The Beheaded Knight is a notorious ghost from the Haunted Mansion.
Description[]
Background[]
The beheaded knight was likely a knight during the medieval ages in Europe, having likely been of a nation in modern Germany (although possibly having been English/British). At some point in his life he was killed by the executioner, having likely been convicted of some offence punishable by death. In the afterlife, the knight and the executioner seemed to make up and retired to the Haunted Mansion together, notably being found in a crypt in the graveyard.
Development History[]
Marc Davis created the character design for the Beheaded Knight in 1964 and several options for how to use him were developed. He was among the earliest ideas for Hitchhiking Ghosts, and a concept piece and maquette exist for him singing in the graveyard with a short viking ghost, with the two singers holding mugs of beer in their hands.
His voice was provided by Ernie Newton for the original attraction. His appearance by the opera ghosts was a visual gag based on the expression "A night at the opera". His being beheaded could be a reference to the classic story The Beheading Game, which means that the knight could be intended to be the spirit of Sir Gawain from Arthurian legend.
Appearances[]
The Haunted Mansion[]
The ghost of a beheaded knight stands next to his ghostly executioner in the graveyard scene, holding his singing head in an extended hand. To his left are the Opera Phantoms and also standing at the crypt is a dwarfed prisoner. The knight sings in a German accent, suggesting he is a Germanic knight.
Haunted Mansion Holiday[]
During Haunted Mansion Holiday, the knight sings with a British accent.
Other Appearances[]
Film[]
2003 Film[]
In the 2003 film, the knight makes a brief appearance in the graveyard, picking up his head from a basket while another ghost kneels down to be decapitated by the executioner. As the executioner beheads the other ghost, the knight waves at the Evers.
2023 film[]
The beheaded knight and executioner appear in the film as residents of Gracey Manor and are amongst the ghosts whom Alistair Crump enslaved. During the battle, he sends the duo attack the mortals, only for them to side with Father Kent. In a deleted scene, Ben encounters them in a hallway during a seance, while following William Gracey. The executioner asks the knight on the portal's location, to which the latter points the way.
This incarnation of the beheaded knight speaks with a British accent.
Printed Materials[]
Ghost Gallery[]
In the cast-member made Ghost Gallery storyline, the knight is given the name of Giovanni Jones and he was a New York Opera-Singer who was the brother of Carmen and Antonio Jones (The Opera Phantoms) and Rocco Jones (The Executioner). The four of them were all hired by George Gracey Jr. (The Ghost Host) to perform at his home of Gracey Manor in order to cheer up his melancholy wife Lillian and improve their social-standing. During the performance of an original production written by their father called "Don Juan in the Underworld" (with Giovanni in the role of Don Juan), the performers accidentally disturbed George's psychotic second-cousin Gus Gracey (the Prisoner) who slept in the crypt they were performing at. Gus murdered all four of the performers by pulling a trap-door beneath Rocco (playing an executioner) while he had his axe raised over Giovanni's head, resulting in Giovanni getting decapitated as Rocco fell into the pit where he was beaten to death by Gus. The other two siblings were killed when Gus tampered with a prop funeral-pyre and burned them alive with it's fuel-tank.
SLG Comics[]
Fred in ''Talking Heads''
In Talking Heads, his name is given as Fred and he is shown to have a crush on Madame Leota, though Leota remains oblivious to his affections, just as she's oblivious to her own death. He is comforted by Hilda when he leaves the Seance Room in failure.
As shown in the story Night of the Caretaker's Dog, he can also speak French, though this is something he's kept from the Executioner despite the many years they've known each other, as he still holds a minor grudge.
Build Your Own Haunted Mansion[]
In the activity book Build Your Own Haunted Mansion (released in conjunction with the 2003 film), the knight was named Galahad. Galahad is a name taken from Arthurian myth, having been a Holy knight in King Arthur's court who found the Holy Grail.
Video Games[]
2003 video game[]
The knight appears in this adoption as one of the main "friendly ghosts". Like in Haunted Mansion Holiday, the character speaks with a British accent. He first appears in the intro, telling the other ghosts to stop arguing about Zeke's worthiness and simply allow him to help them destroy the mansion's curse before saying that they must introduce themselves to him, to which Zeke faints. The knight then orders to take him to Madame Leota's parlor as she is expecting a rescuer. He and the ghosts then help nurse Zeke back to health in preparation for his mission to restore the Mansion and that they must leave and await further instructions as Leota "is on her way" (about to brief him). The knight gives Zeke a soul gem after the latter collects all shriveled souls in the pantry. He later thanks Zeke for his efforts in restoring the mansion and departs for the afterlife.
This incarnation retains his beheading by an executioner (who does not appear in the video game) but the method is done by guillotine rather than an axe.
Kinect Disneyland Adventures[]
While not beheaded, the Knight makes an appearance in the video-game Kinect Disneyland Adventures as a composite-character with the Haunted Armour and Phineas. They are an enemy summoned by Madame Leota to hunt the player through the Mansion until is eventually smashed by the Grandfather Clock dropped on it by the player.
Disney Crossy Road[]
The Beheaded Knight is a playable character within this game. While playing as him, the haunted armour enemies which usually attack the player are replaced with the Executioner.
Gallery[]
