A Soap Opera Role
After his legendary service in the military, Knotts earned his first-ever major acting role in a TV soap opera called Search for Tomorrow. In it, he played the character Wilbur Peterson. He may have only had a few lines, but it was still considered his big break.
After his role as Wilbur Peterson, he stayed away from dramas and discovered his passion for comedy. During an interview in an Archive of American Television, he revealed, “It was the only serious role I ever played professionally.”