1. The End
When the world lost the funniest guy in Mayberry, on February 24, 2006, he was only 81 years old. Knotts had suffered briefly with cancer but was receiving treatment. Then he contracted pneumonia, causing respiratory complications. The hospital released him after he reported feeling better, but by the time he made it back to the hospital he was too far gone for doctors to save his life. They interred him at the Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.