For anyone who grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show, the character of Barney Fife was a source of endless amusement.
A bumbling yet lovable deputy sheriff, Barney was always getting himself into (and out of) trouble. One of his most famously quirky habits was storing a bullet in his shirt pocket. Of course, this bullet was never actually fired – but that didn’t stop Barney from carrying it around with him at all times.
So why did he do it? Some fans have speculated that the bullet represented Barney’s own fear of guns. Others believe that it was simply a running gag meant to poking fun at the character’s gullibility.
Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that Barney Fife was one of TV’s most unforgettable characters – and his shirt pocket bulging with a single bullet will always be one of his most iconic features.
5 fun facts about Barney Fife
The classic character Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show was brought to life by the talented comedian Don Knotts. Here are five fun facts about this iconic character:
- Though he was technically a deputy sheriff, Barney Fife only ever fired his gun one time on the show (and that was accident!).
- Barney was always getting himself into trouble – he was once arrested for impersonating a doctor!
- Despite his knack for botching things up, Barney was actually a pretty good shot – he won a shooting contest in one episode.
- Barney had a bit of a phobia of snakes – in one episode, he even got snake bite while trying to avoid one.
- In the final season of The Andy Griffith Show, Barney left Mayberry to join the state police force. However, he soon missed his hometown and returned to Mayberry at the end of the series.
