Bio
T.R. Knight is an American actor best known for his role as Dr. George O'Malley on the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, from 2005-2009.
His role earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series in 2007.
Knight was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he became involved with the Guthrie Theatre at the age of five.
After finishing high school, Knight enrolled at the University of Minnesota for a brief period of time. He dropped out and soon landed leading roles at the Guthrie Theatre.
Knight moved to New York City and has appeared on Broadway; his most notable role was playing opposite Patti LuPone in the 2001 revival of Noises Off. Knight's most recent stage appearance was in the 2004 drama, Boy.
He also gained notice performing in 2003 as Damis in Tartuffe and received a Drama Desk Award nomination in 2003 for his role in the off-Broadway production of Scattergood.
On television, Knight was a regular cast member of the short-lived Nathan Lane series, Charlie Lawrence (2003), with Laurie Metcalf.
He made a guest appearance on Frasier in 2003, and in 2004 guest starred on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
In 2005, he was cast as the bumbling intern George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy.
Knight, who is gay, was not out of the closet to the public until October 19, 2006, when he released a statement through People magazine stating, in part, "I guess there have been a few questions about my sexuality, and I'd like to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there. While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me."
Although openly gay actors have made guest appearances on television programs, Knight's declaration makes him one of the few openly gay actors appearing in a continuing contract role on television — and while portraying a heterosexual character on a top-rated show.
Rumours over Knight's sexuality may have become more prominent when news reports surfaced in October 2006 that Grey's Anatomy co-stars Patrick Dempsey and Isaiah Washington were involved in a physical altercation, where Washington used an anti-gay slur directed at an unnamed co-star.
Washington later apologised, stating "I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set".
In a press conference on January 15, 2007 immediately following the Golden Globe Awards, Isaiah Washington said, "I never called T.R. a faggot. It never happened."
In response, Grey's Anatomy co-star Katherine Heigl said when referring to the incident, "I'm not okay with it. I'm going to be really honest right now, he (Isaiah Washington) needs to just not speak in public. Period."
She also said that Knight is her best friend and because of this she "will use every ounce of energy" she has to take somebody down if Knight's feelings are hurt.
Knight appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 17, 2007 and stated that Washington in fact had referred to him as a faggot on the Grey's Anatomy set on October 9, 2006.