Ted Knight (born Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka; December 7, 1923August 26, 1986) was an American actor known for playing the comic roles of Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Henry Rush in Too Close for Comfort, and Judge Elihu Smails in Caddyshack.
Early life Knight was born in the Terryville section of Plymouth in Litchfield County, Connecticut, to Polish-American parents Sophia (née Kavaleski) and Charles Walter Konopka, a bartender. He withdrew from high school to enlist in the United States Army during World War II and was a member of Company A, 296th Combat Engineer Battalion, earning five campaign stars while serving in the European Theater of Operations.
Career Early roles During the postwar years, Knight studied acting in Hartford, Connecticut. He became proficient with puppets and ventriloquism, which led to steady work as a television children's show host at WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island from 1950 to 1955. In 1955, he left Providence for Albany, New York, where he landed a job at station WROW-TV (now WTEN), hosting The Early Show, featuring MGM movies, and a children's variety show, playing a Gabby Hayes-type character named "Windy Knight". He was also a radio announcer for sister station WROW radio and briefly for WFNS in Burlington, North Carolina. He left the station in 1957 after being turned down for a raise and receiving advice from station manager (and future Capital Cities chairman) Thomas Murphy that he should take his talents to Hollywood.
Knight spent most of the 1950s and 1960s creating commercial voiceovers and playing minor television and film roles. In 1959 he played a part in the western TV show Lawman in the episode “The Ugly Man”. He had a small part playing a police officer guarding the room where Norman Bates sat wrapped in a blanket at the end of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). He played Phil Buckley on the ABC soap opera The Young Marrieds in the early 1960s.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Knight's role as the vain and untalented WJM newscaster Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show brought widespread recognition and his greatest success. He received six Emmy Award nominations for the role, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy in 1973 and 1976.
Post-MTM appearances In 1975, Knight recorded an album of mostly novelty songs, Hi Guys, on the Ranwood label.
Knight guest-starred in "Mr. Dennis Steps Out", the October 26, 1977, episode of the situation comedy Busting Loose, as Roger Dennis, the owner of an escort service in New York City. This appearance launched a new show, The Ted Knight Show, Knight's first starring role. The Ted Knight Show lasted for only six episodes in the spring of 1978.
Knight appeared in several episodes of The Love Boat, including one episode as a rival cruise captain.
Knight's final film role was in the 1980 golf comedy Caddyshack, in which he played Judge Elihu Smails, a foil for Rodney Dangerfield's character.
Too Close for Comfort
Knight was cast in the lead role as the curmudgeonly cartoonist Henry Rush in the series Too Close for Comfort in 1980.
Personal life In 1948, Knight married Dorothy Smith and the couple had three children: Ted Jr., Elyse and Eric.
In January 1985, Knight was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television industry. It is located at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard.
Death A few months after the end of the Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1977, Knight was diagnosed with colon cancer, for which he received treatment. In 1985, the cancer returned and spread to his bladder and gastrointestinal tract.
Knight experienced complications from the surgery and was advised to not resume work on Too Close for Comfort until he recovered. His condition worsened and he died on August 26, 1986, at age 62.
Knight was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. His grave marker bears the name Theodore C. Konopka and the words "Bye Guy", a reference to his Ted Baxter catchphrase "Hi, guys!"Final Curtain
His hometown of Terryville, Connecticut, dedicated a bridge on Canal Street over the Pequabuck River in his memory. There is a bronze plaque bearing his likeness on the bridge.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes1959 Highway Patrol Merrill Hartman 1 episode: "Exposé"1959–1965 Gunsmoke Jay Rabb, Bill Miller 2 episodes1959 The Twilight Zone Adams 1 episode: "The Lonely”; uncredited1960 One Step Beyond Woodruff 1 episode: "Tidalwave"1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mr. Maynard 1 episode: "Party Line" 1961Sea Hunt Steve Powery 1 episode: "The Defector1961–1966 Bonanza Halloran, Mayor Amos Garrett 2 episodes1962–1966 Combat! German Captain, Kurt, German Sergeant, Lt. Herlmoch 4 episodes1964 The Outer Limits Mr. Jerome1 episode: "The Invisible Enemy"1966–1967 Get Smart KAOS Agent #1, Hans Frome 2 episodes1966–1970 The New Adventures of Superman Narrator, Perry White Voice, 68 episodes1966–1968 The Adventures of Superboy Narrator, Jonathan Kent Voice, 34 episodes1967–1968 The Superman/Aquaman Adventure Hour Narrator, Imp, Tusky, Black Manta, Torpedo Man, Blue Bolt Voice, 36 episodes1967 Journey to the Center of the Earth Professor Oliver Lindenbrook, Count Saknussemm, Atlantian King Voice, 17 episodes1968 The Wild Wild West Daniel 1 episode: "The Night of the Kraken"1968–1969 The Adventures of Batman Commissioner Gordon, The Penguin, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, The Scarecrow, Doll-Man, Simon the Pieman, The Mad Hatter, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, The Judge, Narrator Voice, 17 episodes1968–1969 Fantastic Voyage Commander Jonathan Kidd, Professor Carter Voice, 17 episodes1970–1977 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Ted Baxter 165 episodes1972 The New Scooby-Doo Movies Ghost of Paul Revere, The Penguin, Troll Voice, 16 episodes1972–1973 Lassie's Rescue Rangers Ben Turner, Aaron Lipton, Red Arrow Voice, 16 episodes1973 Inch High, Private Eye Various Voice, 13 episodes1973 Super Friends Narrator, The Flash, Anthro, Captain, Kolbar, Mr. Singh Voice, 16 episodes1973 Star Trek: The Animated Series Carter Winston/Vendorian Voice, 1 episode: "The Survivor"1978 The Ted Knight Show Roger Dennis 6 episodes1979 Saturday Night Live Himself, Host 1 episode: "Ted Knight/Desmond Child & Rouge"1980–1983 The Love Boat Barney Gordon, Captain Gunner Nordquist, Tom McMann 8 episodes1980–1985Too Close for Comfort Henry Rush 129 episodes1985–1987 22 episodes as The Ted Knight Show
Film Year Title Role Notes1960 Man on a String Professor Vasheen Uncredited 13 Fighting Men Samuel Twelve Hours to Kill Police Sergeant Denton Psycho Policeman in Hallway Opening Door Uncredited Cage of Evil Lieutenant Dan Ivers Key Witness Cowboy's Lawyer 1961 Swingin' Along Priest Cry for Happy Lieutenant Glick The Great Impostor Reporter Uncredited1962 13 West Street Baldwin Hitler Major Buch The Pigeon That Took Rome Steve Uncredited The Interns Photographer's Assistant at Fashion Shoot1964 Nightmare in Chicago Dan McVeay The Candidate Frank Carlton 1965 Young Dillinger Johnsyn Blindfold Dr. Bob Berford Uncredited 1967 Countdown Walter Larson 1970 M*A*S*H Offstage Dialog Voice, uncredited 1971 Cold Turkey Mr. Slick Uncredited 1975 Emilio and His Magical Bull Voice 1980 Caddyshack Judge Elihu Smails
References
External links
Interview with Lydia Cornell by Michael Sutton Interview with Lydia Cornell on the podcast The Future and You (anecdotes about Ted Knight and Too Close For Comfort)