<P> Before joining Griffith's show, Don Knotts was a regular on The Steve Allen Show, in which he played several parts . most notably "Mr. Morrison," a nervous man on the street character, upon which Knotts' based the personality of Barney Fife, who himself was a hyperkinetic but comically inept counterpart to Mayberry's practical and composed Sheriff Andy Taylor . </P> <P> According to Andy Griffith, the character of Barney Fife was suggested by Don Knotts himself . At the same time that The Steve Allen Show was ending, Knotts was looking for work . When he saw the episode of The Danny Thomas Show featuring Andy Taylor, he called Griffith suggesting that his sheriff character might reasonably need a deputy . Griffith liked the idea and suggested that he call Executive Producer Sheldon Leonard . Griffith later recalled that Don Knotts' contribution was the show's saving grace because he was uncomfortable with the original concept to have Andy Taylor being the comic lead . In an interview with The Archive of American Television, Griffith admitted: "The second episode was called' Manhunt' and I knew by that episode that Don should be the comic and I should play straight for him . That made all the difference ." </P> <P> Fife appeared on The Andy Griffith Show from the show's beginning in 1960 until 1965, when Knotts left the show to pursue a career in feature films . It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh . Knotts reprised the character in guest appearances each season until The Andy Griffith Show left the air in 1968 . Barney also appeared in the inaugural Mayberry R.F.D. episode, in which Andy and Helen Crump marry . In 1971, the character, whose name is not explicitly mentioned, appears in the premiere episode of The New Andy Griffith Show, visiting the mid-sized city of Greenwood to catch up with Mayor Andy Sawyer, who looks exactly like Andy Taylor and shares some of Taylor's earlier mannerisms and friendships with Fife, Goober Pyle and Emmett Clark . Fifteen years would pass before the character was again reprised in the reunion film Return to Mayberry in 1986 . By then, Fife had moved back and become the town's acting sheriff . </P> <P> Sometimes considered a blowhard with delusions of grandeur, he fancies himself an expert on firearms, women, singing, and just about any other topic of conversation brought up while he is around . Conversely, Andy knows that Barney's false bravado is a smokescreen for his insecurities and low self - confidence . In one episode, Barney brags that he knows about the Emancipation Proclamation . When Andy calls Barney's bluff and asks him to elaborate it to Opie for his history class, Barney becomes upset and defensive and blurts out that it was a proclamation for emancipation and leaves, irritated . </P>

When did barney fife leave andy griffith show