Wayne Knight is an American actor and comedian who is best known for playing Newman on the television sitcom ‘Seinfeld.’ Over the years, he has been in a variety of films and television series. He has appeared in films such as ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Basic Instinct,’ ‘Space Jam,’ and ‘Cheaper by the Dozen.’ Knight has also starred in television shows such as ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘That 70s Show,’ ‘CSI: NY,’ ‘Narcos,’ and ‘Young and Restless.’ Along with acting, Knight has voiced characters in films such as ‘Tarzan,’ ‘Toy Story 2’, ‘Kung Fu Panda,’ ‘Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King,’ and others. He’s also done voice work for animated shows such as ‘Toonsylvania,’ ‘Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,’ and a few others. He appeared in the hit drama series ‘Bones’ and the comedy series ‘Hot in Cleveland’ in 2010. He made his acting debut in the Netflix drama ‘Narcos’ in 2017, as Alan Starkman.
Childhood and Adolescence
Wayne Knight was born in New York City on August 7, 1955, to parents William Edward Knight and Grace Kninght. His father worked as a supervisor in a textile plant. His father moved the family to Cartersville, Georgia, where he started working in the textile sector. Wayne Knight was a lineman on his high school football team and attended local schools. He attended the University of Georgia but did not finish his studies until 2008. In the interim, Knight dropped out of college to pursue his acting career. He began his internship at Abingdon, Virginia’s Barter Theatre. After completing his internship, he began working for the company and was promoted to Equity actor. He eventually relocated to New York City and obtained a Broadway part.
Career of Wayne
Wayne Knight began his acting career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in a number of well-known films. He appeared in the films ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Born on the Fourth of July,’ ‘JFK,’ and ‘Basic Instinct,’ among others (1992). He also appeared in ‘Jurassic Park,’ where he was the first actor cast after director Steven Spielberg saw him in ‘Basic Instinct.’ He doubled as the park’s head programmer and a covert operative. Other films in which he has appeared include ‘Dead Again,’ ‘To Die For,’ and ‘Space Jam.’ He appeared in key supporting parts on two television programs in the 1990s. His portrayal of mailman Newman in the television series “Seinfeld” is widely regarded as his best to date.
Along with Ben Affleck, he starred in the TV series ‘Against the Grain.’ He also appeared on two sketch comedy series, ‘The Edge’ and ‘Assaulted Nuts,’ as a regular. ‘Gemini,’ ‘Mastergate,’ ‘Art,’ and ‘Sweet Charity’ were among his Broadway credits. He has also contributed his voice for various animations in addition to acting. Among them are the black cat Mister Blik from the Nickelodeon cartoon ‘Catscratch,’ Igor from ‘Toonsylvania,’ the dragon Dojo Kanojo Cho from the animated series ‘Xiaolin Showdown,’ Evil Emperor Zurg from ‘Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,’ Toy manager of Al’s Toy Barn from ‘Toy Story 2,’ and many others.
Wayne Knight made a cameo in the pilot episode of ‘Thank God You’re Here’ in the United States. In the final episode of the first season, he returned to the same show for a second appearance. ‘Thank God You’re Here’ earned him the blue door award. He also appeared in ‘Punisher: War Zone,’ where he played Microchip, the Punisher’s cybernetic sidekick. He appeared as Max the Cat in episodes of ‘The Penguins of Madagascar’ called ‘Launchtime’ and ‘Cat’s Cradle.’ In 2009, he returned to the comedy ‘Seinfeld,’ where he resumed his role as Newman for the seventh season. He’s also appeared on ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ as a guest star.
He starred in Fox TV’s blockbuster drama series ‘Bones’ in 2010. He also appeared on ‘The Whole Truth’ and in the first season of the comedy series ‘Hot in Cleveland.’ In the 2011 sitcom ‘The Exes,’ he played the character of an internet-obsessed male. He also played Brian Friedkin in the BBC/Starz series ‘Torchwood: Miracle Day.’ In 2012, he played Santa in the musical ‘Elf: The Musical.’ In the same year, he starred alongside Josh Gad, Kristen Ruhlin, and Hillary Duff in the romantic comedy ‘She Wants Me.’ Charlie Sheen produced the film, which was directed by Rob Margolies. He and his ‘Seinfeld’ co-stars Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander participated in a Super Bowl ad in 2014.
Major Projects of Wayne
Wayne Knight has appeared in number of movies and TV series. But it is his performance in the popular TV show ‘Seinfeld’ that is remembered the most. He played Newman on ‘Seinfeld,’ in which he appeared in 48 episodes. For the series, he was nominated for a Q Award. Knight’s ‘Jurassic Park’ was another memorable film. He was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Dennis Nedry.
Personal History and Legacy
Wayne Knight was married to Paula Sutor, a make-up artist. On May 26, 1996, the pair married. Michael Richard, a fellow ‘Seinfeld’ cast member, hosted their wedding ceremony. In 2003, the couple divorced. Clare de Chenu, his second wife, and he married again on October 15, 2006. The pair has a child together. He was a lifelong Democrat who backed then-President Barack Obama. He also attended the Democratic National Convention in 2012, where he campaigned for President Barack Obama’s re-election.
Estimated Net Worth
Wayne Knight is an actor from the United States with a net worth of $10 million. Knight is most recognized for his role as Newman in the hit television show “Seinfeld,” but he has also worked on a number of other projects.
Trivia
Wayne Knight’s theatrical professor once told him that he’d never make it as an actor. He worked as a private detective in his early years. He enjoys outdoors and wants to go skydiving. Jennifer Aniston is one of his favorite actresses.