Don Knight (actor)

Don Knight
Don Knight in The Big Valley 1968
Born
Donald Hartwich Knight

(1933-02-16)16 February 1933
Manchester, Lancashire, England, U.K.
Died18 August 1997(1997-08-18) (aged 64)
Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California, U.S.
Alma materSir George Williams University
Wesley Theological Seminary
Occupation(s)Actor, minister
Years active1966–1993
Spouses
Mary Patricia Roberts
​
​
(m. 1959; div. 1974)​
Karin Edda Joachim
​
(m. 1975)​
Children2

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.

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, Bewitched, Hogan's Heroes, The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-O, It Takes a Thief, Bonanza, Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Columbo, Banacek, Night Gallery, 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
1968 The Virginian (TV series) Cal Hobson saison 7 episode 11 (The mustangers)
1970 Too Late the Hero Pte 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

  1. ^ Scott, Vernon (30 August 1970). "Preacher gets star TV role". The Argus. Fremont, California. p. 39. Retrieved 12 September 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Don Knight". Knight Time Recreation. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Don Knight". Variety. 6 October 1997. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Treasure of Matecumbe". Disney. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  5. ^ "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.