T. R. Knight

**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 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.

## 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*. 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 one season. Knight plays Johnny Clayton, Francos love interests abusive husband.

## Personal life

Knight is gay. On October 5, 2013, Knight married Patrick B. Leahy, a ballet dancer and writer, in Hudson, New York. They had been living together for six years.