William Daniels
Biography
William David Daniels (born March 31, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor who served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1999 to 2001. He is widely recognized for portraying Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate (1967), John Adams in the film 1776, and Carter Nash in the television series Captain Nice. Television audiences know him as Mr. George Feeny on Boy Meets World, as the voice of KITT in Knight Rider, and as Dr. Mark Craig on the drama St. Elsewhere, a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. His career includes more than one hundred credited performances across film and television.
Career overview
William David Daniels, born on March 31 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, is an American actor whose career spans stage, film and television. He first gained wide recognition for his supporting role as the father of Dustin Hoffman’s character in the 1967 film The Graduate. He later portrayed John Adams in the musical film 1776 and appeared as Carter Nash in the television comedy Captain Nice. Daniels became a familiar face on American television through his long‑running role as Mr. George Feeny on the ABC series Boy Meets World, where he played the wise neighbor and mentor to the main characters.
In addition to on‑screen work, Daniels is known for voice acting, providing the iconic voice of the artificially intelligent car KITT in the series Knight Rider. His most celebrated dramatic performance came as Dr. Mark Craig on the medical drama St. Elsewhere, a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. Beyond acting, Daniels served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1999 to 2001, reflecting his involvement in industry leadership. His extensive body of work, encompassing more than one hundred credited performances, has established him as a versatile and respected figure in American entertainment.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
114 titles- The Creeps - Behind the Scenes (2026) Thanks
- The Creeps (2025) as Kitt
- 115 (2025) as Kraft Intelligence (voice)
- Superintelligence (2020) as KITT (voice)
- Girl Meets World (2014) as George Feeny
- Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff (2010) as K.I.T.T. (voice)
- Blades of Glory (2007) as Commissioner Ebbers
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Craig Thomas
- The Closer (2005) as Andrew Schmidt
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Guest Dancer
- Boston Legal (2004) as Milton Brody
- Comedy Central Roasts (2003) as Self
- The Lyon's Den (2003)
- Kim Possible (2002) as Robot Pilot (voice)
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Self
- Scrubs (2001) as Dr. Douglas
- The King of Queens (1998) as Phillip Waldscott
- The Lottery (1996) as Reverend Hutchinson
- Maybe This Time (1995) as George Feeny
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Whit Russell
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as George
- Magic Kid II (1994) as Manny
- The American Revolution (1994) as John Adams
- Boy Meets World (1993) as George Feeny
- Back to the Streets of San Francisco (1992) as Julius Burns
- Clara (1991) as Detective Lieutenant Fine
- The General Motors Playwrights Theater (1991) as Detective Lieutenant Fine
- On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story (1990) as John Nicks
- The Simpsons (1989) as KITT (voice)
- Her Alibi (1989) as Sam
- Making a Case for Murder (1989) as Slaney
- The Little Match Girl (1987) as Haywood Dutton
- Blind Date (1987) as Harold Bedford
- The Princess Who Had Never Laughed (1986) as Narrator
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- Laugh Busters (1984) as KITT (voice)
- Knight Rider (1982) as KITT (voice)
- St. Elsewhere (1982) as Mark Craig
- St. Elsewhere (1982) Director
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Narrator (voice)
- Rehearsal for Murder (1982) as Walter Lamb
- Drop-Out Father (1982) as Draper Wright
- Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix (1982) as KITT (voice)
- Rooster (1982) as Dr. DeVega
- Reds (1981) as Julius Gerber
- All Night Long (1981) as Richard H. Copleston
- The Million Dollar Face (1981) as Henry Burns
- The Blue Lagoon (1980) as Arthur Lestrange
- Galactica 1980 (1980) as Norman Blore
- Conquest of the Earth (1980) as Norman
- Freebie and the Bean (1980) as Walter Cruikshank
- City in Fear (1980) as Freeman Stribling
- Damien: The Leper Priest (1980) as Bishop Koeckemann
- Hart to Hart (1979) as Simon Richardson
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979)
- The Chinese Typewriter (1979) as C. Donald Devlin
- The Rebels (1979) as John Adams
- Sunburn (1979) as Crawford
- Blind Ambition (1979) as G. Gordon Liddy
- Bleacher Bums (1979)
- The One and Only (1978) as Mr. Crawford
- The Bastard (1978) as Samuel Adams
- Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
- Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force (1978) as Father Veller
- Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (1978) as Lawrence Stepwell III
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) as Dr. John Bonifant
- Soap (1977) as Heinrich Himmel
- Black Sunday (1977) as Pugh
- The Return of the Incredible Hulk (1977) as John Bonifant
- Oh, God! (1977) as George Summers
- Killer on Board (1977) as Marshall Snowden
- The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977) as Major Marcus Reno
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Paul Reardon
- Quincy, M.E. (1976) as Dr. Charlie Volmer
- The Adams Chronicles (1976) as John Quincy Adams
- Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976) as Bissell
- The Nancy Walker Show (1976) as Kenneth Kitteridge
- Medical Story (1975) as Jeffrey Brody
- Barbary Coast (1975) as Harry Boyle
- One of Our Own (1975) as Dr. Moresby
- Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975) as Matt Hodges
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Thomas Caine
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Gary Bevins
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) as Police Lt. Jack Matteo
- The Parallax View (1974) as Austin Tucker
- A Case of Rape (1974) as Leonard Alexander
- Toma (1973)
- Murdock's Gang (1973) as Roger Bates
- The Fabulous Doctor Fable (1973) as Elliot Borden
- The Lie (1973) as Albert
- The Bob Newhart Show (1972) as Edgar T. Vickers Jr.
- 1776 (1972) as John Adams
- Cannon (1971)
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Commander Campbell
- McCloud (1970)
- Marlowe (1969) as Mr. Cromwell
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- The Good Guys (1968)
- Ironside (1967)
- The Graduate (1967) as Mr. Braddock
- Judd, for the Defense (1967)
- Captain Nice (1967) as Carter Nash
- Two for the Road (1967) as Howard Manchester
- The President's Analyst (1967) as Wynn Quantrill
- T.H.E. Cat (1966) as Tony Webb
- A Thousand Clowns (1965) as Albert Amundsen
- Ladybug Ladybug (1963) as Mr. Calkins
- The Defenders (1961) as Malloy
- The Defenders (1961) as Mike Herman
- Naked City (1958) as Harry Culverin
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as John Quincy Adams
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Daniels best known for?
William Daniels is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Superintelligence (2020), Girl Meets World (2014), The Immortal (1970), Grey's Anatomy (2005).
When and where was William Daniels born?
William Daniels was born on March 31, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
How many credits does William Daniels have?
William Daniels has accumulated over 114 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1951 to 2026.
What is William Daniels's background in cinema and television?
William David Daniels (born March 31, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor who served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1999 to 2001. He is widely recognized for portraying Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate (1967), John Adams in the film 1776, and Carter Nash in the television series Captai...