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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Klugman to Michael Lantieri
Gladys Knight Biography (1944-)
Full name, Gladys Maria Knight; born May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, GA; daughter of Merald (a gospel singer) and Elizabeth (maiden name, Woods) Knight; marriedJames Newman, 1960 (divorced, 1964); married Barry Handerson, October, 1974(divorced, 1979); married Les Brown (a motivational speaker), August 29, 1995(divorced, 1997); married William McDowell, April 12, 2001; children: (firstmarriage) Kenya, Jimmy; (second marriage) Shanga-Ali. Addresses: Office: Smakeji Inc., 2801 Yorkshire Ave., Henderson, NV 89014-2837.; Manager: Jimmy Newman Management, 2110 East Flamingo, Suite 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, singer, producer
- Birth Details
- May 28, 1944
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Herself, Save the Children, Paramount, 1973
- Maria Wilson, Pipe Dreams, 1976
- Herself, Wrestlemania IV, 1988
- Mrs. McCormac, Twenty Bucks, Triton Pictures, 1993
- Soloist, The Messiah XXI, 2000
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Guest panelist, Celebrity Sweepstakes, 1974
- Herself, The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show, NBC, 1975
- Diane Richmond, Charlie & Co., CBS, 1985
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Movies
- Mona Lisa, Desperado, 1987
- Dr. Donna Robinson, An Enemy among Us, CBS, 1987
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Miniseries
- Herself, Say It Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America, VH1, 2001
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Specials
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The George Burns One-Man Show, 1977
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Uptown: A Tribute to the Apollo Theatre, 1980
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100 Years of Golden Hits, 1981
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The Suzanne Somers Special, CBS, 1982
- Guest, Mac Davis Special: The Music of Christmas, NBC, 1983
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CBS' Happy New Year America 1984, CBS, 1984
- Host, CBS' Happy New Year America 1986, CBS, 1985
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Walt Disney World's 15th Birthday Celebration, ABC, 1986
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Sisters in the Name of Love, HBO, 1986
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Super Night at the Super Bowl, CBS, 1987
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The Mrs. America Pageant, syndicated, 1987
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Gladys Knight and the Pips with Ray Charles, syndicated, 1987
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A Blues Session: B.B. King & Friends, Cinemax, 1987
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That's What Friends Are For: AIDs Concert, Showtime, 1988
- Herself, Sesame Street Special (also known as Put Down the Duckie), PBS, 1988
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Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend, ABC, 1988
- Host, CBS' Happy New Year America 1988, CBS, 1988
- Detroit host, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1988
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Diet America Challenge, CBS, 1989
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All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBC, 1989
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Walt Disney World's 4th of July Spectacular, syndicated, 1990
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Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990
- Herself, Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
- Herself, Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-huh!, Fox, 1991
- Host, Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated,1991
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Today at 40, NBC, 1992
- Cast, "The Hallelujah Chorus: A Soulful Celebration," Great Performances' 20th Anniversary Special, PBS, 1992
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Family Night, syndicated, 1992
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National Memorial Day Concert, PBS, 1993
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More of the Best of the Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1993
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The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1993
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Rhythm, Country & Blues: An "In the Spotlight" Special, PBS, 1994
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Ralph Emery: On the Record with Vince, TNN, 1994
- Herself, The Jackson Family Honors, NBC, 1994
- Herself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 3 (also known as Britain Invades, America Fights Back), 1995
- Herself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (also known as The Sounds of Soul), syndicated, 1995
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Sinbad's Summer Jam: 70's Soul Music Festival, 1995
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Merv Griffin's Fourth Annual New Year's Eve Live TV Special, syndicated, 1995
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Christmas in Rockefeller Center, CNBC, 1996
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The 1996 Summer Olympics, NBC, 1996
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Soul Train Music Awards: 11th Anniversary, The WB, 1997
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Gladys Knight, PBS, 1997
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AMC in Concert at the Rainbow Room, AMC, 1997
- Herself, League of Legends, 1998
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Intimate Portrait: Della Reese, Lifetime, 1999
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The BET 20th Anniversary Celebration, Black Entertainment Television, 2000
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Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, CBS, 2001
- Herself, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2001
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Aaliyah: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television,2001
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Aaliyah: A Life Cut Short, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
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Gladys Knight: A Knight's Tale, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
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Awards Presentations
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The 19th Annual Grammy Awards, 1977
- Herself, The 25th Annual Grammy Awards, 1983
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The 12th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1986
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1987
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The 29th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1987
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The Second Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1988
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The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1988
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1989
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1990
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The Essence Awards, CBS, 1992
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1992
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The 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1992
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1993
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1994
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The 8th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1994
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The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1994
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Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, syndicated, 1995
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The Fifth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1997
- Host, The Sixth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1998
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The 2000 Trumpet Awards, TBS, 2000
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The 15th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 2000
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The Essence Awards 2001, Fox, 2001
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The 10th Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 2002
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Episodic
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The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1970
- Host, "Ailey Celebrates Ellington," The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People, CBS, 1974
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The Midnight Special, 1975
- Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1980
- Herself, "The Good Life," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1983
- Herself, "Too Pooped to Pip," Benson, ABC, 1984
- Herself, Soul Train, 1988
- Herself, "Three Girls Three," A Different World, NBC, 1988
- Herself, "That's What Friends Are For," Out All Night, NBC, 1992
- Natalie, "School Ties," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
- Natalie, "To Protect and Serve," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
- Natalie, "Garbage," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
- Herself, "The Runaways," Baywatch, NBC, 1995
- Voice of Chocolate the Donkey, "The Bremen Town Musicians," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995
- Guest host, The Vicki Lawrence Show, 1996
- Odelle Jones, "One Degree of Separation," Living Single, Fox, 1997
- Odelle Jones, "Never Can Say Goodbye," Living Single, Fox, 1997
- Janice King, Jamie's mother, "Save the Drama for Your Mama," The JamieFoxx Show, The WB, 1997
- Herself, The Roseanne Show, syndicated, 1998
- Herself, "Seeing Green," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999
- Janice King, Jamie's mother, "Always and Forever," The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 2001
- Herself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 2001
- Also appeared in Sesame Street, PBS; Dionne and Friends;
Behind the Music;
At Home With ... , HGTV; as contestant, "GrammyFamily Feud," Family Feud.
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Television Work
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Specials
- Executive producer and creator, Sisters in the Name of Love, HBO,1986
- Coproducer, Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated, 1991
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RECORDINGS
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Albums; with the Pips
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Letter Full of Tears, Collectables, 1961
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sphere Sound, 1964
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Everybody Needs Love, Motown, 1967
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Gladys Knight, Columbia, 1967
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Feelin' Bluesy, Motown, 1968
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Silk & Soul, Motown, 1968
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Nitty Gritty, Motown, 1969
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All in a Knights Work, Soul, 1970
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If I Were Your Woman, Motown, 1971
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Standing Ovation, Motown, 1971
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That Special Time of the Year, Columbia, 1971
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Help Me Make It through the Night, Motown, 1973
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Trip, 1973
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Imagination, Pair, 1973
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Neither One of Us, Motown, 1973
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All I Need Is Time, Motown, 1973
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Hallmark, 1974
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Knight Time, Soul, 1974
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Claudine, Buddah, 1974
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I Feel a Song, Buddah, 1974
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A Little Knight Music, Soul, 1975
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How Do You Say Goodbye, Springboard, 1975
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I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Pickwick, 1975
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Pow, Pickwick, 1975
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Pipe Dreams, Buddah, 1976
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Take Me in Your Arms, MFP, 1976
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Bless This House, Buddah, 1976
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Still Together, Buddah, 1976
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Love Is Always on Your Mind, Buddah, 1977
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The One and Only, Buddah, 1978
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Gladys Knight, Columbia, 1979
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Miss Gladys Knight, Buddah, 1979
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Memories, Buddah, 1979
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Up Front, 1979
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Spotlight, PRT, 1980
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About Love, Columbia, 1980
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Take Me Back, Manhattan, 1980
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Nightful, Manhattan, 1980
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First Shot, Manhattan, 1980
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Funky, Manhattan, 1980
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Touch, Columbia, 1981
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Visions, Columbia, 1983
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Life, Collectibles, 1985
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All Our Love, MCA, 1988
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Every Beat of My Heart, Chameleon, 1989
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Christmas Album, Special Music, 1989
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Good Woman, MCA, 1991
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Just for You, MCA, 1994
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Room in Your Heart, Drive Archive, 1995
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Lost Live Album, Buddah, 1996
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Many Different Roads, 1998
- Also recorded Gladys Knights & the Pips, Maxx; Better Fullof Tears, Accord; Glad to Be, Allegiance; Teen Anguish, Topline; and Teen Anguish, Vol. 3, Charley.
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WRITINGS
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Autobiography
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Gladys Knight: Between Each Line of Pain and Glory, Hyperion, 1997
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 16, Gale, 1997
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Contemporary Musicians, Volume 1, Gale, 1989
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Notable Black American Women, Book 2, Gale, 1996
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