Don Knotts’ Secret Suicide Attempt Over ‘Matlock’

Don Knotts worked right up to his death in 2006 — but he nearly ended it all in despair after his old pal Andy Griffith ended the star's run on the hit "Matlock" TV series!

The bug-eyed funnyman was 66 years old when he was left fighting for his life after overdosing on sleeping pills in April 1991. The star who found fame as Deputy Barney Fife was rushed to the hospital from his Hollywood condo after slipping into a coma. In a tragic twist, pals told The National ENQUIRER that the beloved comic was convinced his career was over!

Friends said that Don had been depressed since the long-running "Matlock" series had finished taping his final shows — where he had joined his "Andy Griffith Show" costar for several seasons as Matlock's nosy neighbor, Les 'Ace" Calhoun. "Don is frightened what will happen once 'Matlock' goes off the air," said a friend.

"Worse," added the insider, "he thinks no one remembers him — which is insane!" According to another friend, the "Three's Company" star had gone into a deep depression since his 1984 divorce, and then being diagnosed with degenerating eyesight: "Don would just sit around his condo eating tuna salad sandwiches, waiting patiently for his two kids to call him."

Fortunately, Don was brought to the UCLA Medical Center by his future wife Frances Yarborough — who was then being roundly ridiculed as a gold digger. The much-younger blonde was reportedly in her twenties and seemed like an unlikely match for the comic. But even Don's longtime pals were impressed as she began spending every day at his bedside.

"It's strange," said one insider, "but the only person who has ever been steady in Don's life is Andy Griffith." Francey changed all that — and Don soon rebounded. He'd go on to 14 more years of steady work before passing away in Feb. 2006 at the age of 81.

He married Francey in 2002, and she revealed Don hadn't even told his kids about his final battle with cancer: "He figured he’d beat it and go on with his life!" And pals would continue to give Francey credit for Don's fulfilling final years.

He married Francey in 2002, and she revealed Don hadn't even told his kids about his final battle with cancer: "He figured he’d beat it and go on with his life!" And pals would continue to give Francey credit for Don's fulfilling final years.

After his death, she'd remain just as dedicated to her husband — even fighting in 2006 against the idea of a Barney Fife statue being proposed in his hometown of Morgantown, W.Va.. Instead, she was joined by Andy Griffith in campaigning for the statue to simply be of her husband reading a script.