Biography for
Ted Knight (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

7 December 1923, Terryville, Connecticut, USA

Date of Death

26 August 1986, Los Angeles, California, USA (cancer)

Birth Name

Tadeus Wladyslaw Konopka

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Actor Ted Knight paid his dues with nearly two decades of relatively obscure dramatic, often villainous TV work before finding enduring fame in a scene-stealing supporting turn on a classic 1970s TV sitcom hilariously overplaying a silver-haired, self-important oaf. Although the conceited "stuffed shirt" typecast plagued him for the rest of his career, the self-proclaimed "Polish Prince of Comedy" continued on good-naturedly, earning lead status on his own comedy series.

The Connecticut-born actor was christened Tadeusz (Theodore) Wladyslaw Konopka, the son of a Polish-American family in his native town of Terryville. A high school dropout, he enlisted for World War II duty and eventually became a decorated member of the A Company, 296th Combat Engineer Battalion.

During his tour of duty, Ted developed an interest in acting, returning home in the post-war years to study his craft in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Randall School of Dramatic Arts. A fascination with puppetry and ventriloquism led to his first steady paycheck as the host of a children's radio show (WJAR) in Providence, Rhode Island (1950-1955). Following this Ted found more work (WROW-TV) in Albany, New York, hosting a children's variety show while playing radio announcer for its sister radio station WROW.

Heading west to Los Angeles in 1957, Ted spent most of his early years providing slick commercial voice-overs and earning minor roles on TV ("Sea Hunt") and film ("Psycho"). He appeared regularly on the short-lived "The New Loretta Young Show" (1962) and the daytime soap "The Young Marrieds" (1964). Other TV guest appearances sprouted including dramatic ("The Twilight Zone," "The Fugitive," "Gunsmoke," "Highway Patrol," "Bonanza," "Combat!") as well as occasional comedic parts ("McHale's Navy," "Gomer Pyle," "Get Smart"). But nothing monumental pushed his career forward.

Ted's well-modulated voice was his moneymaker during the lean years, whether as an announcer/narrator or cartoon voice character. This anonymity ended, however, went he copped the role of inept, pearly-toothed WJM anchorman Ted Baxter on "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970). The arrogant but highly insecure character earned Knight two supporting Emmy trophies (1973, 1976) but severely pigeon-holed him for the rest of his career. The genial actor, however, made the best of it and continued on stage ("Some of My Best Friends") and in commercials and TV spots that were similar in persona. In 1975 a musical album entitled "Hi, Guys!" (a catchphrase of the Baxter character) was released, which included a series of bizarre novelty songs.

Knight eventually starred opposite Nancy Dussault in his own TV series "Too Close for Comfort" (1980), which had a healthy run despite the fact that Knight, as the lead, was more subdued than on the Mary Tyler Moore classic. Renamed "The Ted Knight Show" after it became a syndicated series, the show finally ended in 1986 only due to Knight's terminal illness. The actor's sole post-Ted Baxter movie role was as a judge in the golf-themed comedy Caddyshack (1980), in which he continually bumped heads with the film's star Rodney Dangerfield.

Knight was initially diagnosed with cancer in 1977, for which he was treated over an extended period of time. In 1985, the TV star's conditioned worsened and the 62-year-old actor died on August 26, 1986, following surgery for a growth in his urinary tract. He was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California (his marker reads Theodore C. Konopka), and was survived by his wife of 38 years, Dorothy Smith, and their three children, Ted, Jr., Elyse, and Eric.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Spouse

Dorothy Smith

(23 September 1948 - 26 August 1986) (his death) 3 children

Trivia

Was a minor villain on TV and film drama for the longest time before the role of Ted Baxter on "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) aggressively tapped into his comedy talents.

His well-modulated voice, ideal for radio broadcasting and announcing, helped keep him afloat during the dismal 60s providing narration and voices for a number of cartoon series -- including "The Batman/Superman Hour" (1968) and "Star Trek" (1973).

Three children: Ted Knight Jr., Elyse Knight and Eric Knight.

Bore an uncanny resemblence to Barry Goldwater. In an episode of "Too Close for Comfort" (1980) when someone paints a portrait of Knight's character, the running gag becomes "Wow, look at that great picture of Barry Goldwater".

Has a bit role at the very end of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) as a cell guard who opens the cell door for another officer who gives Norman Bates a blanket.

A hero in WWII, he was decorated five times for bravery.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives." Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 491-493. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

In the 1970s he was the spokesperson for Southgate USA and appeared in numerous commercials that aired on Cleveland area TV and radio stations. (Southgate USA is a Shopping Center in Maple Heights, Ohio).

The college sweatshirts he wore in the television series, "Too Close For Comfort" were sometimes sent to him by students from real colleges.

Ted Knight was also a prominent voice over actor for 1960/'70s Superhero cartoons, like The Flash, The Atom, Superman, and other hero cartoons, and Super Friends, and the Justice League. He was most known as the the omnipotent narrator, but he also voice over many of the second string character voices. He was never, or very rarely, the protagonist.

Was of Polish descent.

Salary

Psycho (1960)

$150