Barney Fife

Fictional Sidekick

Barney Fife was the bumbling, lovable, Walter Mitty-ish deputy sheriff on the 1960s TV comedy The Andy Griffith Show. As played by Don Knotts, Fife was the overeager sidekick to sheriff Andy Taylor (played by series star Andy Griffith). The show was set in the fictional small town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Sheriff Andy had warmth and horse sense, but Barney was insecure, blustery and excitable --- so comically unreliable that the sheriff would only let him carry one bullet, which Barney kept tucked in his breast pocket. The Andy Griffith Show ran from 1960-1968 and Barney Fife was a regular until 1965, when Don Knotts left the show to pursue a movie career. Barney made occasional guest appearances on the show after that, and reappeared in the 1986 TV movie Return to Mayberry.

Extra credit: Actor Don Knotts won five Emmy Awards as best supporting actor for his portrayal of Barney Fife.

Other popular bumblers include The Pink Panther detective Inspector Clouseau, Star Wars droid C-3P0, and American Idol contestant William Hung.