T.R. Knight

Though known to television audiences as the sweet and endearing Dr. George O'Malley on the hit drama "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ), T.R. Knight was anything but shy and soft-spoken actor off screen. With a background primarily in theater, Knight honed his craft on the Minneapolis stage and went on to appear on Broadway in productions of "Noises Off" and "Tartuffe." Landing a starring role on "Grey's" the relative newcomer's innate talent and acting ability shone through as the series went on to become a favorite with television viewers. Knight received some unexpected press during the show's highly-rated third season, when he was inadvertently outed by a fellow cast member in the heat of an argument, resulting in the actor releasing a formal statement confirming he was a gay man. Much to the relief of all who loved Knight and the show itself, the announcement seemed not to have a detrimental effect on his popularity and would perhaps help open the door for more actors to feel comfortable coming out in the future. But the good feelings soon wore off, as Knight asked to be released from his contract and was killed off the show following season five. He returned to the stage with performances in "Parade" and David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre," before returning to the small screen with memorable guest starring roles. No matter what the medium, Knight remained a busy actor who continued to serve as an inspiration to all.