Daughter – Relatively Famous

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Karen Knotts, Daughter of Don Knotts

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Karen Knotts father was the top notch, first rate, five time Emmy winner, comedic actor known around the world as Deputy Barney Fife, Leader of the Apple Dumpling Gang, The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Three’s Company Mr. Furley, yep Karen’s father is actor Don Knotts.

My friend and writer / director of the documentary “The Mayberry Effect” connected me with Karen and Dixie Griffith (Episode #51) telling me what a wonderful person Karen truly is and how I should make sure to get her on the show.

After a few hiccups we were finally able to connect and make it happen.

Karen was a Librarian for most of her career, I know it sounds like a setup for an “Andy Griffith Show” set-up. She now is a standup comic, actress and loves sharing stories about her father and her career path. We did chat a lot about her family life growing up, and what her one woman show is about. We also reflected on Don and his career in film and tv, what a great father he was and just how good of an actor he really was.

Karen loves being a part of the Mayberry Family, meeting fans of the Andy Griffith Show and hearing how her father and the show touched their lives. It has had a lasting impact on my life. She is also thrilled when his Three’s Company fan base shares stories and their love for her dad with her.

I have watched clips of Karen’s comedy and show and I have to say if she is playing in a town near you, get tickets and check out her show.

So I’m going to “Nip it in bud” and end these show notes here so you can jump right into Karen’s episode.

November 10, 2025November 10, 2025

Leslie Mouton, Mother of Nicole Mattox

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Leslie came to Relatively Famous through our Producer Philip Nelson. He and Leslie have known each other for many years, starting when she was a news anchor here in San Antonio at KSAT.

Leslie’s daughter Nicole Mattox is an actress and winner of the Vertical Queen Award 2025, which is really the best actress award in the digital series world.

Here on Relatively Famous have started dabbling in the Vertical Film / Video fame genre and were thrilled when Leslie accepted our invitation to be a guest. Please Google Nicole Mattox (or click some links below) to learn more about her career.

Here in San Antonio Leslie has been a local celebrity since her days as a KSAT new anchor and beyond, so Nicole also qualifies as a guest.

At the age of 35 Leslie was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Rather than try and hide or pretend all was well, Leslie allowed camera crews to follow her journey. She showed viewers what life is like when fighting cancer, the treatments, the surgeries, chemo and radiation therapies. It was during this time that Leslie chose to anchor the news one night without her wig which lead to world-wide recognition with appearances on Oprah, Good Morning America and even my old stomping grounds, Inside Edition.

Leslie left KSAT in 2020 and now devotes her energy to Morgan’s Wonderland Inclusion Foundation based here in San Antonio, TX. She was thrilled to learn that our sponsor pushes inclusion for all people in their promotion of the Myrtle Beach area along with Traveling the Spectrum on Peacock and now wants to learn more about how “The Beach is for Everybody”.

Having never met Leslie before this interview I was very inspired and impressed with her story, her journey as a cancer survivor and her joy of giving back to the community. She is so down to earth and has a fantastic perspective on Nicole’s career and success as an actress.

Fans of Nicole’s and the vertical films Breaking the Ice, Snatched a Billionaire One Night and Found a Homeless Billionaire Husband on Christmas will love hearing Nicole’s mom’s story!

#cancer #verticalvideo #verticalfilm #digitalseries #verticaldrama #morganswonderland #KSAT #oprah #insideedition #sanantonio #chemo #chemotherapy #radiationtherapy #newsanchor #utaustin #longhorns #ut #utlonghorns

Morgan’s – Homepage

https://www.lesliemouton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-mouton-59474563

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11476913/?ref_=fn_t_1

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025

Dixie Griffith, Daughter of Andy Griffith

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It’s difficult to find someone over 30 that is not a fan of Dixie’s father Andy Griffith, star of Matlock and The Andy Griffith show. Sheriff Andy Taylor is a national treasure in my opinion! I know I have been a fan for at least 55+ yrs of my life.

Andy’s musical talents and recordings have crossed multiple decades. His comedy recording of “What it was, was football” will always be classic comedy gold. I once had signed copy of his comedy LP, Andy Griffith Just For Laughs. It was a prize possession that was stolen from my West Hollywood apartment in 1984. Yeah, I’m still mad at that thief.

Dixie shares her life as a kid when they would spend their summers on the Outer Banks of NC where her father was just Andy to local folks, to life in Toluca Lake, CA where dad was a famous film and tv star.

We chat about the effect that The Andy Griffith show has on people, how being a part of the Mayberry family is so gratifying, the different Mayberry events she has participated in, the films Mayberry Man and The Mayberry Effect.

We talk about how good of an actor father really was and how he should have won an Oscar for the Ella Kazan film “A Face in the Crowd”.

She shares how difficult it was for her brother being compared to Opie by the public and losing him at a young age.

I even ask her about the new Matlock with Kathy Bates!

https://www.themayberryeffect.com

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025

Alison Martino, Daughter of Al Martino

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After almost a year of phone tag and scheduling conflicts I was finally able to get Alison on the podcast. Well before making contact, I had been following a Facebook page “Vintage Los Angeles”. I was / am fascinated by the photos she and followers post. Once I figured out who Alison was and that it was her Facebook page I knew I really needed to have her on the podcast.

Alison’s father, Al Martino was a famous traditional pop and standards singer and actor. Al was part of the last Hollywood crooners and played Johnny Fontane in the film The Godfather.

Having lived in Los Angeles in the early 80s and then again from 1986 to 2005 I was more interested in Alison’s love for preserving the history of Los Angeles and sharing her hometown with the world then chatting about her father. We do chat about Al and what her life was like growing up with him.

Although Alison and I never met while I lived in LA our paths of cool, unique and old Hollywood crossed on many levels. I had so much fun talking about and reminiscing about places no longer there or that are on the verge of disappearing from the landscape.

She has a fantastic love for vintage style, architecture and history. Our conversation reminded me of Episode #5 with Ryan Cassidy, another lover of vintage style and a deep old Hollywood connection.

If you are fascinated by vintage photos and the history of Los Angeles then you will enjoy hearing the passion and energy Alison puts into keeping LA special.

https://www.facebook.com/VintageLosAngeles

https://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/alisonmartino1970

https://www.instagram.com/alisonmartino

https://www.vlamerch.com

July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

Episode 47 – Lena Prima (Louis Prima – Daughter)

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To many a generations Lena’s father is best known for the best song and scenes in the 1967 animated movie The Jungle Book. Yep, Lena Prima is the daughter of the amazing showman Louis Prima aka “King Louis”.

I shared my story of David Lee Roth doing her father’s famous song “Just a Gigolo” and my mother setting me straight that DLR was not the original singer.

Lena is a wonderful performer, recording artist and proud of her father’s legacy while carving her own fan base in the world of music. She did the Rock & Roll / Heavy Metal west coast scene for years, there’s some great photos in the notes, and toured full time with cover bands before finding a musical home in her father’s kingdom of New Orleans.

So on your next trip to The Big Easy be sure to stop in and see Lena at The Hotel Montleone in the French Quarter.

https://www.lenaprima.com

https://www.facebook.com/lenaprimaofficial

https://www.instagram.com/lenaprima

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025

Episode 45 – Tess Frizzell (Shelly West – Daughter)

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I had so much fun talking with Tess Frizzell and learning about life on the road and getting to record a song with her mother Shelly West. I had the pleasure of meeting her mom back in the early 80s when I was a DJ / Bartender / Contest MC at Cowboy’s Nightlife in North Myrtle Beach, SC. She even signed a copy of her “Red Hot” LP for me. I still have it and shared a photo with Tess.

Now Shelly West is not Tess’s only famous relative, oh no, her family tree is a Country Music forest. Her Grandmother Dottie West is a Country Music Hall of Fame Grammy winner. Dottie was the first female country artist to win a Grammy. Let’s not forget the Frizell side of her family. Her dad is Allen Frizzell youngest brother to, and making her Uncles, singing sensation David Frizzell and Country Music Legend, Lefty Frizzell. Lefty is from Corsicana, TX where my wife was born and raised. There is even a statue and museum of Lefty there. We make sure to stop by when we go see family in Corsicana.

Tess grew up on the road with a list of Who’s Who in the country music world. From sneaking onto Willie Nelson’s bus as a very young girl, to being held by Grand Ole Opry stars like Minnie Pearl as baby, too Super Stars babysitting while mom was on stage performing.

She is also a very talented singer and songwriter in her own right. During our conversation I learned Tess is an accomplished portrait artist and painter. Her portraits have been commissioned by families of US Presidents and she has sold amazing portraits of Country Music’s biggest stars. See her website link below for details. I truly hope you enjoy Tess’s conversation as much as I did.

https://www.tessfrizzell.net

https://www.facebook.com/TessFrizzell

@tessfrizzell

Shelly West and her daughter Tess Frizzell

Shelly West and her daughter Tess Frizzell as a child

June 30, 2025June 29, 2025

Episode 44 – Cindy Cash ( Johnny Cash – Daughter)

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Cindy Cash the third daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife Vivian Liberto is our guest on this episode of Relatively Famous. Cindy chats about her life as a daddy’s girl and really getting to know her father when she started touring with him. She would spend her school months at their remote hilltop home in Casitas Springs, California and summer in Tennessee or on tour with her dad, June and their children. Cindy loved the hilltop home with it’s amazing 360 views and wildlife of rattlesnakes and coyotes, even if was a tough and lonely place to grow up.

Following in her dad’s path Cindy loved to sing and would often join Johnny on stage. She even did a mini tour with Kathy Twitty and Peggy Lynn as “The Next Generation”. I’m not sure there is a greater love than the love Cindy has for her father Johnny. She has many memories and mementos our her fathers and she is sharing both with his fans. There was a recent auction and Cindy has plans for more.

I so loved chatting with Cindy and do hope to visit with her next time I happen to be in Nashville. Cash is King and Cindy is a lovely princesses in the Royalty Country Music Cash Family.

https://www.cindycash.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289456/
https://www.instagram.com/johnnycash/?hl=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Cash

January 27, 2025January 26, 2025

Episode 28 – Bellamie Blackstone (Harry Blackstone Jr. – Daughter)

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Since starting this podcast I have been stunned by the connections Wheel of Fortune has provided. Here I have the honor of interviewing the granddaughter and daughter of renowned Master Illusionist Harry Blackstone and Harry Blackstone Jr, Bellamie Blackstone. She is not only an amazing TV Producer, she’s also the Producer of Wheel of Fortune. Her grandfather Harry was known to rival Houdini and her father Harry Jr was not only a master of stage illusion he was known for guest starring on primetime tv shows like Hart to Hart. This episode is pure magic, pun intended…

Bellamie Blackstone posing in green suit

https://www.emmys.com/bios/bellamie-blackstone

November 25, 2024December 22, 2024

Episode 21 – Kimber Eastwood (Clint Eastwood – Daughter)

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This episode’s interview came out of left field for me. I’ve spent the last 50 yrs quoting lines from her father’s films with my friends only to discover she has been a makeup artist of Wheel of Fortune for 20 yrs. Yep Clint Eastwood’s daughter Kimber Eastwood Midkiff has been an actor like her father but prefers being behind the camera producing and doing makeup. She doesn’t live the Hollywood highlife you’d expect of an Eastwood and love to drive the country with her husband and dogs.

Scott Eastwood Family Siblings Half Sister Kimber Eastwood Midkiff 1 768x615

November 18, 2024December 22, 2024

Episode 20 – Kimberly Butler McMillan (Marty Butler – Daughter)

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This episode’s guest, Kimberly Butler McMillan, I met way back when the short film, A Chess Player that I produced, was screening in the Beaufort International Film Festival. However it wasn’t until years later that she told me about her father, a well known Canadian singer songwriter. As the podcast grew and I was thinking of guest I Googled her father, Marty Butler and listened to his music. Well, his daughter Kimberly has a great story of blended families, pharmaceutical sales, single motherhood, real-estate, a new home and a deep love for her father, his music and songs, including Fly Little White Dove Fly that he wrote for The Bells. Marty also gave piano lessons to Anne Murray. Marty’s death from Aids in 1996 lead Kimberley on the journey to become deeply involved in Aids charity work. #Trinilopez #thescptres