Who is Karen Knotts?
American actress, stand-up comedienne, writer and producer Karen Knotts, was born in Los Angeles, California USA, on 2 April 1954, making her zodiac sign Aries. Karen’s appeared in more than 20 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for her portrayal of Célimène Dubois in the 2004 action comedy movie “An Occurrence at Black Canyon”, written and directed by David Lee Hefner, and in which she starred alongside Tyler Ostrander and Tim Weske. It follows an artist who’s fallen in love with a swordsman in 1661 France.
Karen retired from acting in 2009, but has returned just recently in 2022, with her role in the music film “Till the Po Po Come”; it follows Chubby Swagger who’s trying to have a romantic evening with his wife, but the neighbors are determined to ruin his plans.
Education and early life
Karen and her brother Thomas were raised in the USA by their father Jesse Donald ‘Don’ Knotts and mother Kathryn Metz; Don was a famous actor and comedian who’s perhaps still best known for his portrayal of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife in the critically acclaimed comedy series “The Andy Griffith Show”; Don passed away on 24 February 2006, aged 81.
Karen’s revealed that she fell in love with acting at a very early age, but that her father didn’t want to her to become a child actress, but then went on to fully support her once she launched her acting career.
Karen had her debut film role aged 13, when she voiced a supporting character in the 1967 short animated comedy “Stupidman”, and was then cast to play Young Girl Watching Shootout in the popular 1968 western comedy movie “The Shakiest Gun in the West”, directed by Alan Rafkin, and which starred her father Don, Barbara Rhoades and Jackie Coogan; it follows the life of a former stagecoach robber, who’s now become a government agent.
Karen then took some time off acting, wanting to focus on her education. She studied at Beverly Hills High School, matriculated in 1972, then enrolled at University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1976.
Roles in movies
Karen played Myrna in the 1975 drama “One of Our Own”, directed by Richard C. Sarafian, and which starred George Peppard, William Daniels and Louise Sorel; it follows the life of chief neurosurgeon Dr. Jane Goodwin.
Karen spent the following 10 years focusing on appearing in TV series, and in 1986 portrayed Opie’s Receptionist in the romantic comedy “Return to Mayberry”. Her next movie role was her portrayal of Mavis in the 1995 crime comedy “Vice Academy 4”, written and directed by Rick Sloane, and which starred Elizabeth Kaitan, Julia Parton and Jayne Hamil; it follows a group of girls working at Vice Academy, and Karen reprised her role as Mavis in the sequel “Vice Academy 5” in the following year, then again in 1998 as Mavis in “Vice Academy Part 6”.
I'm honored to be appearing at BOOK SOUP, for a talk and signing of my BOOK, TIED UP IN KNOTTS, This Thursday, March 3, at 7PM! Please come if you can. Ticket link: (includes cost of signed hard cover book!)https://t.co/jsgn8dBV2g
— Karen Knotts (@knottskid) March 2, 2022
Also in 1996, she portrayed Ty-Dy’s Mom in the comedy “Babe Watch: Forbidden Parody”.
The year 2003 saw her play Mrs Lansing in the horror thriller “Exorcism”, written and directed by William A. Baker, and which starred Brian Patrick Clarke, Jack Donner and Tony Burton; it follows the lives of people and ghosts in Los Angeles, California. Some of Karen’s following roles were in the 2004 family comedy “A Lousy 10 Grand”, the 2006 short fantasy “Placebo Effect” and in the same year the comedy “Stupidman”.
In 2008, she played Sandy’s Mother in the drama “Secret Lover”, written and directed by Hee-chul Kwon, and which starred Travis Quentin Young, Sylvia Panacione and Peggy Ahn. It follows the life of Sam who was 14 when he watched his parents kill each other – the movie won a Student Competition – Honorable Mention at the 2008 Columbus International Film & Video Festival.
Karen appeared in only one other movie prior to retiring from acting: the 2009 horror science fiction comedy “Hobgoblins 2”.
Roles in TV series
Karen’s appeared in only four TV series. She made her debut appearance in the 1979 episode “Back to School” of the comedy “One Day at a Time”, created by Whitney Blake and Norman Lear, and which starred Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli and Pat Harrington Jr. It follows the life of a divorced mother, aired from 1975 to 1984, and won seven of its 25 award nominations.
Karen could then have been seen playing Sheila in the 1979 episode “Brotherhood, Sisterhood” of the family comedy drama “Eight Is Enough”, and then as Woman #3 in the 1980 episode “The Wildcat Strike” of the comedy “Archie Bunker’s Place”.
Her only other TV series role has been her portrayal of Marilyn in the 1989 episode “Futile Attraction” of the family comedy “Out of This World”, which starred Donna Pescow, Maureen Flannigan and Burt Reynolds, and follows a teenage girl who’s just learned that her father’s an alien, and that she herself has superpowers. The series aired from 1987 to 1991, and won two of its 14 award nominations.
Other credits
Karen wrote the 2003 documentary movie “Out of the Shadows: Overcoming Illiteracy”.
She produced the 2004 short film “An Occurrence at Black Canyon”.
Karen received special thanks for the 2021 comedy movie “Mayberry Man”.
She’s made a guest appearance in talk-shows “Biography”, “Larry King Live” ,and “WGN Morning News”, amongst others.
Love life and husband
Karen’s highly secretive when it comes to sharing the details of her love life with her fans, and doesn’t even have an Instagram account which could perhaps offer clues related to it.
However, some of her fans believe that Karen’s today married to a non-celebrity American male, and that they are living together in Los Angeles; this hasn’t been addressed by Karen, nor has any evidence been provided to support these claims.
There are also some who have claimed to have seen a woman resembling Karen spending time with a girlfriend in New York City; there’s also a woman featured in some of the pictures posted onto Karen’s Instagram fan-made account, whom people believe to be her girlfriend, but this remains unconfirmed as well.
Karen seems to be unattached as of October 2022, hasn’t married and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Karen loves to travel, and has embarked on many comedy tours around the US, while she’s currently touring with her stage comedy show “Tied Up in Knotts”.
She’s a philanthropist, and loves helping animals, having donated money and volunteered at a number of animals shelters – her favorite animals are horses and turtles.
She’s passionate about dancing, and took lessons in her 20s and 30s.
Karen’s travelled to more than 15 European countries – her favorite city is Oslo, Norway.
Her favorite actresses are Gene Tierney and Ava Gardner, while a couple of her favorite movies include “Leave Her to Heaven”, “The Ghost and Mrs Muir”, and “Laura”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Karen’s age is 68. Her eyes are blue and her hair is brown; she weighs around 135lbs (62kgs) and is 5ft 7ins (1.71m) tall.
Karen’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2.5 million, as of October 2022.
