Hollywood Remains to Be Seen

Ted Knight
1923 - 1986

Forest Lawn Glendale


Ted Knight -- six-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner -- was best known as pompous, inept television news anchor Ted Baxter on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which ran from 1970 to 1977. The last episode of the series featured new management taking over the fictional television station, and firing everyone but Baxter.

Knight made his film debut in a brief, non-speaking role as a prison guard in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960). Knight appeared in small, often uncredited roles in several films during the 1960s, including "Two Rode Together" (1961), "Swingin' Along" (1961), "The Candidate" (1964), "Blindfold" (1965) and "Countdown" (1968). Knight also made guest appearances in dozens of television series in the 1960s, including "The Wild, Wild West," "Bonanza," "The Virginian," "Combat!," "The Invaders," "Outer Limits," "The Twilight Zone," "Get Smart," "The Fugutive," "The F.B.I.," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and "Gunsmoke."

In 1970, Knight was cast as Ted Baxter, the news anchor for fictional television station WJM-TV in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Knight was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series each year from 1972 through 1977, winning in 1973 and 1976. After the series ended, Knight appeared in the short-lived television series, "The Ted Knight Show" in 1978, then starred as cartoonist Henry Rush in "Too Close for Comfort" from 1980 to 1985. Knight also appeared as Judge Smails in "Caddyshack" (1980).

As Ted Baxter, one of Knight's popular phrases was a blustery "Hi, guys" whenever he entered a room. His grave marker includes the phrase, "Bye, guy." Knight's grave marker also includes the theatrical masks of comedy and tragedy.

Knight was born Thaddeus Wladyslaw Konopka on Dec. 7, 1923, in Terryville, CT. He died on Aug. 26, 1986, in Los Angeles, CA.



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