Ted Knight

Although they played characters that were disagreeable to each other on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ted Knight and Gavin MacLeod were actually very good friends since the 1950's and even had the same agent in the past.

In 1986, the year of Ted Knight's death, a couple of Australian fans of Caddyshack, Ted's most famous movie role began the "Ted Knight Memorial Golf Tournament". 2007 will see the 22nd tournament.

Joyce Bulifant who played Marie Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show lived across the street from Ted Knight and they often played tennis together.

Needing work and desperate to secure the Ted Baxter role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show Ted went out and bought a blue sport coat and worked out the voice before his audition.

On his American Bandstand appearance on Saturday October 4, 1975 (ep. 2197, season 19), Ted sang a song from his album, "Hi Guys!" called, "I'm In Love With Barbara Walters."

Three years into The Mary Tyler Moore Show, he threatened to quit because he feared his Ted Baxter role being seen as a one-dimensional, superficial moron. The producers created his girlfriend, Georgette, to give him depth and humanize him.

Ted studied acting at the Randall School of Dramatic Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. After moving to New York he studied at the American Theater Wing.

Ted was the Grand Marshall for the bicentennial parade celebration on July 4th, 1976 in his hometown of Terryville, Connecticut.

In 1999, his Ted Baxter character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, was ranked 29th on TV Guide's List of the 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time.

Other early characters Ted performed while at WTEN Channel 10, were: Officer Ted -who would teach kids safety Windy Knight -an old west prospector that would introduce western movies

Ted's early career started at WTEN Albany, NY an ABC affiliate. He had a kid's show called Ted Knight and his Clubhouse Gang. It featured puppets, which Ted would work using his talent as a ventriloquist.

Golden Globes -2 nominations (1973 & 1976) Best supporting actor Television (Mary Tyler Moore Show) Emmy Awards -6 nominations (1972-1977) -2 wins (1973 & 1976) Best supporting actor in a comedy (Mary Tyler Moore Show)

His grave marker reads: Dearly loved by his wife Dorthy His children Ted, Elyse and Eric His sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews His admiring peers and His millions of adoring fans Bye Guy The last words are a play on his Ted Baxter character's catchphrase: Hi Guy!

The location of his grave is Ascension Garden, Lot 9127 Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County California

Ted Knight received five Bronze Stars during his service in World War 2.

Ted's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6673 Hollywood Blvd.

In September of 1986 the Canal Street bridge in Plymouth, Connecticut was renamed in a dedication ceremony to the Ted Knight Memorial Bridge. The bridge traverses the Pequabuck River and is near the neighbourhood where Ted Knight and his cousins played.

In 1975 Ted released an record album entitled, "Hi Guys". Released through "Ranwood Records Inc." It featured Ted singing covers of: "Blueberry Hill", "Who Put the Bomp", and even "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." The titular song "Hi Guys" stems from his "Mary Tyler Moore" character Ted Baxter's catchphrase he would sometimes utter when entering a room on the show.