Don Knight (actor)
Donald Knight (16 February 1933 – 18 August 1997) was an English-born film, television and stage actor.[1] He worked largely in the United States, and often played tough guys.
Don Knight | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 February 1933 |
| Died | 18 August 1997 (aged 64) |
| Occupation | Film, television actor |
| Years active | 1966-1993 |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Patricia Roberts (1959–1974) (2 children) Karin Hartwick (1975–1997) (his death) |
Early life
Born in Manchester, Lancashire, he served a short stint in the British Army, and shortly afterward left England for Canada. He studied at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Quebec, and later at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.. He gained 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!, Mission: Impossible, The Time Tunnel, Bonanza, The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-O, Hogan's Heroes, Cannon, Kojak, Little House on the Prairie, Banacek, Barnaby Jones and It Takes a Thief, as well as semi-regular roles in series such as The Immortal. In 1972, he also played a mechanic in the Columbo episode "Etude in Black".
In 1976 he was in the Disney movie "Treasure of Matecumbe". His character was Skaggs.
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 was an ordained minister. 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.
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
- "Don Knight". variety.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Don Knight". Knight Time Recreation. Retrieved 26 July 2020.