Wayne Knight

Wayne Knight (also credited as Wayne Eliot Knight; Arabic: وین نایت) is an American screen actor born on August 7, 1955, in New York City. A gifted character performer with sharp comedic timing, he has built a career playing memorable scene-stealers across film, television, and animation.

On TV, Knight became a pop-culture fixture as Newman on Seinfeld (1992–1998), later adding another fan-favorite role as Officer Don Orville on 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001). His voice work has been equally prominent, including characters such as Igor on Toonsylvania, Mr. Blik on Catscratch, and Baron Von Sheldgoose on Legend of the Three Caballeros.

In cinema, Knight is widely recognized for playing Dennis Nedry in Jurassic Park (1993), a performance that earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His filmography spans thrillers, dramas, and family hits, with notable turns in Basic Instinct (as John Correli), JFK (as Numa Bertel), To Die For (as Ed Grant), Dirty Dancing (as Stan), and Space Jam (as Stan Podolak).

He has also lent his voice to beloved animated features, including Tarzan (as Tantor) and Toy Story 2 (as Al McWhiggin), plus roles like Microwave in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars. Across decades, Knight’s versatility has made him a reliable presence in both live-action and voice acting.