From left, Karen Knotts and her dad, Don Knotts. Karen will discuss her dad, his roles including Barney Fife in “The Andy Griffith Show,” in her show “Tied Up In Knotts” at 8 p.m. March 12 at the Smoot Theatre. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The daughter of one of America’s most popular comedic actors will offer behind-the-scene stories in a show in March in Parkersburg.

Karen Knotts, the daughter of West Virginia native Don Knotts, will present “Tied Up In Knotts” at 8 p.m. March 12 at the Smoot Theatre.

Don Knotts, who was born in Morgantown, played Deputy Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” set in the fictional Mayberry, N.C. For the rest of their lives, Knotts and Andy Griffith remained close.

“Almost like brothers,” Karen Knotts said.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Smoot website or at the box office. For more information, call the theater at 304 422-7529.

Andy Griffith laughs it up with Don Knotts while taping a television program on Oct. 20, 1967. (AP Photo)

Karen also will perform in a show in Morgantown on March 13.

The show will include video clips and rare footage of Knotts, Karen said. She’ll talk about things that happened behind the scenes, her father’s career and growing up.

Karen would visit the set of “The Andy Griffith Show.” She and Ron Howard, who played Opie on the show, are of the same age.

Knotts, who performed for soldiers while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, started as a ventriloquist. He got his break as the nervous guy on the “Tonight Show” with Steve Allen where he appeared with Tom Poston and Louie Nye.

“That show made him famous,” she said.

Television in that era was live, and that caused Knotts anxiety, Karen said. He would remain up at nights, trying to think of something funnier than the day before, she said.

“I don’t think he enjoyed live TV,” she said.

Knotts won five Best Supporting Actor Emmys for his role as Barney Fife. His favorite episode was when Barney bought his first car from a little old lady, thinking she could be trusted and it was a great deal, but the car kept falling apart, Karen said.

Besides the TV show, Knotts also starred in movies, including “The Incredible Mr. Limpet,” “The Reluctant Astronaut,” “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken,” “The Apple Dumpling Gang” and “The Shakiest Gun in the West.”

Knotts died in 2006. He wasn’t working much in his later years and suffered from macular degeneration, but Griffith offered him a role on “Matlock,” a popular show with Griffith playing the lead, Karen said. Knotts played Les Calhoun in 17 episodes starting in 1988.

“Andy was still looking after him,” she said.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.