Wayne Knight
Knight would go on to appear in films such as Space Jam (1996), For Richer or Poorer (1997), Rat Race (2001), Punisher: War Zone (2008), and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025). He has also worked extensively as a voice actor, playing the roles of Tantor in Tarzan (1999), Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2 (1999), and Frank in Goat (2026).
Knight has also voiced Igor in Toonsylvania (1998–1999), Dojo Kanojo Cho in Xiaolin Showdown (2003–2006), Mr. Blik in Catscratch (2005–2007), Baron Von Sheldgoose in Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018), and Lime in Among Us (2026).
Early life
Wayne Elliot Knight was born on August 7, 1955, in New York City to Grace (née Monti) and William Knight. He was raised Catholic. The family moved to Cartersville, Georgia, where his father worked in the textile industry. Knight attended local schools and was a lineman on his high school's football team.
Knight attended the University of Georgia before beginning his acting career and later returned to complete his degree in 2008.
Career
Early career
Knight received an internship at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, which produced repertory works. After completing his internship, he joined the company and gained standing as an Equity actor. Knight subsequently moved back to his birthplace, New York City. After two years, he landed his first role on Broadway. After his time on Broadway, he also worked as a private investigator for five years.
Film work
Knight appeared in various films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Dirty Dancing (1987), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Dead Again (1991), JFK (1991) and Basic Instinct (1992). He was the first actor cast in Jurassic Park (1993) after director Steven Spielberg saw his performance in Basic Instinct.
Knight was cast as InGen Corporation's chief programmer for the park and secret spy for Biosyn, Dennis Nedry. He also appeared in To Die For (1995), Space Jam (1996), For Richer or Poorer (1997), and Rat Race (2001). He played the Punisher's techno sidekick Microchip in Punisher: War Zone (2008). In April 2012, Knight was featured in the romantic comedy, She Wants Me.
Television work
In the 1990s, Knight played supporting roles on two television series on NBC. He played the mailman Newman, Jerry's neighbor and nemesis, in Seinfeld, and Officer Don Orville, Sally's love interest, in 3rd Rock from the Sun. He had earlier appeared in Against the Grain. He also appeared as a regular on two sketch comedy series, The Edge for Fox and Assaulted Nuts for Cinemax and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.
Knight appeared on the pilot episode of the American version of Thank God You're Here. He made a second appearance, on the last episode of the first season of the television series. He won the Thank God You're Here blue door award.
In November 2009, Knight reprised his role as the Seinfeld character Newman, for the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also guest starred on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Season 10 in the episode "Working Stiffs".
Knight guest starred on a 2010 episode of Fox's drama series Bones, in the first season of the TV Land comedy series Hot in Cleveland (2010), where he became a recurring character for season two, and on an episode of The Whole Truth in the fall of 2010. He played an Internet-fixated couch potato in the TV Land sitcom, The Exes. In the summer of 2011, he appeared in the BBC/Starz series Torchwood: Miracle Day as Brian Friedkin.
In February 2014, Knight reprised the character Newman, during one commercial during the Super Bowl, alongside Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander. In December 2017, Knight was featured in an advertisement for KFC depicting Colonel Sanders.
Voice work
Knight has done voice work for numerous animations, including the black cat Mr. Blik in Catscratch, Igor in Toonsylvania, the dragon Dojo Kanojo Cho in the Kids' WB! animated series Xiaolin Showdown, Emperor Zurg on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command on Toon Disney and Disney Channel; Demetrius the shopkeeper in Hercules (1997); Al McWhiggin, the toy store manager of Al's Toy Barn in Toy Story 2 (1999); Tantor the elephant in Tarzan (1999), and the bug Juju on Tak and the Power of Juju (2003).
He made guest appearances on Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween as Jack O'Lantern, Dilbert as the Security Guard, and Brandy & Mr. Whiskers as Mr. Cantarious the snail. Knight guest starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Max the Cat, in the episodes "Launchtime" and "Cat's Cradle". He played The Elf Elder in Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon (2014).
Theatre work
Knight also appeared on Broadway in productions of Gemini, Mastergate, 'Art' and Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate. Knight appeared as Santa in Elf: The Musical in November 2012. He previously appeared on Broadway in Art in 1999.
Personal life
Knight married makeup artist Paula Sutor on May 26, 1996, in a ceremony held in the home of fellow Seinfeld cast member Michael Richards. They had divorced by December 2003. He married his second wife, Clare de Chenu, on October 15, 2006; together they have a son, Liam. The family lives in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, an area where Knight has resided for many years.
Knight attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Ahead of the 2020 United States presidential election, Knight appeared in an advertisement that examined "ethical breaches" of mail workers in the U.S. and the lack of support they received from the government. The advertisement was in support of the Democratic Party and anti-Donald Trump.
Filmography
Film
- 1979 — The Wanderers — Waiter — Uncredited
- 1987 — Dirty Dancing — Stan
- 1988 — Everybody's All-American — Fraternity Pisser
- 1989 — Born on the Fourth of July — Official #2 – Democratic Convention
- 1991 — V.I. Warshawski — Earl 'Bonehead' Smeissen
- 1991 — Dead Again — Pete 'Piccolo' Dugan
- 1991 — JFK — Numa Bertel
- 1992 — Basic Instinct — John Correli
- 1993 — Jurassic Park — Dennis Nedry — Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
- 1995 — To Die For — Ed Grant
- 1995 — Chameleon — Stuart Langston
- 1996 — Space Jam — Stan Podolak
- 1997 — Hercules — Demetrius — Voice
- 1997 — For Richer or Poorer — Bob Lachmen
- 1998 — The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars — Microwave — Voice, direct-to-video
- 1998 — Soundman — Tim — Voice
- 1999 — My Favorite Martian — Zoot The Suit — Voice, Uncredited
- 1999 — Pros & Cons — Wayne
- 1999 — Tarzan — Tantor — Voice
- 1999 — Toy Story 2 — Al McWhiggin — Voice
- 2000 — Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins — Evil Emperor Zurg — Voice, direct-to-video
- 2001 — Rat Race — Zach Mallozzi
- 2003 — Cheaper by the Dozen — Electrician — Uncredited cameo
- 2004 — Black Cloud — Mr. Tipping
- 2005 — Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone — Thudd — Voice, direct-to-video
- 2007 — Forfeit — Bob
- 2008 — Kung Fu Panda — Gang Boss — Voice
- 2008 — Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King — The Amazing Krudsky — Voice, direct-to-video
- 2008 — Punisher: War Zone — Linus Lieberman / Microchip
- 2012 — She Wants Me — Walter Baum
- 2012 — Excuse Me for Living — Albert
- 2014 — Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon — Elf Elder — Voice, direct-to-video
- 2016 — Kung Fu Panda 3 — Big Fun, Hom-Lee — Voice
- 2016 — Hail, Caesar! — Lurking Extra #1
- 2018 — Blindspotting — Patrick
- 2020 — The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee — Wayne
- 2021 — 12 Mighty Orphans — Frank Wynn
- 2021 — Back to the Outback — Phil — Voice
- 2022 — Darby and the Dead — Mel
- 2023 — Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie — Mr. Hodges — Voice; direct-to-video
- 2024 — The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie — Mayor — Voice
- 2025 — Five Nights at Freddy's 2 — Mr. Berg
- 2026 — Goat — Frank — Voice
Video games
- 1999 — Toy Story 2 — Al McWhiggin — Voice
- 2007 — Catscratch — Mr. Blik — Voice
- 2007 — Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots — Mr. Blik — Voice, (Nintendo DS version only)
- 2011 — Jurassic Park: The Game — Dennis Nedry — Voice, Uncredited
- 2011 — The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again! — Max — Voice
- 2019 — Jurassic Park (Pinball) — Dennis Nedry — Voice
Theatre
- 1977–1981 — Gemini — Herschel Weinberger — Broadway
- 1989 — Mastergate — Steward Butler, Senator Knight, Representative Byers — Broadway
- 1999 — Art — Yvan — Broadway
- 2005 — Sweet Charity — Herman — Broadway
- 2006 — Measure for Pleasure — Sir Peter Lustforth
- 2007 — The Front Page — Sheriff Hartman
- 2008 — The Odd Couple — Murray
- 2012–2013 — Elf — Santa Claus — Broadway
Awards and nominations
- 1994 — Saturn Award — Best Supporting Actor — Jurassic Park — Nominated
- 1998 — OFTA Television Award — Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series — Seinfeld — Nominated
- 1998 — Q Awards — Best Recurring Player — Seinfeld — Nominated
- 1998 — Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series — 3rd Rock from the Sun — Nominated
- 1999 — Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series — 3rd Rock from the Sun — Nominated
- 1999 — Stinker Award — Most Botched Comic Relief — My Favorite Martian — Nominated
📚 Source: Wikipedia
