T. R. Knight
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What a difference a year makes: T.R. Knight says his life has been better since he publicly came out of the closet amid on-set controversy last October.

"I feel I've learned so much this past year, so, I'm grateful for that, so yeah, that changes you," he said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday.

Asked what he thinks about actors who do not come out of the closet, T.R. Knight said, "Everyone has their own path. You have to respect that... I don't think it's right to force it. It's impossible to know. There's a lot of soul searching you have to do."

Knight, who plays Dr. George O'Malley on the hit ABC drama, which returns with its fourth season premiere, "A Change is Gonna Come" tonight, got a nomination for a best supporting actor Emmy for his work in Season 3.

Just as importantly, though, he received a special birthday gift.

Co-star Katherine Heigl - who is also a close friend off-camera - surprised Knight with a puppy, which he named Arrow, on his 34th birthday.

"I had been talking about [getting a dog] for quite a while. I guess there's a point ... too much talk and not enough action," Knight said. "So Katherine made the decision. It was great, yeah. She showed up at my house with it."

Although he is happier with himself since he made his announcement, T.R. Knight says that coming out hasn't much affected his love life.

"Recently Kate [Heigl] and her fiancé, Josh Kelley, and me and her mom went out to dinner, and it was reported that it was with me and my new boyfriend. But that was her mom," Knight joked. "So I guess I'm dating Katherine's mom now."

In this public service announcement for GLAAD, Grey's Anatomy stars T.R. Knight and Sara Ramirez, along with former star Kate Walsh and some other familiar faces from ABC shows, deliver a powerful message about tolerance. Check it out:

Less than an hour after the Los Angeles Times e-mailed an interview request to an actor's manager, the telephone rang.

It wasn't a publicist demanding to know the parameters of the interview, where the story would be placed or how big the photos would be. It was the actor himself, and in his unassuming way, he agreed to meet with a reporter.

This is not how it usually goes in Hollywood, but T.R. Knight doesn't seem interested in most things Hollywood. Before Grey's Anatomy transformed his life, he was a Minnesotan who passed up college to become a N.Y. City theater actor.

But then he signed on to what has become a TV phenomenon, and T.R. Knight's personal and professional life took some twists and turns he could have never foreseen when he was toiling in "Noises Off" or "Tartuffe" on Broadway.

How could a struggling actor ever figure on landing a leading gig on one of TV's biggest shows only to be impelled to come out as a gay man when tabloid coverage of an on-set fight made his sexuality an unexpected target?

In person, T.R. Knight, 34, is polite and is a slow and cautious speaker who becomes a lot more animated when he is not talking about himself.

His decision to forgo the publicity machine followed a remarkable season for Grey's Anatomy, which undoubtedly will go down as one of the most important, if not most difficult, years in his life.

"You know, when you get [to L.A.], people say you should do this, and this is what you have to do," Knight said. "And I just think that sometimes it takes a little bit for you to figure it out yourself and see where your comfort is. This is just a more low-key approach. It's not like you've got hundreds of people a day trying to get at you. That's someone else. That's not me. Flying under the radar is preferable many times. I like this for now. I do."

The very popular Grey's Anatomy won the Golden Globe Award for best drama in January and has been nominated for five of the top Emmy categories, including best drama and best supporting actor for Knight.

He has received the honor for his turn as the lovable, bumbling underdog George O'Malley, who must start over as an intern in Season Four after failing his exam.

But instead of reveling in the sweet times, the Grey's Anatomy cast had its third season marred by the ugly behind-the-scenes controversy that began with Isaiah Washington's on-set homophobic slur in October and ignited when he repeated it at the Golden Globes in front of an international press.

The end of the season should have brought much-needed relief, but after Isaiah Washington was not offered a new contract in June, he embarked on a tell-all publicity tour that has yet to make its final stop.

Follow this link to continue reading the Los Angeles Times feature on T.R. Knight ...

A trio of talented actors from the Grey's Anatomy family are featured in a new ad campaign preaching tolerance for gays and lesbians.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) on Tuesday released 25 new public service ads that it will encourage TV networks to air.

The ads feature celebrities talking about either the power of anti-gay words or the importance of accepting a gay or lesbian family member.

T.R. Knight, Sara Ramirez of Grey's Anatomy and Kate Walsh (formerly of Grey's Anatomy and now the star of Private Practice) all made their own ads.

Alexandra Billings, a transgender actress who appeared in one episode of the hit ABC medical drama, also participated in the GLAAD ad campaign.

Former star Isaiah Washington, who is filming Bionic Woman after not being offered a contract to return to Grey's Anatomy, was not included, although the actor filmed a separate PSA on behalf of GLAAD that aired on ABC earlier this year.

GLAAD did not specifically seek out Grey's Anatomy stars, Damon Romine, the organization's entertainment media director, said.

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It has been confirmed by E! Online that T.R. Knight has been signed for the full fourth season of Grey's Anatomy, and not just 12 episodes, as some rumors have suggested in recent weeks.

While the show's official rep declines comments on the details of actors' contracts, a source close to the show says it's true that Knight is under contract to return - full-time.

The blue hair, however, most likely won't be making an appearance on screen. Although it would go well with the scrubs.

T.R. Knight, along with some of his co-stars, have been the subject of recent contract discussions and rumors in what became a rather tumultuous Season 3 (and off-season) for the ABC hit medical drama.

As for his character, George O'Malley, he still has to deal with flunking his exam at the end of last season, thanks to a certain woman... or several. How will he stay at Seattle Grace? That remains to be seen. But T.R. Knight will be front and center when the show returns September 27.

"They fired the wrong guy," Isaiah Washington said today.

The former Dr. Preston Burke on ABC's hit series Grey's Anatomy told the Houston Chronicle that T.R. Knight should have been fired from the show.

Isaiah Washington was not offered a contract and thus let go from the show on June 7, a month before filming for the new season was to begin.

The actor has been slammed with negative publicity since October. That's when he allegedly used an anti-gay slur in reference to T.R. Knight in an on-set argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey.

The Houston native's interviews with the media since have been few.

"I have to clear my name," Isaiah Washington told the Chronicle in a telephone interview from the set of his new movie, The Least of These.

"I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."

Washington said T.R. Knight, who plays Dr. George O'Malley, stirred up the notion that the slur was targeted at him and created a negative work environment.

The embattled actor also alleged that T.R. Knight likely wanted a salary increase and a more substantive role for his character.

Knight, who acknowledged that he was gay after the incident, told Ellen DeGeneres in January that Washington used the slur against him and that "everyone (on the set) heard it."

"That's a lie," Washington said. "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."

Washington also said he is considering a lawsuit. "My livelihood, my honor and dignity and my name have been so challenged."

He said his firing was a big disappointment.

"I was not fired for making homophobic slurs," he said. "I did everything I said I would do. I offered to go to counseling, to do a PSA. I wanted everyone to know I was remorseful."

Washington said he asked to be released from his contract last fall, then again in January when he repeated the slur at the Golden Globes.

His use of the word at the awards ceremony was taken out of context, he says, stating that he was responding to a question from a reporter over whether he had used the slur.

He said he regrets that his actions overshadowed Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes' win for best TV series drama.

Washington first learned ABC would not renew his contract in a tearful, personal call from Shonda Rhimes.

"That was a shock," he said. "I did everything they told me to do, including not saying anything. Then they didn't renew my contract. It's not fair."

ABC executives declined to comment. The 43-year-old Washington said this was the first negative incident in his 20 years in Hollywood.

He said he made three errors in judgment: "Believing that the cast of Grey's Anatomy were like family; believing I had the freedom to express myself with family and that we could resolve our issues; and trusting ABC was going to take care of me. I'm not angry. I'm disappointed."

While the Grey's Anatomy season finale left fans with lots of questions, at least one lingering mystery appears to have been solved.

T.R. Knight, a.k.a. the lovable George O'Malley, is expected to return as a series regular, Entertainment Weekly reports this morning.

Speculation has been swirling about his departure from Seattle Grace â€" not only because of what happened in the finale (George didn't pass his intern exam) but because of two incidents earlier this season with his co-star, Isaiah Washington, who referred to Knight using a homophobic slur.

According to one insider close to the negotiation, T.R. Knight has agreed to a new contract that will boost his per-episode salary to roughly $125,000 and give him a small piece of the show profits (pay hikes and profit points were also granted to many of Knight's co-stars, including Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, and Sandra Oh).

Still up in the air, however, is the fate of Washington, whose character, Preston Burke, appeared to flee Seattle in the finale.

That said, the same insider hints that Isaiah Washington will be back as a series regular (although possibly without the same boost in pay).

"A cliffhanger is meant to keep the audience in anticipation and intrigue until fall," demurred an inside source at ABC Television Studios, which produces Grey's Anatomy for ABC.

Washington's publicist also declined comment. Meanwhile, TV Guide reports that a final decision involving Isaiah's contract status and his return to the series is expected within the next week or so.

Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane and his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, welcomed his fellow cast members and other celebrities to the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball over the weekend.

An L.A.-based non-profit organization, Chrysalis is dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.

In attendance was the former Grey's Anatomy and current Private Practice star, Kate Walsh, and her new fiance, Alex Young.

Rounding out the Grey's Anatomy-related attendees were the handsome Justin Chambers and his wife Keisha, Patrick Dempsey and wife Jillian, Ellen Pompeo, Sara Ramirez and T.R. Knight.

Gayheart has been organizing the event for months. As a result, she and Dane are going on a month-long, around-the-world vacation before he returns to the set of Grey's Anatomy to begin filming Season 4.

Follow the jump for pictures of Eric Dane, Rebecca Gayheart and their fellow Greys Anatomy cast members from the event.

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When T.R. Knight said he was looking forward to some time away from Grey's Anatomy this summer and trying new things, well, looks like he wasn't kidding. He's changed his hair color!

The lovable TV doctor and best friend of Katherine Heigl sported this new 'do in Hollywood last week while shopping at the trendy John Varvatos store.

Hopefully, the talented actor who brings us George O'Malley will be back to his normal hair color when the series resumes filming in late summer.

Before Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight came out of the closet last year, some advised him not to do it, the actor says in a new interview.

While friends were "beautifully supportive," Knight tells The Advocate in its June 19 issue, others cautiously advised him, "Don't do it - don't do it now."

Looking back, the 34-year-old has no regrets.

"I remember saying to someone when I got one of those don't-do-it comments - I just remember hearing my voice being calm and saying, 'No, it's going happen. It's going to happen. I'm just letting you know.'"

Ultimately, Knight is glad he decided to go public about his homosexuality after castmate Isaiah Washington referred to him on-set by a gay slur.

"I made the decision to make a statement," he says.

"I could have not [spoken up]. I could have retreated. But I'm definitely happy I made the decision."

Washington has since apologized, entered therapy, and will be appearing in public service announcements on behalf of gay groups.

Since coming out, Knight, who plays the unassuming Dr. George O'Malley on the hit ABC drama, has seen his character marry Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and sleep with fellow interns Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl).

Off camera, Katherine Heigl is a very close friend, but she says Knight came out to her much more gradually.

"There came a point where we were close enough friends that he would just talk about dates or about other guys," Heigl told The Advocate. "I wasn't shocked or surprised.... It was more just like, 'Oh, okay, now I know why you don't want to go out with me.'"

But Knight, who says he is single - "Not that I've had the most successful dating experiences," he says - insists coming out hasn't much affected his love life. He states, with a laugh, that he still assumes people aren't interested in him, but notes:

"Too much aggression isn't a good thing, either."