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."Biography. T. R. Knight" infoplease.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015 He attended Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, for grades K-8.Walsh, Jim. "An improvisational life" southwestjournal.com, September 23, 2012 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.Papatola, Dominic P. "'Grey's Anatomy' star comes home for a project near to his heart" twincities.com, October 12, 2008 He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theater.
Career Knight moved to New York City and appeared on the stage. He played opposite Patti LuPone in the 2001 Broadway revival of Noises Off.Jones, Kenneth. "Bway Run of Noises Off Revival Ends Sept. 1" Playbill, September 1, 2002 He performed in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe.Isherwood, Charles. "Review. 'Tartuffe' " Variety, January 9, 2003 He performed in the 2003 Off-Broadway production of Scattergood,Weber, Bruce. "Theater Review. A Dedicated Pupil for a Professor of Seduction" The New York Times, March 5, 2003 receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.Murray, Matthew. "2003 Drama Desk Awards Presented" theatermania.com, May 18, 2003 Knight also starred Off-Broadway at Primary Stages in the 2004 drama Boy." Boy Listing" Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved March 31, 2015
On television, Knight was a regular cast member of the short-lived Nathan Lane/Laurie Metcalf 2003 CBS television series Charlie Lawrence.Gans, Andrew. "Nathan Lane's "Charlie Lawrence" Pulled from CBS Schedule" Playbill, July 1, 2003
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.McNulty, Charles. "Theater Review" Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2009 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"T.R. Knight Broadway" playbillvault.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015 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"T.R. Knight Listing" Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved March 31, 2015 Marvin's Room (1998)under DAVID CASTANEDA (Lighting Design)under directing credits 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 charactersMurray, Matthew. "Review" talkinbroadway.com, May 21, 2001 The Hologram Theory (2000) at MCGinn/Cazale TheaterHofler, Robert. "Review" Variety, April 3, 2000 as Tweety The Lake's End (2003) Scattergood (2003) as Brendan Hilliard Voices of Peace and Dissent (2003) at Worth Street TheatreSimonson, Robert. "Worth Street Revives 'Voices of Peace and Dissent' Aug. 16, 23 and 30" Playbill, August 11, 2004 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) Little Shop of Horrors (2026) as Seymour Krelborn
Readings Truth or Consequences (Staged Reading) The Fool (2002) (Staged Reading)Gans, Andrew. Playbill, April 12, 2002 White People (Staged Reading) The Scholar (Staged Reading) Lend Me a Tenor (2009) (Staged Reading)"T.R. Knight to Exit 'Grey's Anatomy'; Eyes Tenor on Broadway" broadway.com, June 17, 2009 On a Clear Day (2010) (Staged Reading) Torch Song Trilogy (2011) (Staged Reading) June Moon (2011) (Roundabout PlayReading Series)" 'June Moon' Listing" archive.roundabouttheatre.org. Retrieved March 31, 2015 Honeymoon in Vegas (2011) (Staged Reading) as Jack Singer" 'Honeymoon in Vegas' Reading" broadwayworld.com, 2011 The Miser (2012) (Reading)Hetrick, Adam. Red Bull Readings to Feature T.R. Knight, Jan Maxwell, Lily Rabe, Michael Urie and More" playbill.com, October 2, 2012
Regional What Didn't Happen (2000) (Workshop at Vassar)Rizzo, Frank. An Historic Murder In Verse And Song" Hartford Courant, July 6, 2000 Earth to Bucky (2003) at Bay Street Theater as BuckyKlein, Alvin. "THEATER; Three Lost Souls, Yearning for a Way Out" The New York Times, July 20, 2003 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, CABacalzo, Dan. "Calista Flockhart, T.R. Knight, Dakin Matthews to Head Up L.A. Theatre Works' Seagull'" theatermania.com, August 28, 2012
Guthrie Theater – Minneapolis, MN"Actor TR Knight To Return For Minn.'s Guthrie Gala" minnesota.cbslocal.com, May 3, 2013 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
References
External links
on TVguide.com T. R. Knight at Broadway.com ABC Bio
Articles 2001 interview at Broadway.com 2004 article from Playbill 2006 interview at ABC News 2006 article from Minneapolis Star Tribune