I’m speaking of course of Don Knotts, Darrin McGavin and Dennis Weaver. All died within days of each other. And each left an indelible mark on television. The most notable of these three is of course Don Knotts, who was one of TV’s all-time best lovable goofballs on “The Andy Griffith Show.� He played Barney Fife. Do I need to tell you he played Barney Fife?
With his wiry frame and those eyes that seemed to be planted on springs, Knotts was the perfect foil to Griffith laid-back Andy Taylor. Andy was the guy we all wanted to be or wanted to know. Barney was who we feared we actually were. Awkward, overzealous and gleefully lacking in self-awareness, Barney could easily have been obnoxious. But Knotts got at the vulnerability underneath, at Barney’s kernel of suspicion that he maybe wasn’t that great a deputy. That combination of silliness and depth is what made us love Barney.
Knotts played another goofball, Mr. Furley on “Three’s Company.� That role was less iconic, but even in that silly show Knotts displayed his wacky pop-eyed charm. He’ll be missed.
McGavin and Weaver didn’t have a Barney in their resumes, at least not in their TV work. McGavin had The Old Man in the classic film “A Christmas Story.� Actually, that movie is shown so frequently at Christmas time, his role in it alone could conceivably qualify him as a TV star. But McGavin’s big TV role was as Kolchak in the TV movie “The Night Stalker� and in a subsequent short-lived series. I remember seeing one episode as a kid (or was it the movie? I can’t remember), and being impressed by the concept. It was about a reporter investigating paranormal and spooky goings-on. I thought it was scary but fun. Chris Carter, the creator of “The X-Files� thought the same thing, because he often cited “The Night Stalker� as an influence on his creepy show.
McGavin guest-starred on a lot of shows, including the sitcom “Murphy Brown� where he played the title character’s father. In all his roles, McGavin had a clear persona – almost the opposite of the one Knotts had. He was growly, cranky, irascible, and yet sympathetic. Like Knotts, he used his eyes to great effect, but his didn’t pop. They narrowed. Like in “A Christmas Story,� when his son mutters a curse word. Those eyes become slits, and McGavin’s Old Man slowly intones: “What…did…you…say?�
When his son stammers, searching for an acceptable answer, McGavin, eyes still narrowed, replies, “That’s what I thought you said.�
Of the three, Weaver is the actor about whom I have the least practical knowledge, but he’s still an undeniable presence in TV history. He was on the legendary western “Gunsmoke� and played the title role in “McCloud,� but what many of the pieces I’ve read have left out is that he played the lead in the TV movie “Duel.� I haven’t seen it (always meant to), but it was directed by a young Steven Spielberg and showcased the emerging suspenseful style that would come to fruition in movies like “Jaws.�
All three actors played a crucial role in our TV past. The fact that we lost them all in quick succession is very sad, especially to those who love television.