He was born in Morgantown, West Virginia to Elsie L. Moore and William Jesse Knotts, who had once worked as farmers. He graduated from Morgantown High School. His father had a nervous breakdown and lost his farm before Don was born. His father's family had been in the United States since the 17th century, originally settling in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

Knotts' father suffered from schizophrenia and alcoholism and died when Knotts was thirteen years old.

At 19 Knotts joined the Army and served in World War II as part of a traveling GI variety show called "Stars and Gripes." He received the World War II Victory Medal. After the war Knotts graduated from his hometown West Virginia University in 1948 with a degree in theater.

Oh..sorry...that's Don Knotts...not me, I'll fill ya in later...