With his distinct voice and excellent comedic skills, Wayne Knight is an unforgettable and beloved character actor. He has had a variety of notable roles in various screen hits, ranging from villains in blockbuster movies and iconic sitcoms to numerous voice-acting parts in animation.
Because of his character acting skills, Knight has been able to play all sorts of characters, usually in comedy and animation, whether they're one-off parts or recurring roles. But that hasn't limited him to other genres. In fact, some of his top-ranking credits on IMDb have been in non-comedic films such as a political thriller, crime drama, and what is perhaps the greatest dinosaur movie of all time.
Blindspotting (2018) - 7.4
Available to stream on Roku or rent on Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime Video.
Blindspotting is one of Knight's more recent credits and seems to have already made an impact based on its IMDb score. In fact, it resulted in a spin-off television series and is not only one of Knight's best IMDb credits but it's also considered one of the best hip-hop movies on IMDb.
A deep and thought-provoking comedy-drama, Blindspotting focuses on a convicted felon named Collin who reevaluates his life and his relationships during the last few days of his probation. Knight plays the role of Patrick, a photographer of properties in Oakland that are long gone and have had non-existent trees superimposed into them.
Kung Fu Panda (2008) - 7.6
Available to stream on Netflix.
Knight is rather well-known in the world of voice-acting in animation. He has played a number of animated characters from prominent and recurring roles to bit parts. But because of his recognizable voice and talent, Knight even makes his smaller roles stand out.
One such example is a small part of DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda. The movie starts with Po's dream sequence of being a kung-fu warrior where he easily defeats a number of bad guys. Knight voices the leader of the gang that approaches Po in his dream. While a minor character, fans of the movie can still fondly remember his line, "I see you like to chew. Maybe you should chew... ON MY FIST!"
Toy Story 2 (1999) - 7.9
Available to stream on Disney+.
Toy Story 2 is the second movie in the now beloved quadrilogy and it introduced new beloved characters to the franchise. This includes Jessie, Bullseye, and Stinky Pete, all of whom meet Woody when he is stolen by a greedy toy collector and toy-store owner.
That toy collector in question is Al, whom Knight provides the voice for. Although the secondary villain and abhorrent in nature, Knight makes the role just as hilarious as the other characters in the movie. It is also worth noting that this isn't Knight's only appearance in the Toy Story franchise; he provides the voice of Evil Emperor Zurg in the animated spin-off series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
JFK (1991) - 8.0
Available to rent on Apple iTunes or Amazon Prime Video.
A critically acclaimed movie that has recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary is the political thriller JFK. The movie focuses on the lead-up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through the perspective of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison, who was portrayed by Kevin Costner.
Garrison's assistant during the investigation, Numa Bertel, was a consultant for the movie as well as being made into a character in JFK. He was portrayed by Knight, and although a supporting role, it greatly proves Knight's acting skills beyond comedic roles.
Jurassic Park (1993) - 8.1
Available to stream on HBO Max.
There is little question that Knight's most renowned movie acting credit is in the critically acclaimed blockbuster hit Jurassic Park. Knight plays Dennis Nedry, a computer programmer working at the park who is bribed to steal dinosaur embryos. The plan goes well until a storm hits the park and results in one of the grizzliest deaths in the Jurassic Park franchise.
Even acting alongside big names like Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L Jackson, and Laura Dern, Knight remains a stand-out character right up until his unfortunate end. Nedry's "Nobody cares" moment has become an Internet meme and "You didn't say the magic word!" is still one of the most well-remembered quotes from the franchise.
Square One Television (1987-199) - 8.2
Not available to stream.
A lesser-known television show in Knight's credits is Square One Television. Produced by what is now known as Sesame Workshop (the producers of Sesame Street), it was a children's show from the late 1980s that taught mathematics using comedy character sketches and game shows.
Knight appeared in three episodes, playing Peter Pickwick as part of the "Mathnet" segment, which focused on the adventures of police mathematicians. Other well-known stars to appear in this segment included Weird Al Yankovic, fellow Seinfeld star Estelle Harris, and Jonathan Freeman (most known as the voice of Jafar from Aladdin.)
Regular Show (2009-2017) - 8.5
Available to stream on Hulu and HBO Max.
One of the more surreal cartoons to appear on Cartoon Network is Regular Show, which is anything but regular. The series focused on the misadventures of roommates Mordecai the blue jay and Rigby the raccoon, which often boil down to a simple problem that escalates into something extremely bizarre and supernatural.
The show demonstrated Knight's voice acting versatility as he played not one but two characters. In "Meteor Moves," he voices the Guardian of the Friend Zone, a living asteroid who convinces Mordecai to kiss Margaret. And in "Silver Dude," he portrays the God of Street Performing to resolve a dispute between the two protagonists and the eponymous Silver Dude.
Harley Quinn (2019-present) - 8.5
Available to stream on HBO Max.
DC's animated series Harley Quinn proved to be an instant hit with fans due to its humor and characterization of beloved DC characters. It focuses on the adventures of former henchwoman Harley as she embarks to be a solo villain after her breakup with the Joker.
The show featured a number of Batman's villains throughout the series and Knight voiced the Penguin, one of Batman's oldest foes. Despite the prominence of his role, the Penguin appeared in only two episodes and was brutally slaughtered at the hands of Harley. The screentime he did have was entertaining, one reason being Knight's excellent voice acting. In fact, Knight is one reason why the Penguin deserved more screen time in Harley Quinn.
Narcos (2015-2017) - 8.8
Available to stream on Netflix.
Knight once again demonstrates his versatility with a small supporting role in the crime drama Narcos. The Netflix original series focuses on the Cali cartel and the fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Its fourth season ultimately redeveloped as the first season of Narcos: Mexico.
In the third and final season, Knight plays the role of Alan Starkman, a sleazy lawyer acting as a US representative of the notorious Cali cartel. He acted as the cartel's money launderer Franklin Jurado's lawyer after his arrest, advising him to refuse to collaborate with the DEA unless he could speak to his wife Christina.
Seinfeld (1989-1998) - 8.8
Available to stream on Netflix.
A list of Knight's greatest roles wouldn't be complete without Newman, the disgruntled mail worker, and the arch-nemesis of Jerry in the legendary sitcom Seinfeld. Being Jerry's rival is just one of the reasons why Newman is not only the most recurring supporting character in Seinfeld but one of the most beloved.
Knight's performance as the dastardly Newman provides for a number of hilarious and iconic moments and antics in the show, ranging from failed get-rich-quick schemes with Kramer to his vocal disgust about broccoli. And let's not forget the memorable line: "Hello, Newman."