David McKnight (1936–2023), actor in J.D.’s Revenge, Under Siege
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2 min readDavid McKnight was an actor who starred in the 1976 blaxploitation horror film “J.D.’s Revenge,” along with appearances in dozens of other movies and TV shows, including “Under Siege,” “Superhero Movie,” and others.
- Died: December 3, 2023 (Who else died on December 3?)
- Details of death: Died in Las Vegas of cancer at the age of 87.
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David McKnight’s legacy
McKnight’s career as a character actor spanned decades. Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, he and his family moved to Chicago when he was four years old. He fell in love with acting while attending Wendell Phillips Academy High School and pursued the craft professionally after attending Wilson Junior College, serving a stint in the U.S. Army, and working as a police officer.
In 1970, McKnight starred in “Bird of the Iron Feather,” the first all-Black TV soap opera, which ran in Chicago. In 1976, he made the jump to the big screen when he played the titular role in “J.D.’s Revenge,” a blaxploitation horror movie set in New Orleans. That same year, he appeared alongside Sam Elliott in “Lifeguard,” and two years later he was in the Michael Crichton film “Coma.”
Dozens of other roles followed for McKnight. He had parts in the Stephen Seagal action movie “Under Siege,” the 1990 counterculture drama “Pump Up the Volume,” the 2008 parody film “Superhero Movie,” and the 1987 comedy “Hollywood Shuffle.” He also appeared in such TV shows as “Hill Street Blues,” “Boston Legal,” “ER,” “Webster,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Moonlighting,” “L.A. Law,” and many others.
Tributes to David McKnight
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
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