Don Knight (actor)
Donald Knight (16 February 1933 – 18 August 1997) was an English-born film, television, and stage actor. He worked largely in the United States, and often played tough guys.
Don Knight | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Hartwich Knight 16 February 1933 |
| Died | 18 August 1997 (aged 64) |
| Alma mater | Sir George Williams University Wesley Theological Seminary |
| Occupation | Actor, minister |
| Years active | 1966–1993 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Patricia Roberts
(m. 1959; div. 1974)Karin Edda Joachim
(m. 1975; |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Born in Manchester, Lancashire, he served a short stint in the British Army, and shortly afterward left England for Canada. Knight began acting at the age of seven. He studied at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Quebec, and later at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C..[1] He obtained degrees in English, philosophy, theology, and drama.[2]
Acting career
In 1965, he moved to California to pursue acting, and was primarily a character actor, making numerous guest appearances in television series such as Combat!, The Time Tunnel, Hogan's Heroes, The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-O, It Takes a Thief, Bonanza, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Columbo, Banacek, Cannon, Kojak, Little House on the Prairie, and Barnaby Jones, as well as semi-regular roles in series such as The Immortal.[3]
In 1976, he was in the Disney film Treasure of Matecumbe. His character was Skaggs.[4]
He appeared in the PBS telefilm The Canterville Ghost. Its other distributors were WonderWorks and the Disney Channel.
Personal life and death
Educated in theology, Knight became an ordained minister in 1956.[3] During his acting career, he sometimes served as a church pastor. He was a minister at the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, California.[5]
Knight died on 18 August 1997 in Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California, USA, following a stroke earlier that month.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Munster, Go Home! | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Kill a Dragon | Ian | |
| 1968 | The Hell with Heroes | Pepper | |
| 1970 | Too Late the Hero | Pvt. Connolly | |
| 1970 | The Hawaiians | Milton Overpeck | |
| 1971 | Something Big | Tommy McBride | |
| 1973 | Trader Horn | Colonel Sinclair | |
| 1975 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | John Wintle | |
| 1976 | Treasure of Matecumbe | Skaggs | |
| 1982 | Swamp Thing | Ritter |
References
- Scott, Vernon (30 August 1970). "Preacher gets star TV role". The Argus. Fremont, California. p. 39. Retrieved 12 September 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Don Knight". Knight Time Recreation. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- "Don Knight". Variety. 6 October 1997. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- "Treasure of Matecumbe". Disney. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- "Actor Chosen to Fill Shepherd of Valley Post". Valley News. Van Nuys, California. 14 March 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 12 September 2014 – via Newspapers.com.