Tied Up with Karen Knotts

Both you and your late Dad have college theatre degrees (hers from USC and his: West Virginia University) Did your father stress formal training?

He never tried to push me to do anything. He always let me find my own way, although he discouraged me from certain things if he thought they weren't working for me. Dad had a great time at WVU, his drama teacher was Sam Boyd and he got so much valuable training from him. The best part of his training though, was in the army during WWII doing shows for soldiers.

Since this is for LAist, are there certain spots in Los Angeles that will always remind you of childhood and/or your dad? Where/why?

Glendale where we grew up. It was a much different town then, but still had the same 'small town' feel. Certain places near where we lived are burned in my memory. One interesting little fact. We lived on Mountain Street up in the hilly area, it was a curvy road, and sort of out of the way. Motorists would come zooming down that road like no tomorrow and a couple of precious pets were killed. Dad was so worried about it he went down to city hall and got them to put a stop sign in front of our house. It's still there. Places in L.A. proper; certain restaurants were his faves. He would usually eat at the same restaurant until he got tired of it (I'm talking for years!) Later in life he favored the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Dining was always first class for him and he favored classic style like the Beverly Wilshire. He loved Italian restaurants like Matteos, La Dolce Vita and La Scala.

Your Dad collaborated with some very interesting partners: the cast of the Andy Griffith Show, of course, but also Phil Silvers, Tim Conway, and later on Three's Company. What was his rehearsal method? Especially with his physical comedy, which I imagine took a serious amount of preparation.

Tim Conway was a great one for ad-libbing and he enjoyed Tim's talent for it. Dad didn't work that way. Everything was rehearsed, very precise. He spent a lot of time learning lines and working on delivery. (I do talk about this in the show.) He was a great craftsman. Never liked to improvise and was uncomfortable on talk shows. The physical comedy came naturally. As a boy he wanted to be a baseball player.

I imagine his image could have been frustrating at times for both of you. Is this something you discuss in your show?

I definitely talk about this! But from my own perspective. I don't thinks Dad's image was frustrating for him, except he was always very conscious of the public's perception of him, and that's why he never publicly discussed politics or did anything that would be an extreme departure from the way people perceived him. He was a very sophisticated, wordly guy, not like his characters, except maybe internally.

What kind of music did he listen to?

Lots of different kinds. He was from the swing era, and always loved that. The classics like Sinatra, Tony Bennett and so on. He grew up hearing hymns and developed quite an ability, he sang beautiful harmony. He tried to teach me but I had a tin ear.

Your Dad was very gracious to fans in his final years (appearing at autograph shows etc) - what did you learn from him regarding celebrity and audiences?

Yeah, he's definitely my role model. He was so gracious and sweet with people. He always took the time to smile or talk to them, never turned anyone away. I loved that about him.

Most of your Dad's nervous, "reluctant hero" characters had an strong inner drive to succeed - did your Dad have the same determination?

You bet. He was very ambitious. He originally started out to be the world's greatest comedian, but reality tempered that goal. The first time he went to New York intending to 'bring the big apple to its knees.' Instead he came home and got a job plucking chickens at the neighborhood grocery store.

Like your Dad, you have studied and performed as a puppeteer and ventriloquist … a common bond?

Yes, this is a theme in my show. You'll have to come see it, it's too hard to explain!

You are heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer -- what kind of shows will you seek out to watch in your off time? Your likes?

I love the English comedy, like Eddie Izzard. In fact Dad loved Eddie and was one of the first Americans to discover his stand up. I want to see all the standups out there and I really like people who incorporate characters into their comedy.

Your parents divorced in 1964 (just before your Dad's Universal film career would begin), did you ever feel pulled between your parents - or did they remain cordial? I know you went to live with your Dad.

My parents had the all time great ex-spouse relationship. Every year at Thanksgiving, my dad, his wife, my mother, her husband, Tom (my brother) and me and whoever we were hanging out with, would convene, usually in San Francisco. They remained great friends to the end. I feel very fortunate about that, especially when I hear/read about so many terribly divorces.

As a stand up comic and solo show artist, are you constantly crafting/re-working material or is there a time when you just know - this is IT - it works - leave it be?

I am constantly reworking my stuff. I don't know if I'll ever be satisfied. But for now that's good because it keeps improving. I don't know if I'll ever think, there, that's it, I'm finished!! The great thing about having my dad as a subject for a show is that it's an endless source of material. There are so many memories that occur at different times, and it's all potential material. I can see myself adding new chapters to this show for the rest of my life. So in that sense, it'll never be a finished show.

What would you say is the core message of your solo show?

Interesting question to have to actually address head-on. For me and my experience living with a famous dad, it was a double edged sword. He was so great and wonderful and warm, and at times extremely entertaining. But because of the fame, the people surrounding that person become invisible. People become so drawn in to the famous person, like a magnet, that everything else disappears. I had to fight the feeling of being an invisible, or inconsequential, person. It took a long time but I finally overcame it, and this show helped me do that.

And finally ... are you aware that John Waters is a big fan of your Dad?

Oh, yes. I knew about that because Dad told me. So was Jim Carrey, Billy Bob Thornton, Katt Williams, and many, many more.

"Tied Up In Knotts: A Look Inside Hollywood"
Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.
Show Times: Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m.,
Sunday, June 15 at 7 p.m. Father’s Day reception follows Sunday performance.
Thursday, $7.50; Saturday and Sunday, $12.
Reservations and tickets: (800) 838-8006. or www.brownpapertickets.com
Tied Up in Knotts

Don and Danny.