Wayne Elliot Knight (born August 7, 1955) is an American actor. In television, he played recurring roles such as Newman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld (1992–1998) and Officer Don Orville on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001). Knight also voiced Igor on Toonsylvania (1998–1999), Mr. Blik on Catscratch (2005–2007) and Baron Von Sheldgoose on Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018).
Wayne Knight | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Knight in 2013 | |
| Born | Wayne Elliot Knight August 7, 1955 New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouses | Paula Sutor
(m. 1996; div. 2003)Clare de Chenu (m. 2006) |
| Children | 1 |
In film, he played Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park (1993), which earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination. Knight additionally acted in the films Dead Again (1991), JFK (1991), Basic Instinct (1992), Space Jam (1996), For Richer or Poorer (1997), and Rat Race (2001). He provided the voices of Tantor in Tarzan (1999), Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2 (1999) and The Elf Elder in Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon (2014).
Early life
editWayne Elliot Knight was born on August 7, 1955, in New York City to Grace (née Monti) and William Knight. He was raised Catholic.[1][2][3] The family moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where his father worked in the textile industry. Knight attended local schools and was a lineman on his high school's football team.[4]
Knight attended the University of Georgia.[5] Although an honors student, he left college one credit shy of completing his degree to pursue his acting career. He completed his degree in 2008.[6]
Career
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) |
Knight received an internship at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, which produced repertory works. After completing his internship, he joined the company and gained standing as an Equity actor. Knight subsequently moved back to his hometown New York City and after two years landed his first role on Broadway.[7] After his time on Broadway, he also worked as a private investigator for five years.[3]
Knight appeared in various films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Dirty Dancing (1987), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), JFK (1991) and Basic Instinct (1992). He was the first actor cast in Jurassic Park after director Steven Spielberg saw his performance in Basic Instinct. Knight was cast as InGen Corporation's chief programmer for the park and secret spy for Biosyn, Dennis Nedry.
He also appeared in Dead Again, To Die For, and Space Jam. In the 1990s, Knight played supporting roles on two television series on NBC. He played the mailman Newman, Jerry's neighbor and nemesis, in Seinfeld, and Officer Don Orville, Sally's love interest, in 3rd Rock from the Sun. He had earlier appeared in Against the Grain. He also appeared as a regular on two sketch comedy series, The Edge for Fox and Assaulted Nuts for Cinemax and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.
Knight also appeared on Broadway in productions of Gemini, Mastergate, 'Art' and Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate.
Knight has done voice work for numerous animations, including the black cat Mr. Blik in Catscratch, Igor in Toonsylvania, the dragon Dojo Kanojo Cho in the Kids' WB! animated series Xiaolin Showdown, Emperor Zurg on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command on Toon Disney and Disney Channel; Al McWhiggin, the toy store manager of Al's Toy Barn, in Toy Story 2; Tantor the elephant in Tarzan, Demetrius the shopkeeper in Hercules, and the bug Juju on Tak and the Power of Juju. He made guest appearances on Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween as Jack O'Lantern, Dilbert as the Security Guard, and Brandy & Mr. Whiskers as Mr. Cantarious the snail.
Knight appeared on the pilot episode of the American version of Thank God You're Here. He made a second appearance, on the last episode of the first season of the television series. He won the Thank God You're Here blue door award. He played the Punisher's techno sidekick Microchip in Punisher: War Zone. Knight guest starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Max the Cat, in the episodes "Launchtime" and "Cat's Cradle".
In November 2009, Knight reprised his role as the Seinfeld character Newman, for the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also guest starred on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 10 in the episode "Working Stiffs".
Knight guest starred on a 2010 episode of Fox's drama series Bones, in the first season of the TV Land comedy series Hot in Cleveland (2010), where he became a recurring character for season two, and on an episode of The Whole Truth in the fall of 2010.[8] He played an Internet fixated couch potato in the TV Land sitcom, The Exes. In the summer of 2011, he appeared in the BBC/Starz series Torchwood: Miracle Day as Brian Friedkin.[9]
Knight appeared as Santa in Elf: The Musical in November 2012. He previously appeared on Broadway in Art in 1999. In April 2012, Knight was featured in the romantic comedy, She Wants Me. In February 2014, Knight reprised the character Newman, during one commercial during the Super Bowl, alongside Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander. In December 2017, Knight was featured in an advertisement for KFC depicting Colonel Sanders.
Personal life
editKnight married makeup artist Paula Sutor on May 26, 1996, in a ceremony held in the home of fellow Seinfeld cast member Michael Richards.[10] They had divorced by December 2003.[11] He married his second wife, Clare de Chenu, on October 15, 2006; together they have a son, Liam.[12] The family lives in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, an area where Knight has resided for many years.[13]
Knight attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention.[14] Ahead of the 2020 United States presidential election, Knight appeared in an advertisement that examined "ethical breaches" of mail workers in the U.S. and the lack of support they received from the government. The advertisement was in support of the Democratic Party and anti-Donald Trump.[15]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Wanderers | Waiter | Uncredited |
| 1987 | Dirty Dancing | Stan | |
| 1988 | Everybody's All-American | Fraternity Pisser | |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | Official #2 – Democratic Convention | |
| 1991 | V.I. Warshawski | Earl 'Bonehead' Smeissen | |
| 1991 | Dead Again | Pete 'Piccolo' Dugan | |
| 1991 | JFK | Numa Bertel | |
| 1992 | Basic Instinct | John Correli | |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | Dennis Nedry | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1995 | To Die For | Ed Grant | |
| 1995 | Chameleon | Stuart Langston | |
| 1996 | Space Jam | Stan Podolak | |
| 1997 | Hercules | Demetrius | Voice[16] |
| 1997 | For Richer or Poorer | Bob Lachmen | |
| 1998 | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | Microwave | Voice,[16] direct-to-video |
| 1998 | Soundman | Tim | Voice |
| 1999 | My Favorite Martian | Zoot The Suit | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1999 | Pros & Cons | Wayne | |
| 1999 | Tarzan | Tantor | Voice[16] |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Al McWhiggin | Voice[16] |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | Zurg | Voice, direct-to-video[16] |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Zach Mallozzi | |
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Electrician | Uncredited cameo |
| 2004 | Black Cloud | Mr. Tipping | |
| 2005 | Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone | Thudd | Voice, direct-to-video[16] |
| 2007 | Forfeit | Bob | |
| 2008 | Kung Fu Panda | Gang Boss | Voice[16] |
| 2008 | Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King | The Amazing Krudsky | Voice, direct-to-video[16] |
| 2008 | Punisher: War Zone | Linus Lieberman / Microchip | |
| 2012 | She Wants Me | Walter Baum | |
| 2012 | Excuse Me for Living | Albert | |
| 2014 | Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon | Elf Elder | Voice, direct-to-video[16] |
| 2016 | Kung Fu Panda 3 | Big Fun / Hom-Lee | Voice[16] |
| 2016 | Hail, Caesar! | Lurking Extra #1 | |
| 2018 | Blindspotting | Patrick | |
| 2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | Wayne | |
| 2021 | 12 Mighty Orphans | Frank Wynn | |
| 2021 | Back to the Outback | Phil | Voice[16] |
| 2022 | Darby and the Dead | Mel | |
| 2023 | Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie | Mr. Hodges | Voice; direct-to-video |
| 2024 | The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie | Homeless Man | Voice[17] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | For Lovers Only | Video Game Fanatic | TV film Uncredited |
| 1983 | The Day After | Man In Hospital | TV film |
| 1984 | The Burning Bed | Juror | TV film Uncredited |
| 1985 | Assaulted Nuts | Various | Main role (seven episodes) |
| 1988 | Tattingers | Kenny Axelrod | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Mathnet | Peter Pickwick | Episode: "The Case of the Parking Meter Massacre" |
| 1990 | Square One TV | 3 episodes | |
| 1992–1998 | Seinfeld | Newman | Recurring role Nominated—Q Award for Best Recurring Player (1998) |
| 1992 | Double Edge | Tommy White | TV film |
| 1992–1993 | The Edge | Various Characters | Main role |
| 1992 | T Bone N Weasel | Roy Kramp | TV film |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | Leo Cunningham | Episode: "Dead End Delia" |
| 1993 | Against the Grain | 'Froggy' Wilson | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1993–1994 | The Second Half | Robert Piccolo | Main role |
| 1994 | Golden Gate | Arthur Genopopoulos | TV film |
| 1996–2001 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Don Orville | Main role Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1998–1999) |
| 1997 | Contempt of Court | Merill Bushman | TV film |
| 1998 | Hercules | Orthos (ponytail head) | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Toonsylvania | Igor | Voice, main role |
| 2000 | Dilbert | Security Guard | Voice, episode: "The Security Guard" |
| 2000–2001 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Zurg | Voice, main role[16] |
| 2001 | That '70s Show | The Angel | Episode: "It's a Wonderful Life" |
| 2001 | Bleacher Bums | Zig | TV film |
| 2002 | Becker | Wally | Episode: "Picture Imperfect" |
| 2002 | Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story | Walter Ballou | TV film |
| 2003 | The Twilight Zone | Nick Dark | Episode: "How Much Do You Love Your Kid?" |
| 2003–2006 | Xiaolin Showdown | Dojo Kanojo Cho | Voice, main cast |
| 2003 | Gary the Rat | Gary's Rival | Voice, episode: "The Reunion" |
| 2003 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Jack O'Lantern | Voice, episode: "Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween" |
| 2004 | I'm with Her | Kevin | Episode: "Friends in Low Places" |
| 2004 | The Drew Carey Show | Owen | Episode: "Liar Liar House on Fire" |
| 2004 | Listen Up | Buddy | Episode: "Sweet Charity" |
| 2005–2007 | Catscratch | Mr. Blik / Blik Robot / Chicken Harold / Donkey / Granny | Voice, main role[16] |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Abnegazar | Voice, episode: "The Balance" |
| 2006 | CSI: NY | Truman Bosch | Episode: "Fare Game" |
| 2006 | Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | Mr. Cantarius | Voice, episode: "You've Got Snail" |
| 2006 | How I Met Your Mother | Lily's Landlord | Voice, uncredited, Episode: "How Lily Stole Christmas" |
| 2007 | Tak and the Power of Juju | Bug Juju | Voice, episode: "Our Favorite Juju" |
| 2009–2012 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Max The Cat | Voice, 3 episodes[16] |
| 2009 | WordGirl | Police Commissioner Watson | Voice, episode: "The Wrong Side of the Law" |
| 2009 | Woke Up Dead | Andrew Batten | Main role |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Mr. Terrence Lombard | Episode: "Working Stiffs" |
| 2009 | Nip/Tuck | Don Hoberman | Episode: "Don Hoberman" |
| 2009–2011 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Elihas Starr / Egghead | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Himself | Uncredited Episode: "The Table Read" |
| 2010–2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Rick | Recurring role |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Perry Black | Episode: "Little Things" |
| 2010 | The Whole Truth | Judge Mark Hulverson | Episode: "Uncanny" |
| 2010 | Bones | Jimmy Walpert III | Episode: "The Babe in the Bar" |
| 2011 | Torchwood | Brian Friedkin | 3 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Jong / Jong's Son | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2011–2015 | The Exes | Haskell Lutz | Main role |
| 2012 | Green Lantern: The Animated Series | Captain Goray | Voice, episode: "Into the Abyss"[16] |
| 2012 | Pound Puppies | Ralphie / Construction Worker #1 | Voice, episode: "Good Dog, McLeish!"[16] |
| 2013 | Regular Show | Guardian of The Friend Zone / God of Street Performing | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2014 | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | Newman | Episode: "The Over-Cheer" |
| 2014 | Unforgettable | Dr. Theodore Blumer | Episode: "East of Islip" |
| 2015 | Sirens | Richard | Episode: "Sub-Primal Fears" |
| 2015 | TripTank | Greg / Customer | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2015 | Doc McStuffins | Viewy Stewie | Voice, episode: "Fully Focused" |
| 2016 | Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Boovius | Voice, episode: "The Gray Matter"[16] |
| 2016 | StartUp | Benny Blush | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Still the King | Dan | Episode: "Still Still the King" |
| 2017 | Narcos | Alan Starkman | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | The Young and the Restless | Irv | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters | Brick | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2018 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Grigor | Episode: "Service" |
| 2018 | Legend of the Three Caballeros | Baron Von Sheldgoose / Shieldgoose Ancestors | Voice, main role[16] |
| 2018 | The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair | Benjamin Roth | Main role |
| 2019–20 | Harley Quinn | Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2019 | Robot Chicken | Nutsy Goldberg | Voice, episode: "Robot Chicken's Santa's Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special" |
| 2020 | Infinity Train | Marcel | Voice, episode: "The Map Car"[16] |
| 2021 | Amphibia | Ned | Voice, episode: "Thai Feud" |
| 2023 | Monster High | Ralph | Voice, episode: "Moonlit Fieldtrip/A Little Boost" |
| 2023 | Bookie | Cowboy | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Them | Lieutenant Schiff | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | That 90's Show | Bruce | season 2, ep. 7; |
| TBA | Among Us | Lime | Voice[18] |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Al McWhiggin | Voice |
| 2007 | Catscratch | Mr. Blik | Voice |
| 2007 | Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots | Mr. Blik | Voice, (Nintendo DS version only) |
| 2011 | Jurassic Park: The Game | Dennis Nedry | Voice, Uncredited |
| 2011 | The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again! | Max | Voice |
| 2019 | Jurassic Park (Pinball) | Dennis Nedry | Voice |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–1981 | Gemini | Herschel Weinberger | Broadway[19] |
| 1989 | Mastergate | Steward Butler, Senator Knight, Representative Byers | Broadway[19] |
| 1999 | Art | Yvan | Broadway[19] |
| 2005 | Sweet Charity | Herman | Broadway[19] |
| 2006 | Measure for Pleasure | Sir Peter Lustforth | [19] |
| 2007 | The Front Page | Sheriff Hartman | [19] |
| 2008 | The Odd Couple | Murray | [19] |
| 2012–2013 | Elf | Santa Claus | Broadway[19] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actor | Jurassic Park | Nominated |
| 1998 | OFTA Television Award | Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Seinfeld | Nominated |
| Q Awards | Best Recurring Player | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Nominated | |||
| Stinker Award | Most Botched Comic Relief | My Favorite Martian | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Mrs. Grace Knight". dignitymemorial.com. Dignity Memorial. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Wayne Knight". AllMovie. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "NEWMAN!: The @Seinfeld2000 Wayne Knight Interview". Vice.com. August 6, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^ Fretts, Bruce (October 8, 1993). "Wayne Knight: Gaining Roles, Losing Weight". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ "Is this it?". The Guardian. March 6, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ "Is this it?". The Guardian. March 6, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ Myers, Marc (July 7, 2020). "How Wayne Knight Got His Foot Through the Stage Door". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Abrams, Natalie. "Exclusive: The Whole Truth Swears In Wayne Knight". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
- ^ Brew, Simon. "Wayne Knight joins Torchwood: Miracle Day". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Weddings of the Year". People. February 10, 1997. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ Adato, Allison. "Hello, New Man!". people.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ Heller, Corinne. "OTRC: WAYNE KNIGHT, 'SEINFELD'S NEWMAN, 'FAMILY TIES' BRIAN BONSALL not DEAD". KABC-TV Los Angeles. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Toluca Lake's Wayne Knight — aka 'Newman' — Starring in 'The Exes'". November 28, 2011.
- ^ "Celebrities spotted at the Democratic National Convention". Politico. September 7, 2012.
- ^ Aquilina, Tyler (October 8, 2020). "Exclusive: Wayne Knight channels a certain 'Seinfeld' mailman for new anti-Trump ad". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Wayne Knight (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 14, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (June 12, 2024). "'The Day the Earth Blew Up' Review: Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Save the World in Side-Splitting Looney Tunes Movie". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (April 4, 2024). "'Among Us' Animated Series Casts Patton Oswalt, Debra Wilson, Phil LaMarr, Wayne Knight". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Wayne Knight".
External links
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