| T. R. Knight | |
| Birth Name: | Theodore Raymond Knight |
| Birth Date: | 1973 3, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 2000–present |
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.
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]
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 for one season. Knight plays Johnny Clayton, Franco’s love-interest’s abusive husband.
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]
| 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) | |
| 2024 | Adam the First | Jacob Jr | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Charlie Lawrence | Ryan Lemming | 6 episodes | |
| 2003 | Frasier | Alex | Episode: "Maris Returns" | |
| 2004 | Neil Colby | Episode: "F.P.S." | ||
| 2004 | Zero Adams | Episode: "XX" | ||
| 2005–2009, 2020 | Grey's Anatomy | 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 | 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 | 4 episodes | ||
| 2018 | Genius: Picasso | 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 | 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 |
Source: Playbill Vault[18]
Source: Internet Off-Broadway Database[19]