William Daniels

Daniels began his career as a member of the singing Daniels family in Brooklyn. He made his television debut as part of a variety act (along with other members of his family) in 1943, on NBC, then a single station in New York.<ref name="The Toronto Star 1982">[[Associated Press]] wire service story published in the Toronto Star, November 19, 1982, Page D1</ref> He made his Broadway debut in 1943 in ''[[Life with Father]]'',<ref name="official website">{{cite web|title=Official Site for Actor William Daniels|url=http://www.williamdanielstheactor.com|website=www.williamdanielstheactor.com|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> and remained a busy Broadway actor for decades afterwards. His Broadway credits include roles in ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'', ''[[A Thousand Clowns]]'', ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'', and ''[[A Little Night Music]]''. He received an [[Obie Award]] for ''[[The Zoo Story]]'' (1960).

Daniels began his career as a member of the singing Daniels family in Brooklyn. He made his television debut as part of a variety act (along with other members of his family) in 1943, on NBC, then a single station in New York.<ref name="The Toronto Star 1982">[[Associated Press]] wire service story published in the Toronto Star, November 19, 1982, Page D1</ref> He made his Broadway debut in 1943 in ''[[Life with Father]]'',<ref name="official website">{{cite web|title=Official Site for Actor William Daniels|url=http://www.williamdanielstheactor.com|website=www.williamdanielstheactor.com|access-date=April 1, 2017}}</ref> and remained a busy Broadway actor for decades afterwards. His Broadway credits include roles in ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]'', ''[[A Thousand Clowns]]'', ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'', and ''[[A Little Night Music]]''. He received an [[Obie Award]] for ''[[The Zoo Story]]'' (1960).

Daniels's motion picture debut was as a school principal in the 1963 anti-war drama film ''[[Ladybug Ladybug (film)|Ladybug Ladybug]]''. In 1965, he reprised his Broadway role as a child welfare worker in the screen version of ''[[A Thousand Clowns]]''. In 1967 he appeared in ''[[The Graduate]]'' as the father of [[Dustin Hoffman]]'s character. In 1969, Daniels starred as [[John Adams]] in the Broadway musical ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]''; he also appeared in the [[1776 (film)|film version]] in 1972. Two years later, he co-starred in [[Richard Donner]]'s telefilm ''[[Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whysoblu.com/sarah-t-portrait-teenage-alcoholic-blu-ray-review/|title=Sarah T. – Portrait Of A Teenage Alcoholic (Blu-ray Review)|date=January 19, 2019|website=Why So Blu?|language=en-US|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> in 1979 he again reprised his role as the outspoken John Adams in the film ''Rebels'', again about the American revolution, without seeming to ever break character. He is known as the quintessential John Adams.

Daniels's motion picture debut was as a school principal in the 1963 anti-war drama film ''[[Ladybug Ladybug (film)|Ladybug Ladybug]]''. In 1965, he reprised his Broadway role as a child welfare worker in the screen version of ''[[A Thousand Clowns]]''. In 1967 he appeared in ''[[The Graduate]]'' as the father of [[Dustin Hoffman]]'s character. In 1969, Daniels starred as [[John Adams]] in the Broadway musical ''[[1776 (musical)|1776]]''; he also appeared in the [[1776 (film)|film version]] in 1972. Two years later, he co-starred in [[Richard Donner]]'s telefilm ''[[Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whysoblu.com/sarah-t-portrait-teenage-alcoholic-blu-ray-review/|title=Sarah T. – Portrait Of A Teenage Alcoholic (Blu-ray Review)|date=January 19, 2019|website=Why So Blu?|language=en-US|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> in 1979 he again reprised his role as the outspoken John Adams in the films ''The Bastard'' and ''The Rebels'', again about the American revolution, without seeming to ever break character. He is known as the quintessential John Adams.

Daniels's first network television appearance came in 1952 when he portrayed the young [[John Quincy Adams]], eldest son of John and Abigail Adams in the ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]'' drama ''A Woman for the Ages.'' In 1976, he reprised the role as the middle-aged and elder John Quincy Adams in the acclaimed [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] miniseries ''[[The Adams Chronicles]]''. He starred in the short-lived series ''[[Captain Nice]]'' as police chemist Carter Nash. He appeared as acid-tongued Dr. Mark Craig in ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' from 1982 to 1988, for which he won two Emmy awards. Concurrently, he provided the voice of [[KITT]] in ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' from 1982 to 1986. Daniels said in 1982, "My duties on ''Knight Rider'' are very simple. I do it in about an hour and a half. I've never met the cast. I haven't even met the producer."<ref name="The Toronto Star 1982"/>

Daniels's first network television appearance came in 1952 when he portrayed the young [[John Quincy Adams]], eldest son of John and Abigail Adams in the ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]'' drama ''A Woman for the Ages.'' In 1976, he reprised the role as the middle-aged and elder John Quincy Adams in the acclaimed [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] miniseries ''[[The Adams Chronicles]]''. He starred in the short-lived series ''[[Captain Nice]]'' as police'' chemist Carter Nash. He appeared as acid-tongued Dr. Mark Craig in ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' from 1982 to 1988, for which he won two Emmy awards. Concurrently, he provided the voice of [[KITT]] in ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' from 1982 to 1986. Daniels said in 1982, "My duties on ''Knight Rider'' are very simple. I do it in about an hour and a half. I've never met the cast. I haven't even met the producer."<ref name="The Toronto Star 1982"/>

Daniels reprised the voice-only role of KITT in 1991 for the television movie ''[[Knight Rider 2000]]'', and again in the theatrical comedy movie ''[[The Benchwarmers]]''. He performed the role in [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]] and [[General Electric|GE]] commercials about talking machines, and twice in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' as well as at the [[Comedy Central Roast]] of his co-star David Hasselhoff.<ref>{{cite web|title=William Daniels profile|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200122|publisher=IMDb|access-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> He reprised the role of KITT in the 2015 Lego-themed action-adventure video game ''[[Lego Dimensions]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Daniels reprised the voice-only role of KITT in 1991 for the television movie ''[[Knight Rider 2000]]'', and again in the theatrical comedy movie ''[[The Benchwarmers]]''. He performed the role in [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]] and [[General Electric|GE]] commercials about talking machines, and twice in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' as well as at the [[Comedy Central Roast]] of his co-star David Hasselhoff.<ref>{{cite web|title=William Daniels profile|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200122|publisher=IMDb|access-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> He reprised the role of KITT in the 2015 Lego-themed action-adventure video game ''[[Lego Dimensions]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}