As Knotts faced a dire diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and later lung cancer, he made the heartbreaking choice to shield his loved ones from the truth. Even in the face of a near-fatal cardiac arrest, which left him flatlining in an ambulance, he continued to prioritize the comfort of those around him. Friends, including Andy Griffith, who noticed Knotts’ struggles, were left in the dark about just how serious his condition had become. Knotts, fearing the stigma of illness could jeopardize his career, canceled visits and kept his oxygen tank discreetly hidden.