This page features interesting and some little known tidbits about Knots Landing, the actors, characters and anything else connected with the show.
DID YOU KNOW that both “Knots Landing” and the “Wizard of Oz” were filmed on the same soundstage? Both were made on Stage 4 on the MGM lot. “Knots Landing” was also filmed on Stage 25.
DID YOU KNOW that Barbarba, Meg’s Nanny, was a regular on My Three Sons? Ronnie Troupe who played Barbara, also played Chip’s wife Polly Douglas from 1970-1972. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that the role of Laura was created especially for Constance McCashin? She had worked with David Jacobs on “Family”, so he wrote the part with her in mind. Constance’s real life husband, director Sam Wiseman, appeared in episode #24 as a real estate client of Laura’s. They shared an on screen kiss. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that Michele Lee was the only actor to appear in all 344 episodes? Even during the final season when other actors were required to be “absent” for 4 episodes, Ms. Lee offered to appear without pay. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that Knots Landing was created before Dallas? When Michael Filerman and David Jacobs submitted Knots Landing to CBS, they told them that they wanted a more saga-like, glitzier show. The producers took one of the characters – Gary Ewing, who was the estranged son of a rich family – and created a new series about his relatives. With the success of Dallas, they got the go-ahead to begin production on Knots Landing.
DID YOU KNOW that Ted Shackelford was not the original actor to play Gary Ewing? Gary was first played by David Ackroyd. When it was time to recast Gary, Joan Van Ark (Valene) remembered the chemistry she had with Ted when they had worked on an episode of “Wonder Woman” together.
DID YOU KNOW that the original Gary (David Ackroyd) appeared on Knots Landing in another role? In episode #39 he played a man who dated Karen. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that many of the characters on Knots Landing were named after people working on the show? For example, Dr. Mitch Ackerman (the physician who steals Val’s babies) is named after a production executive, and Nick Schillace is named after a make-up artist on the show.
DID YOU KNOW that Nicolette Sheridan grew up with Telly Savalas as her step-father? She even took his last name, and went through school as Nicolette Savalas, until her mother divorced him. Ironically, Kevin Dobson, who plays Nicolette’s father on Knots Landing, worked with Telly Savalas for years on “Kojak”
Along these same lines, Michelle Phillip’s (Anne Mathison Sumner) real life daughter Chynna (of Wilson-Phillips fame) is married to actor William Baldwin, younger brother of Alec Baldwin (Joshua Rush).
DID YOU KNOW that Granada Hills, where the series was filmed, is not an ocean-side community? Granada Hills is actually a suburb of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Film of the ocean was spliced onto overhead shots of Granada Hills to create the opening shot in the credits.
DID YOU KNOW that the name of Gary’s ranch on the show is Westfork?
DID YOU KNOW that Ted Shackelford and Teri Austin (Gary and Jill) dated in real life? They lived together during the run of the show. (Submitted by Rothrock16)
DID YOU KNOW that Claudia Lonow (Diana Fairgate) is a stand-up comedian? Claudia even wrote and starred in a video game about comedy clubs, called “Don’t Quit Your Day Job.”
DID YOU KNOW that the French Canadian title of Knots Landing was called “Les Herities Du Reve”, while Dallas was called – well – Dallas!!!
DID YOU KNOW that several of the cast members wrote and/or directed episodes of Knots Landing? The cast who participated in writing or directing includes: James Houghton (Kenny), William Devane (Greg), Kevin Dobson (Mac), Michele Lee (Karen) and Joan Van Ark (Val). The all-time writing and directing award goes to John Pleshette (Richard Avery) who both wrote and directed several episodes. Pleshette continued to write and direct for several seasons after he stopped playing Richard Avery, and even resurrected Richard for a guest appearance in episodes 200 and 201.
DID YOU KNOW that Oscar-winner Helen Hunt appeared on Knots Landing? Both she and actor Eric Stolz played friends of Diana and Eric during the first 2 seasons. Stolz later appeared as Helen’s ex-boyfriend Alan on her NBC sitcom “Mad About You”.
DID YOU KNOW that actor Gary Sinese (Forest Gump, Apollo-13) appeared on Knots Landing? In episode 10, he played a guy at a party where Eric and Ginger’s sister hang out. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that Joan Van Ark (Val) appeared on “Rhoda”? She played Joe’s ex-wife Marion, and mother of their son Donny. Joan also made several other guest appearances before landing a permanent role in a short-lived medical sitcom. Another memorable performance was as a ditzy blonde on “The Odd Couple”. Both Rhoda and The Odd Couple can be seen on Nick at Nite, so watch for her!
DID YOU KNOW that to celebrate Knots Landing’s 200th Episode, the cast was allowed to improvise their lines? Episodes 200 and 201 (“Noises Everywhere”) had the cast assemble at Greg’s ranch to mourn Laura’s death. The writer’s wrote a few general guidelines, and let the actors take it from there. Joan Van Ark decided to use the show to try and combat her “Poor Val” image. Teri Austin chose to have Jill drink heavily and deal with Peter’s death. Kevin Dobson and Michele Lee introduced their character’s wish for a child. William Devane let us see the vulnerable side of Greg, but chose to do it away from the other character’s, as he knew Greg would. This improvisation was done as an experiment, but the producers were not very happy with it, and so it was never done again. (Thanks to DMystr for correcting me on the name of the episode)
DID YOU KNOW that actor Robert Desiderio (Ted Melcher) is married to Judith Light (“Who’s the Boss” and “Movie of the Week” queen)? Robert has made several appearances on other television shows, most notably on “Cheers”. Robert played Gary, of “Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern”, Sam’s rival in continuous practical jokes played between the two bars.
DID YOU KNOW that William Devane’s real life son Joshua played Greg as a young man in Season 8? Doug Savant (Matt Fielding on “Melrose Place”) played the younger version of Mac. Blonde, blue-eyed Savant had to wear a wig and brown contact lenses. (Submitted by Knotsguy)
DID YOU KNOW that occasionally the writers used puns to name minor characters? For example, episode #276 has a charactor named Reverand Lou Sinnet (Losin’ it!)
DID YOU KNOW that 2 of Val’s husbands played the boyfriends of Rose on General Hospital? Douglas Sheehan, who played Val’s husband Ben Gibson, was Rose’s boyfriend Joe Kelly. Sam Behrens, who was Val’s third husband Danny Waleska, also played a serious boyfriend of Rose’s, Jake Meyer.
DID YOU KNOW that 2 castmembers died during their tenure on Knots Landing? Steve Shaw, who played Eric Fairgate, died in an automobile accident on December 5, 1990 in Los Angeles. He was only 25. Episode #298, (“An American Hero”) is dedicated to him, and the final moments of the episode show clips of him to a song sung by Michele Lee. His death was not addressed as a storyline. Larry Riley, who played Frank Williams, died on June 6 1992, from AIDS. He is survived by his wife Nina, and one son. Episode #326 (“Found and Lost”) is dedicated to him. The storyline simply said he had moved away.
DID YOU KNOW that Claudia Lonow’s (Diana Fairgate) real last name is Rappaport? However she is not related to Michele Lee’s (Karen Fairgate McKenzie) real life husband Fred Rappaport.