T. R. Knight

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

T. R. Knight
Knight in 2008
Born
Theodore Raymond Knight

(1973-03-26) March 26, 1973 (age 51)
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
Spouse
Patrick Leahy
(m. 2013)

Theodore Raymond Knight (born March 26, 1973) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. George O'Malley on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy (2005–2009, 2020), which earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2007.

Early life[edit]

Knight was born March 26, 1973,[1] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he became involved with the Guthrie Theater at the age of twelve.[2] He attended Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, for grades K-8.[3] Knight received the Conners Foundation Scholarship as a freshman and apprenticed at the Children's Theatre Company. He also worked at the local Red Owl supermarket alongside his brother. After finishing high school at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Knight enrolled at the University of St. Thomas for a brief period of time.[4] He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theater.[2]

Career[edit]

Knight moved to New York City and appeared on the stage. He played opposite Patti LuPone in the 2001 Broadway revival of Noises Off.[5] He performed in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe.[6] He performed in the 2003 Off-Broadway production of Scattergood,[7] receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.[8] Knight also starred Off-Broadway at Primary Stages in the 2004 drama Boy.[9]

On television, Knight was a regular cast member of the short-lived Nathan Lane/Laurie Metcalf 2003 CBS television series Charlie Lawrence.[10]

In 2005, Knight was cast in his breakthrough role as Dr. George O'Malley on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Introduced as a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, O'Malley worked his way up to resident level, while his relationships with his colleagues Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) formed a focal point of the series. When Knight auditioned for the show, he expected a one-season run. In 2009, after the conclusion of the fifth season, it was confirmed that Knight would not be returning for the show's sixth season. The actor said the reason for his departure was due to a "breakdown in communication" with executive producer Shonda Rhimes, his character's lack of screen time,[11] and his decision to come out as gay.[12]

Knight received generally positive reviews for his performance as O'Malley, and garnered a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Knight starred as Leo Frank in a production of the musical Parade, which opened October 4, 2009, at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.[13] He returned to Broadway in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre in 2010, where he played the role of John,[14] opposite Patrick Stewart. In 2019, he voiced Sir Cedric, the gay protagonist in the animated series The Bravest Knight.[15] In 2016 a sci-fi series called 11.22.63 with James Franco aired one season. Knight plays Johnny Clayton, Franco’s love interest’s abusive husband.

Personal life[edit]

Knight came out during his role on Grey's Anatomy. After his role on the hit series ended, Knight married his husband Patrick B. Leahy, a ballet dancer and writer, in Hudson, New York, on October 7, 2013.[16][17]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role. Notes
2000 Dear, Home Letters from World War I Soldier
2002 Garmento Daniel
2006 Last Request Jeffrey
2013 42 Harold Parrot
2015 A Year and Change Kenny
2017 Hello Again Carl (The Husband)

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Charlie Lawrence Ryan Lemming 6 episodes
2003 Frasier Alex Episode: "Maris Returns"
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Neil Colby Episode: "F.P.S."
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Zero Adams Episode: "XX"
2005–2009,
2020
Grey's Anatomy Dr. George O'Malley Main role (season 1–5) Guest Appearance (Season 17)
103 episodes
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2006 Sesame Street Private "I" Episode: "Baby Bear Writes a Story Called 'The 3 Astro Bears'"
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Gabriel Thomas/Brian Smith Episode: "Double Strands"
2012–13 The Good Wife Jordan Karahalios 7 episodes
2016 11.22.63 Johnny Clayton 4 episodes
2017 The Catch Tommy Vaughan 6 episodes
2017 When We Rise Chad Griffin 4 episodes
2017 Genius: Einstein J. Edgar Hoover 4 episodes
2018 Genius: Picasso Max Jacob 6 episodes
2019 God Friended Me Gideon Episode: "The Last Grenelle"
2019 The Bravest Knight Sir Cedric (voice) Main role
2020 Will & Grace Dexter Murphy Episode: "Filthy Phil, Part II"
2020 The Comey Rule Reince Priebus Miniseries
2020–2022 The Flight Attendant Davey Bowden Main role (season 1); Recurring (season 2)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Stage[edit]

Broadway

Source: Playbill Vault[18]

Off-Broadway

Source: Internet Off-Broadway Database[19]

  • Marvin's Room (1998) [20][21]
  • This Lime Tree Bower (1999) as Joe
  • Macbeth (1999) as Donalbain/Messenger
  • "The Refreshment of the Spirit" (2000) [22]
  • Right Way to Sue (2001 at HERE Mainstage) as Franklin/Various characters[23]
  • The Hologram Theory (2000) at MCGinn/Cazale Theater[24] as Tweety
  • The Lake's End (2003)
  • Scattergood (2003) as Brendan Hilliard
  • Voices of Peace and Dissent (2003) at Worth Street Theatre[25]
  • Boy (2004) as title character[26]
  • The Marriage of Bette & Boo (2007)
  • Sold (2011) as Michael
  • Romeo and Juliet (2013) as Mercutio
  • Pocatello (2014) (Playwrights Horizons)
Readings
  • Truth or Consequences (Staged Reading)
  • The Fool (2002) (Staged Reading)[27]
  • White People (Staged Reading)
  • The Scholar (Staged Reading)
  • Lend Me A Tenor (2009) (Staged Reading)[28]
  • On a Clear Day (2010) (Staged Reading)
  • Torch Song Trilogy (2011) (Staged Reading)
  • June Moon (2011) (Roundabout PlayReading Series)[29]
  • Honeymoon in Vegas (2011) (Staged Reading) as Jack Singer[30][31]
  • The Miser (2012) (Reading)[32]
Regional
  • What Didn't Happen (2000) (Workshop at Vassar)[33]
  • Earth to Bucky (2003) at Bay Street Theater as Bucky[34]
  • Parade (musical) (2009) as Leo Frank at Mark Taper Forum – Los Angeles, CA[35]
  • The Seagull (2012) (radio theater) as Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplev, James Bridges Theater at UCLA – Los Angeles, CA[36]
Guthrie Theater – Minneapolis, MN[37]
Jungle Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota History Theatre – St. Paul, MN
  • Civil Ceremony as Samuel (1996)
Illusion Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
  • Angelheaded Hipster: Howl for Allen (1997) as Allen Ginsberg
Women's Club of Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN
  • The Laramie Project (2008)[4]
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres – Chanhassen, MN
Theatre in the Round – Minneapolis, MN
Off-Broadway Musical Theatre – New Hope, MN
  • Oliver! (1985) as Oliver

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rose, Mike (March 26, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for March 26, 2023 includes celebrities Steven Tyler, Diana Ross". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Biography. T. R. Knight" infoplease.com, accessed March 31, 2015
  3. ^ Walsh, Jim. "An improvisational life" Archived April 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine southwestjournal.com, September 23, 2012
  4. ^ a b Papatola, Dominic P. "'Grey's Anatomy' star comes home for a project near to his heart" twincities.com, October 12, 2008
  5. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Bway Run of Noises Off Revival Ends Sept. 1" playbill.com, September 1, 2002
  6. ^ Isherwood, Charles. "Review. 'Tartuffe' " Variety, January 9, 2003
  7. ^ Weber, Bruce. "Theater Review. A Dedicated Pupil for a Professor of Seduction" The New York Times, March 5, 2003
  8. ^ Murray, Matthew. "2003 Drama Desk Awards Presented" theatermania.com, May 18, 2003
  9. ^ " Boy Listing" Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed March 31, 2015
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Nathan Lane's "Charlie Lawrence" Pulled from CBS Schedule" playbill.com, July 1, 2003
  11. ^ T.R. Knight reveals why he left 'Grey's Anatomy'" cnn.com, July 23, 2009
  12. ^ Trisha Yearwood's Chicken Pizza (October 19, 2006). "EXCLUSIVE: Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight Confirms He's Gay – T.R. Knight". People.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  13. ^ McNulty, Charles. "Theater Review" latimes.com, October 4, 2009
  14. ^ "T. R. Knight Returning to Broadway". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010.
  15. ^ Romano, Nick (May 23, 2019). "Hulu announces The Bravest Knight kids cartoon with same-sex parents". EW. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  16. ^ Blum, Haley (October 7, 2013). "Former Grey's star T.R. Knight weds boyfriend". USA Today. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  17. ^ Blumm, K.C. (October 7, 2013). "T.R. Knight Ties the Knot". People Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "T.R. Knight Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed March 31, 2015
  19. ^ "T.R. Knight Listing" Archived November 6, 2005, at the Wayback Machine Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed March 31, 2015
  20. ^ under DAVID CASTANEDA (Lighting Design)[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ under directing credits
  22. ^ "Mentor Project | Programs". Cherry Lane Theatre. March 1, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  23. ^ Murray, Matthew. "Review" talkinbroadway.com, May 21, 2001
  24. ^ Hofler, Robert. "Review" Variety, April 3, 2000
  25. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Worth Street Revives 'Voices of Peace and Dissent' Aug. 16, 23 and 30" playbill.com, August 11, 2004
  26. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (April 2, 2004). "T.R. Knight to Star as Boy in World Premiere Julia Jordan Play at Primary Stages". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
  27. ^ Gans, Andrew. "DIVA TALK: News of Betty, Bernadette, Patti, Karen, Audra & Ute: Who Could Ask for Anything More?" playbill.com, April 12, 2002
  28. ^ "T.R. Knight to Exit 'Grey's Anatomy'; Eyes Tenor on Broadway" broadway.com, June 17, 2009
  29. ^ " 'June Moon' Listing" archive.roundabouttheatre.org, accessed March 31, 2015
  30. ^ " 'Honeymoon in Vegas' Reading" broadwayworld.com, 2011
  31. ^ Healy, Patrick (November 1, 2011). "Investors Check Out 'Honeymoon in Vegas' Workshop". The New York Times.
  32. ^ Hetrick, Adam. Red Bull Readings to Feature T.R. Knight, Jan Maxwell, Lily Rabe, Michael Urie and More" Archived December 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com , October 2, 2012
  33. ^ Rizzo, Frank. An Historic Murder In Verse And Song" Hartford Courant, July 6, 2000
  34. ^ Klein, Alvin. "THEATER; Three Lost Souls, Yearning for a Way Out" The New York Times, July 20, 2003
  35. ^ "Culture Monster". The Los Angeles Times. June 19, 2009.
  36. ^ Bacalzo, Dan. "Calista Flockhart, T.R. Knight, Dakin Matthews to Head Up L.A. Theatre Works' Seagull'" theatermania.com, August 28, 2012
  37. ^ "Actor TR Knight To Return For Minn.'s Guthrie Gala" minnesota.cbslocal.com, May 3, 2013

External links[edit]

Articles