — friendship, duty — Barney would deliver.

Everybody knows a Barney Fife in life because everybody — in some part of his or her soul — is one.

The word "icon" gets bandied about today with little concern to its meaning. Just being unique does not make an actor an icon. An actor has to capsulize an aspect of the American grain in a character to earn such status. Jackie Gleason did it with Ralph Kramden. Minnie Pearl was an icon. James Arness was one as Matt Dillon.

And Don Knotts as Barney Fife.

Over the years Knotts made 25 films and had a part in seven different television series. But in 10 years most of those will be period pieces, emblems from American history. Except for Barney.

This may be an elegy for Knotts, but not for Barney Fife. The scrawny deputy with the frayed nerves lives on. And he will remain alive — every night — in a corner of the American heart.