Jack Knight (actor)
Jack Knight | |
|---|---|
 Knight in 1980 | |
| Born | John Francis Knight III February 26, 1938 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 29, 2025 (aged 87) |
| Occupations | Film, stage and television actor |
Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Bonnie Knight |
John Francis Knight III (February 26, 1938 – June 29, 2025) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was best known for playing the recurring role of Jack in the first season of the American sitcom television series Cheers.
Early life and career
Knight was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He played college decathlon at the University of Massachusetts, and earned his BA degree in speech in 1960. He also played softball in New York. He began his screen career in 1967, appearing in the ABC crime drama television series N.Y.P.D. In 1968, he appeared in the film Rosemary's Baby.
Later in his career, in 1973, Knight starred as Bummy Pfitzer in the NBC sitcom television series Lotsa Luck, starring along with Dom DeLuise, Kathleen Freeman, Wynn Irwin and Beverly Sanders. After the series ended in 1974, he guest-starred in television programs including James at 16, B. J. and the Bear (and its spin-off The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo), Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23, The Jeffersons, Emergency!, The Jeffersons, Charlie's Angels and The Rockford Files, and played the recurring role of Jack in the first season of the NBC sitcom television series Cheers. He also appeared in films such as L.A. Confidential, Wicked, Wicked, Catch Me If You Can and The Long Goodbye. During his screen career, he performed on stage, and he played Ted Kennedy in the stage play Chappaquiddick.
Knight retired from acting in 2016, last appearing in the film Get a Job.
Personal life and death
Knight was married to Bonnie. According to The Record, he was an Irish Catholic, and a member of the Democratic Party.
Knight died on June 29, 2025, at the age of 87.
References
- ↑ "Kennedy Refuses To Talk To 'Chappaquiddick' Film Star". The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. December 13, 1979. p. 40. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Chappaquiddick Flicks Doesn't Thrill Kennedy". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. February 4, 1980. p. 24. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Actor Jack Knight Top Softball Player". Kittanning Leader Times. March 16, 1974. p. 17. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via NewspaperArchive.
- 1 2 "Now Jack's A Bachelor Only On TV". The Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. December 19, 1973. p. 45. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Jack Knight List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved November 1, 2026.
- ↑ Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 217. ISBN 9781476605159 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Jack Knight joins cast of 'James at 16'". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Texas. February 3, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gross, Edward; Van Hise, James (1992). Cheers: Where Everybody Knows Your Name. p. 59. ISBN 9781556982910 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Beer, pizza give way to theatre, piano, athletics for Jack Knight". The Austin Daily Herald. Austin, Minnesota. January 18, 1974. p. 12. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "How a bit-part actor ruin Kennedy's hopes for the White House". Daily Record. Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland. November 30, 1979. p. 168. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Kennedy incident is film topic". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. December 12, 1979. p. 47. Retrieved November 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "In Memoriam, Fall/Winter 2025". SAG-AFTRA. p. 135. Retrieved November 1, 2026.