Frances Yarborough is an American actress best known as the third and final wife of actor and comedian Don Knotts. The couple married in 2002 and remained together until Don died in 2006.
Frances lived a private life before and after their marriage. Because of this, reliable information about her age, parents, education, and current life is limited.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Frances Yarborough |
| Also known as | Francey Yarborough |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known for | Being Don Knotts’ third wife |
| Husband | Don Knotts |
| Married | 2002 |
| Widowed | February 24, 2006 |
| Children with Don | None publicly reported |
| Stepchildren | Karen Knotts and Thomas Knotts |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
| Social media | No confirmed public accounts |
Early Life
Very little reliable information is available about Frances Yarborough’s early life.
Her exact date of birth and age have not been publicly confirmed by a strong source.
Some websites say she was born in Oconee County, Georgia, but this detail is not well confirmed.
There are also conflicting reports about her parents and siblings. Because the available information does not clearly establish her family background, their names cannot be stated with confidence.
Education
Frances’ education is not publicly known.
There is no reliable information confirming the schools, college, or university she attended.
Her Career
Frances Yarborough has been described as an actress.
One online source says she also worked as an executive secretary, but details about this job are limited.
She did not build the same kind of public entertainment career as her husband. Most public interest in Frances comes from her marriage to Don Knotts.
Was Frances Yarborough in The Electric Chair?
Frances is reported to have appeared in the 1976 film The Electric Chair.
Some sources describe this as her only known acting credit.
There is little reliable information about any other acting work, so she does not appear to have had a long film or television career.
Marriage to Don Knotts
Frances Yarborough married Don Knotts in 2002.
She was his third wife. Very little has been publicly shared about how they met, when they started dating, or their wedding.
Their marriage lasted until Don’s death on February 24, 2006.
They did not have any publicly reported children together.
Who Was Don Knotts?
Don Knotts, whose full name was Jesse Donald Knotts, was an American actor and comedian.
He was best known for playing Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. His work on the series earned him five Emmy Awards.
Don later played Ralph Furley on Three’s Company from 1979 to 1984.
His movie credits included The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and The Apple Dumpling Gang. One of his final roles was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in the 2005 animated movie Chicken Little.
Don died in 2006 at age 81.
Don Knotts’ Previous Marriages
Before Frances, Don had been married twice.
His first wife was Kathryn Elaine Metz, also known as Kay Metz. They married on December 27, 1947, while Don was attending West Virginia University.
They had two children, Karen Knotts and Thomas Knotts. Don and Kathryn divorced in 1964.
Don’s second wife was Loralee Czuchna. They married in 1974 and divorced in 1983.
Don later married Frances in 2002 and remained with her for the rest of his life.
Frances’ Stepchildren
Frances became stepmother to Don’s two children from his first marriage.
His daughter, Karen Knotts, was born on April 1, 1954. She later became an actress and comedian.
His son, Thomas “Tom” Knotts, was born in February 1957.
Karen has publicly spoken about Frances while remembering her father’s final days.
Don Knotts’ Final Years
Frances Yarborough was with Don during the final years of his life.
Don faced serious health problems near the end of his life, including lung cancer. He also suffered from macular degeneration, an eye condition that affects vision.
According to his daughter Karen, Don kept his sense of humor even when he was very ill.
In a 2025 interview, Karen recalled that Don made her and Frances laugh so much during his final days that Karen had to leave the room.
Don Knotts’ Death
Don Knotts died on February 24, 2006, at age 81.
His death was caused by complications related to lung cancer.
Frances Yarborough was still married to him at the time, making her his third and final wife.
After his death, Frances spoke about the way Don found humor in human pride and pain and turned it into something people could find funny and endearing.
Frances Yarborough After Don’s Death
Frances Yarborough largely disappeared from public attention after Don died.
There is little reliable information about her current residence, work, relationships, or other activities.
She appears to have chosen a private life rather than continuing to work regularly in entertainment.
Net Worth
Frances Yarborough’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some websites estimate her wealth at around $1 million, but this figure has not been confirmed.
Don Knotts was a successful actor, but there is no reliable public information showing exactly how his estate was divided after his death. Claims about how much Frances inherited are therefore uncertain.
Social Media
Frances does not have any widely confirmed public social media accounts.
There is no reliable evidence of an official Instagram, Facebook, X, or other public account belonging to her.
Interesting Facts
- She is also called Francey Yarborough.
- She is best known as Don Knotts’ third and final wife.
- She has been described as an actress.
- She is reported to have appeared in The Electric Chair in 1976.
- Her exact date of birth is not reliably known.
- She married Don Knotts in 2002.
- They remained married until his death in 2006.
- They did not have any publicly reported children together.
- Karen and Thomas Knotts became her stepchildren.
- She was with Don during the final period of his life.
- She has largely stayed outside the public spotlight since his death.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
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