Before there was McDreamy or McSteamy, there was George O’Malley, Grey’s Anatomy’s sweet, awkward intern who soaked up every emotion like a sponge. T.R. Knight made him lovable, especially to queer viewers who saw strength in his softness.
Then came the drama: the on-set homophobia scandal, the media frenzy, and George’s iconic, bus-saving, tearjerking goodbye.
Knight came out in 2006, telling People, “I hope the fact that I’m gay isn’t the most interesting part of me.”
And it’s not.
Outside of the Grey’s universe, Knight has stacked up complex, powerful roles on stage and screen. So, on his birthday (March 26, jot it down), here are five must-watch performances that prove George was just the beginning.
HBO Max
In this sleek, chaotic thriller-comedy, Knight plays Davey, the slightly estranged but deeply empathetic brother of Kaley Cuoco’s hot-mess flight attendant. While Cuoco gets most of the big moments, Knight shines in his own right, grounding the series with emotional sincerity. He’s the kind of gay older brother we all deserve—protective, exhausted, and constantly cleaning up someone else’s mess.
National Geographic
Yes, that J. Edgar Hoover. Knight took a villainous turn in this dramatized anthology series, undergoing a massive transformation to play the infamous FBI director during the Einstein-focused season of Genius. He returned for the series in Picasso, where he played one of Picasso’s first friends, Max Jacob. The diversity in each of these roles is a far cry from George O’Malley, but it also proves the versatility he brings to any role he touches.
CBS
Appearing in Season 4 of The Good Wife, Knight plays a political operative whose smooth-talking charisma masks some deeply calculating energy. The role may be brief, but he makes it memorable, especially with the show’s signature fast-paced dialogue. Honestly, watching him hold his own alongside Julianna Margulies and Alan Cumming? Incredible.
Hulu
In this time-traveling thriller adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Knight plays Johnny Clayton, a domestic abuser with a dark and violent edge. It’s one of his most intense roles to date, and he absolutely nails the menace. It’s a bit jarring to watch someone so beloved play someone so awful, but as with Genius, it just proves he’s got some major acting chops.
Warner Bros.
In this powerful biopic about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, Knight plays Harold Parrott, a Brooklyn Dodgers PR executive trying to manage the media chaos as Robinson breaks the color barrier. While it's a supporting role, Knight adds a layer of sharp, mid-century cynicism to the otherwise heartfelt story.
T.R. Knight might be best known as the lovable intern who broke our hearts (and our tear ducts), but he’s far more than a tragic TV exit or a footnote in Emmy-era controversy. Whether he’s taking on dark roles, supporting queerer-than-ever storylines, or hitting the stage, Knight remains a lowkey-powerhouse who deserves a whole lot more fanfare.
So happy birthday, T.R.!
