T. R. Knight
Encyclopedia
Theodore Raymond "T. R." Knight (born March 26, 1973) is an American actor. Knight's most high-profile role to date was his role as Dr. George O'Malley on ABC
's medical drama
Grey's Anatomy
.
, where he became involved with the Guthrie Theater
at the age of 5. Knight received the Conners Foundation Scholarship as a freshman and apprenticed at the Children's Theatre Company
. After finishing high school at the Academy of Holy Angels
in Richfield, Knight enrolled at the University of Minnesota
for a brief period of time. He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theater
.
. He played opposite Patti LuPone
in the 2001 revival of Noises Off
. He also performed in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe
and received a Drama Desk Award
nomination in 2003 for his role in the off-Broadway
production of Scattergood. Knight's starred in the 2004 drama, Boy.
On television, Knight was a regular cast member of the short-lived Nathan Lane
/Laurie Metcalf
television series, Charlie Lawrence. In 2005, Knight was cast as Dr. George O'Malley, an intern, on the ABC
medical drama Grey's Anatomy
. His role earned him a Primetime Emmy
nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
in 2007
.
In December 2008, People
magazine reported that Knight had asked to be released from his contract with Grey's Anatomy and that he would be written off the show. Knight said the reason he quit Grey's Anatomy is because of trust issues with the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes
. In the March 2, 2009 edition of People, Shonda Rhimes
, the show's creator, head writer and executive producer stated that the claim was false.
Knight also starred in a production of the musical Parade
, opening Oct. 4, 2009, at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles as Leo Frank
, a Jewish pencil-factory manager in Atlanta, Georgia
, who, in 1913, was convicted in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old female employee, Mary Phagan. When doubt was ultimately cast on his guilt, Frank's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Soon after, however, he was kidnapped from prison and lynched.
Knight returned to Broadway in David Mamet
's A Life in the Theatre
in 2010 where he played the role of John opposite Patrick Stewart
.
and Isaiah Washington
were involved in an argument during which, Knight and others alleged, Washington insulted his co-star's sexual orientation. Washington later apologized, stating "I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set".
After the incident was reported in the press, Knight released a statement through People
magazine on October 19, 2006 stating, in part, “I guess there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there. While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me.”
The controversy over the verbal exchange gained additional momentum on January 15, 2007 immediately following the Golden Globe Awards. When asked by E! Online reporter Ted Casablanca
about the incident, Washington denied all statements.
Knight appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
on January 17, 2007 and stated that Washington in fact had insulted his sexuality on the Grey's Anatomy set on October 9, 2006.
Knight is very close to ex co-star Katherine Heigl
.
Articles
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
.
Early life
Knight was born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, where he became involved with the Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
at the age of 5. Knight received the Conners Foundation Scholarship as a freshman and apprenticed at the Children's Theatre Company
Children's Theatre Company
The Children's Theatre Company is a regional theatre established in 1961 in Minneapolis, Minnesota specializing in plays for families and young audiences and the recipient of a 2003 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre...
. After finishing high school at the Academy of Holy Angels
Academy of Holy Angels
The Academy of Holy Angels is a Catholic, coeducational high school located in Richfield, Minnesota. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Holy Angels educates more than 820 students each year in grades nine through twelve from around the Twin Cities...
in Richfield, Knight enrolled at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
for a brief period of time. He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
.
Career
Knight moved to New York City and had appeared on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. He played opposite Patti LuPone
Patti LuPone
Patti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
in the 2001 revival of Noises Off
Noises Off
Noises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. The idea for it was born in 1970, when Frayn was standing in the wings watching a performance of Chinamen, a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave...
. He also performed in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
and received a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
nomination in 2003 for his role in the off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
production of Scattergood. Knight's starred in the 2004 drama, Boy.
On television, Knight was a regular cast member of the short-lived Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
/Laurie Metcalf
Laurie Metcalf
Lauren Elizabeth "Laurie" Metcalf is an American actress. She is widely known for her performance as Jackie Harris on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, the voice of Mrs. Davis in the Toy Story film series and as Debbie Salt in Scream 2...
television series, Charlie Lawrence. In 2005, Knight was cast as Dr. George O'Malley, an intern, on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
medical drama Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. His role earned him a Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series
This is a list of the winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.-1960s:*1960: no award*1961: Roddy McDowall – Not Without Honor*1962: no award*1963: no award...
in 2007
59th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on September 16, 2007 and were televised live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. EDT for the first time in high definition...
.
In December 2008, People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine reported that Knight had asked to be released from his contract with Grey's Anatomy and that he would be written off the show. Knight said the reason he quit Grey's Anatomy is because of trust issues with the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is an American screenwriter, director and producer. Rhimes is best known as the creator, head writer, and executive producer of acclaimed television series Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. In May 2007, Rhimes was named one of Time magazine's 100 Time 100 people who...
. In the March 2, 2009 edition of People, Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is an American screenwriter, director and producer. Rhimes is best known as the creator, head writer, and executive producer of acclaimed television series Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. In May 2007, Rhimes was named one of Time magazine's 100 Time 100 people who...
, the show's creator, head writer and executive producer stated that the claim was false.
Knight also starred in a production of the musical Parade
Parade (musical)
Parade is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The musical was first produced on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on December 17, 1998. The production was directed by Harold Prince and closed 28 February 1999 after only 39 previews and 84 regular...
, opening Oct. 4, 2009, at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles as Leo Frank
Leo Frank
Leo Max Frank was a Jewish-American factory superintendent whose hanging in 1915 by a lynch mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia drew attention to antisemitism in the United States....
, a Jewish pencil-factory manager in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, who, in 1913, was convicted in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old female employee, Mary Phagan. When doubt was ultimately cast on his guilt, Frank's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Soon after, however, he was kidnapped from prison and lynched.
Knight returned to Broadway in David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
's A Life in the Theatre
A Life in the Theatre
A Life in the Theatre is a 1977 play by David Mamet.It focuses on the relationship between two actors, the play's only characters. One, Robert, is a stage veteran while John is a young, promising actor...
in 2010 where he played the role of John opposite Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
.
Personal life
In October 2006 Grey's Anatomy co-stars Patrick DempseyPatrick Dempsey
Patrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
and Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2007.-Personal life:...
were involved in an argument during which, Knight and others alleged, Washington insulted his co-star's sexual orientation. Washington later apologized, stating "I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set".
After the incident was reported in the press, Knight released a statement through People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine on October 19, 2006 stating, in part, “I guess there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there. While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me.”
The controversy over the verbal exchange gained additional momentum on January 15, 2007 immediately following the Golden Globe Awards. When asked by E! Online reporter Ted Casablanca
Ted Casablanca
Ted Casablanca is an American entertainment journalist for E! Online and has a column called The Awful Truth.-Career:...
about the incident, Washington denied all statements.
Knight appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
on January 17, 2007 and stated that Washington in fact had insulted his sexuality on the Grey's Anatomy set on October 9, 2006.
Knight is very close to ex co-star Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
.
Series
- Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
(2005–2009) as Dr. George O'Malley. His character died in the premiere of season 6, "Good Mourning."
- Charlie Lawrence (2003) as Ryan Lemming
Guest star
- Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
(2006)
Season 37, Episode 12 ("Baby Bear Writes a Story Called 'The 3 Astro Bears' ") as Private "I" - CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
(2004)
Season 4, Episode 17 ("XX") as Zero Adams - FrasierFrasierFrasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
(2003)
Season 11, Episode 7 ("Maris Returns") as Alex - Law & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
(2003)
Season 3, Episode 10 ("F.P.S.") as Neil Colby - Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
(2011)
Season 13, Episode 4 ("Double Strands") .... in dual role as Gabriel Thomas and Brian Smith
Voice-over
- Doc Martens
- Best BuyBest BuyBest Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
- McDonalds
- Max's Words (animated film)
Broadway
- Noises OffNoises OffNoises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. The idea for it was born in 1970, when Frayn was standing in the wings watching a performance of Chinamen, a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave...
(2001 revival) as Tim Allgood - TartuffeTartuffeTartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
(2003 revival) as Damis - A Life in the TheatreA Life in the TheatreA Life in the Theatre is a 1977 play by David Mamet.It focuses on the relationship between two actors, the play's only characters. One, Robert, is a stage veteran while John is a young, promising actor...
(2010) as John
Off-Broadway
- Marvin's Room (1998)
- This Lime Tree Bower (1999) as Joe
- MacbethMacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
(1999) as Donalbain/Messenger - What Didn't Happen (2000) (Workshop)
- Right Way to Sue (2001) as Franklin/Various characters
- The Hologram Theory (2001) as Tweety
- The Fool (2002) (Staged Reading)
- The Lake's End (2003)
- Truth or Consequences (Staged Reading)
- Scattergood (2003) as Brendan Hilliard
- Voices of Peace and Dissent (2003)
- Earth to Bucky (2003) as Bucky
- Boy (2004) as title character
- White People (Staged Reading)
- The Scholar (Staged Reading)
- The Marriage of Bette & Boo (2007)
- Lend Me A Tenor (2009) (Staged Reading)
- On a Clear Day (2010) (Staged Reading)
- Torch Song Trilogy (2011) (Staged Reading)
- June Moon (2011) (Staged Reading)
- Sold (2011) as Michael
- Honeymoon in Vegas (2011) (Staged Reading) as Jack Singer
Guthrie Theater
- AmadeusAmadeusAmadeus is a play by Peter Shaffer.It is based on the lives of the composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, highly fictionalized.Amadeus was first performed in 1979...
(2001) as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Ah, Wilderness!Ah, Wilderness!Ah, Wilderness! is a comedy by American playwright Eugene O'Neill that premiered on Broadway at the Guild Theatre on 2 October 1933.-Plot summary:...
(1999) as Richard Miller - A Christmas CarolA Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
(1978–1980, 1996) as Tiny Tim, Dick Wilkins/Others - A Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's DreamA Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
(1997) as Francis Flute - Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1996) as Joe
- Racing Demon as Ewan Gilmour (1997)
- Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
(1998) as Watchman - She Stoops to ConquerShe Stoops to ConquerShe Stoops to Conquer is a comedy by the Irish author Oliver Goldsmith, son of an Anglo-Irish vicar, first performed in London in 1773. The play is a great favourite for study by English literature and theatre classes in Britain and the United States. It is one of the few plays from the 18th...
(1996)
External links
- T. R. Knight on TVguide.com
- T. R. Knight at Broadway.com
- ABC Bio
Articles
- 2001 interview at Broadway.com
- 2004 article from PlaybillPlaybillPlaybill is a monthly U.S. magazine for theatregoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most Playbills are printed for particular shows to be distributed at the door...
- 2006 interview at ABC NewsABC NewsABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
- 2006 article from Minneapolis Star Tribune