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T. R. Knight

b. 1973

American actor

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About T. R. Knight

Born 1973. T. R. Knight is an American television actor, film actor, stage actor and actor.

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 Knight was born March 26, 1973, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he became involved with the Guthrie Theater at the age of twelve. He attended Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, for grades K-8. 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. He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theater. He performed in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe. He performed in the 2003 Off-Broadway production of Scattergood, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. Knight also starred Off-Broadway at Primary Stages in the 2004 drama Boy.

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

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, and his decision to come out as gay.

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. He returned to Broadway in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre in 2010, where he played the role of John, opposite Patrick Stewart. In 2019, he voiced Sir Cedric, the gay protagonist in the animated series The Bravest Knight. 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.

Personal life Knight came out as gay during his time on Grey's Anatomy in 2006. 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.

Filmography Film 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 2025 Forge Sandy Baker

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Charlie Lawrence Ryan Lemming 6 episodes Frasier Alex Episode: "Maris Returns" 2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Neil Colby Episode: "F.P.S." 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 episodesSatellite Award for Best Cast – Television SeriesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmNominated—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 When We Rise Chad Griffin 4 episodes Genius: Einstein J. Edgar Hoover 4 episodes 2018 Genius: Picasso Max Jacob 6 episodes 2019 God Friended Me Gideon Episode: "The Last Grenelle" 2019–present The Bravest Knight Sir Cedric (voice) Main role 2020 Will & Grace Dexter Murphy Episode: "Filthy Phil, Part II" 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 Broadway

Source: Playbill Vault Noises Off (2001 revival) as Tim Allgood Tartuffe (2003 revival) as Damis A Life in the Theatre (2010) as John It's Only a Play (2015) as Frank Finger Stranger Things: The First Shadow (2025) as Victor Creel

Off-Broadway

Source: Internet Off-Broadway Database Marvin's Room (1998) This Lime Tree Bower (1999) as Joe Macbeth (1999) as Donalbain/Messenger The Refreshment of the Spirit (2000) Right Way to Sue (2001 at HERE Mainstage) as Franklin/Various characters The Hologram Theory (2000) at MCGinn/Cazale Theater as Tweety The Lake's End (2003) Scattergood (2003) as Brendan Hilliard Voices of Peace and Dissent (2003) at Worth Street Theatre Boy (2004) as title character 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) White People (Staged Reading) The Scholar (Staged Reading) Lend Me a Tenor (2009) (Staged Reading) On a Clear Day (2010) (Staged Reading) Torch Song Trilogy (2011) (Staged Reading) June Moon (2011) (Roundabout PlayReading Series) Honeymoon in Vegas (2011) (Staged Reading) as Jack Singer The Miser (2012) (Reading)

Regional What Didn't Happen (2000) (Workshop at Vassar) Earth to Bucky (2003) at Bay Street Theater as Bucky Parade (2009) as Leo Frank at Mark Taper Forum – Los Angeles, CA The Seagull (2012) (radio theater) as Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplev, James Bridges Theater at UCLA – Los Angeles, CA

Guthrie Theater – Minneapolis, MN A Christmas Carol (1978–1980, 1996) as Tiny Tim, Dick Wilkins/Others Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1996) as Joe She Stoops to Conquer (1996) Racing Demon as Ewan Gilmour (1997) A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997) as Francis Flute Much Ado About Nothing (1998) as Watchman Ah, Wilderness! (1999) as Richard Miller Amadeus (2001) as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Jungle Theater – Minneapolis, MN Journey's End as 2nd Lt. Jimmy Raleigh (1995)

Minnesota History Theatre – St. Paul, MN Civil Ceremony as Samuel (1996)

Illusion Theatre – Minneapolis, MN Angelheaded Hipster: Howl for Allen (1997) as Allen Ginsberg

Woman's Club of Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN The Laramie Project (2008)

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres – Chanhassen, MN Brighton Beach Memoirs (1993) as Eugene Morris Jerome

Theatre in the Round – Minneapolis, MN Gemini (1992) as Randy

Off-Broadway Musical Theatre – New Hope, MN Oliver! (1985) as Oliver

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Minnesota, Academy of Holy Angels
Also known as
Theodore Raymond Knight, T.R. Knight

People in T. R. Knight's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped T. R. Knight's

Frequently asked questions

Who is T. R. Knight?

American actor

When was T. R. Knight born?

T. R. Knight was born on 26 March 1973 in Minneapolis.

What is T. R. Knight's occupation?

T. R. Knight is a television actor, film actor, stage actor and actor.

What nationality is T. R. Knight?

T. R. Knight is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: T. R. Knight

· Wikidata: Q40032

· DBpedia: T. R. Knight

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). T. R. Knight. https://biography.guide/t-r-knight/

MLA: "T. R. Knight." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/t-r-knight/.

Chicago: "T. R. Knight." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/t-r-knight/.

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