{{short description|British actor (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Elliot Knight | image = Knight in 2025.jpg | caption = Knight in 2025 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|07|10}} | birth_place = Birmingham, West Midlands, UK | alma_mater = Manchester Metropolitan University | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2011–present }} '''Elliot Knight''' (born July 10, 1990) is an English actor. He made his acting debut as the title character on the Sky1 action-adventure series ''Sinbad'' (2012). Continuing to work on television, Knight appeared as a series regular on the BBC One crime drama ''By Any Means'' (2013), the CBS mystery ''American Gothic'', and The CW comedy-drama ''Life Sentence'' (2018), in addition to portraying Merlin on the ABC fantasy ''Once Upon a Time'' (2015) and Don Hall / Dove on the DC Universe / HBO Max superhero drama ''Titans'' (2018; 2021). On film, he appeared in the science fiction horror ''Color Out of Space'' (2020). Knight also portrayed Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick in the first-person shooters' ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare'' (2019), ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II'' (2022). and ''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III'' (2023). Knight also (as of July 3 of 2023) hosts the Open Up podcast about "Real conversations with diverse artists opening up about their experiences behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry".<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CfSI44MlNbZ/ the open up podcast on instagram] [@theopenuppod] "video of a section of the podcast alongside photo of the podcast' template" hosted by Elliot Knight 26 june 2022</ref>
==Early life and education== Knight was born in Birmingham, United Kingdom to Stuart and Lorna Knight, who were both teachers.<ref name=sm120708>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2012/07/08/brummie-actor-elliot-knight-sets-sail-for-fame-as-sinbad-66331-31347270 |title=Brummie actor Elliot Knight sets sail for fame as Sinbad |author=Roz Loz |work=Sunday Mercury |date=8 July 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 }}</ref> His father worked at Broadway Secondary School in Perry Barr, Birmingham. He was a pupil at King Edward VI Aston School and studied subsequently at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre,<ref name=mmu120709>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/1604 |title=Elliot's ''Sinbad'' breaks hearts and records |publisher=Manchester School of Theatre |date=9 July 2012 |access-date=10 July 2012 |archive-date=24 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224192018/http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/1604/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2011.<ref name=ds110617>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a325289/sinbad-cast-unveiled-by-sky1.html |title=''Sinbad'' cast unveiled by Sky1 |author=Catriona Wightman |work=Digital Spy |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk/profile/elliot-knight/ |title=Elliot Knight |publisher=Manchester School of Theatre }}</ref>
==Career== In June 2011, Sky1 announced that Knight had won the lead role in the television drama ''Sinbad'' which was his first professional role.<ref name=ds110617/> The series premiered in July 2012. In 2013, Knight joined the cast of BBC crime drama ''By Any Means''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-04-26/warren-brown-gina-mckee-elliot-knight-to-star-in-bbc1-drama-by-any-means |title=Warren Brown, Gina McKee, Elliot Knight to star in BBC1 drama ''By Any Means'' |work=Radio Times |date=26 April 2013 }}</ref> In 2015, Knight was cast to play Merlin in the fifth season of ''Once Upon a Time''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Patrick Hipes |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/once-upon-a-time-castings-camelot-elliot-knight-joana-metrass-1201473299 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711064705/http://deadline.com/2015/07/once-upon-a-time-castings-camelot-elliot-knight-joana-metrass-1201473299/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2015 |title=''Once Upon A Time'' Castings: Camelot Finds Its Merlin & Guinevere |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=10 July 2015 |access-date=26 June 2016 }}</ref>
In March 2017, Knight was cast as Wes Charles in The CW series ''Life Sentence''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Denise |last=Petski |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/elliot-knight-cast-the-cw-life-sentence-justin-chon-abc-deception-pilot-1202032890/ |title=Elliot Knight Joins The CW's ''Life Sentence'' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> The series was picked up in May for a midseason premiere some time in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first=Denise |last=Petski |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/black-lightning-life-sentence-series-the-cw-1202089253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511194156/http://deadline.com/2017/05/black-lightning-life-sentence-series-the-cw-1202089253/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 May 2017 |title=''Black Lightning'' & Lucy Hale's ''Life Sentence'' Picked Up To Series By The CW |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Denise |last=Petski |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/the-cw-schedule-primetime-fall-2107-2018-arrow-supergirl-jane-the-virgin-riverdale-dynasty-valor-black-lightning-1202096551 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518132234/http://deadline.com/2017/05/the-cw-schedule-primetime-fall-2107-2018-arrow-supergirl-jane-the-virgin-riverdale-dynasty-valor-black-lightning-1202096551/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2017 |title=The CW Fall 2017 Schedule: ''Arrow'' Moves To Thursday, ''Jane the Virgin'' To Friday |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017 }}</ref>
In 2020, Knight starred opposite Nicolas Cage and Joely Richardson in the sci-fi cosmic horror film ''Color Out of Space'', directed by Richard Stanley.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shockya.com/news/2020/01/23/interview-elliot-knight-color-out-of-space-exclusive/ |title=Interview: Elliot Knight Talks Color Out of Space |last=Benardello |first=Karen |work=Shockya! |date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2020 }}</ref>
In 2021, Knight was cast as Officer Chadwick in season 5 of the TNT crime drama ''Animal Kingdom''.<ref>{{IMDb episode |id=10693728 |episode=''Animal Kingdom'' episode "Red Handed" }}</ref> In 2024, Knight appeared in the 4th season of ''The Boys'' on Amazon Prime Video as Colin, Frenchie's love interest.
In 2024, Knight guest-starred as Davide in the HBO comedy series "Hacks."
In 2025, Knight played a lead role in ''Countdown'' on Amazon Prime Video.
==Personal life== Elliot Knight is openly queer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B4GWIGEFXb7/?hl=en |title=Elliot Knight on Instagram: "Last night at @glsen LA was amazing. Hearing the strength and clarity of the voices of 2019 queer youth is SO INSPIRING. Bring the change that you know is right and believe in, you are right and you have ALL the power. Lead the world forward! I've been so fortunate to work with incredible queer voices in this industry and to be one myself, one thing is very clear & important to me: We are better & stronger together — all seen, all heard and all included! #GLSEN" }}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Film and television roles |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2012 | ''Sinbad'' | Sinbad | Lead role, 12 episodes |- | 2013 | ''Law & Order: UK'' | Neil Jenkins | 1 episode |- | 2013 | ''By Any Means'' | Charlie O' Brien | Main role, 6 episodes |- | 2014 | ''How to Get Away with Murder'' | Aiden Walker | 2 episodes |- | 2015 | ''Once Upon a Time'' | Merlin | Recurring role, 6 episodes |- | 2016 | ''American Gothic'' | Brady Ross | Main role |- | 2016 | ''Billionaire Ransom'' | Marsac | Film |- | 2016 | ''No Tomorrow'' | Graham | 1 episode |- | 2017 | ''400 Boys'' | B-Big | |- | 2018 | ''Life Sentence'' | Wes Charles | Main role; 13 episodes |- | 2018 | ''Titans'' | Don Hall / Dove | 2 episodes |- | 2019 | ''Color Out of Space'' | Ward Phillips | |- | 2021 | ''Animal Kingdom'' | Officer Chadwick | 6 episodes |- | 2023 | ''Your Lucky Day'' | Abraham | |- | 2024 | ''The Boys'' | Colin Hauser | Recurring role, 4 episodes |- | 2024 | ''Hacks'' | Davide | 1 episode |- | 2025 | ''Countdown'' | Keyonte Bell | Main role |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Video games |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2019 |''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare'' | rowspan="3" |Kyle "Gaz" Garrick | rowspan="2" |Playable Character. Voice and motion capture performance <ref>{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/itselliotknight/status/1134319123217784832| title = Twitter}}{{dead url |date=July 2025 }}</ref> |- |2022 |''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II'' |- |2023 |''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III'' |Voice and motion capture performance |- |2026 |''Marathon'' |Triage |Voice |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name}} * [http://www.paynemanagement.co.uk/#!artists Elliot Knight] at Payne Management
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Elliot}} Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the Manchester School of Theatre Category:Black British male actors Category:English LGBTQ actors Category:English male television actors Category:English people of Nigerian descent Category:Black British LGBTQ people Category:Male actors from the West Midlands (county) Category:Actors from West Bromwich Category:Queer male actors Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:British queer actors