# Jack Knebworth — The Avenger character guide > Jack Knebworth in The Avenger by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Old Knebworth, Knebworth, Jack **First appearance:** 0001-ii-mr-sampson-longvale-calls ## Snapshot A veteran film director with gimlet eyes and a ruthless instinct for picture values, Jack Knebworth knows more about his company's secrets than he lets on. ## Who they are Jack Knebworth runs his modest studio with an iron pragmatism — he would sacrifice any player, star or extra, if it strengthened the picture. Yet when Michael Brixan brings him news of Lawley Foss's murder, the old director's composure cracks, and he becomes a wary ally in the hunt. His knowledge of the company's tangled loyalties, especially Stella Mendoza's, makes him a crucial bridge between the film world and the darker business unfolding around it. ## Relationships ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _friendship_ Jack is Mike's loyal and close friend, often working alongside him in dangerous situations. ### [Stella Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Reggie Connolly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/reggie_connolly) _friendship_ Jack and Reggie are friends and likely comrades, with Reggie being part of the group allied with Jack. ### [Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/lawley_foss) _friendship_ Jack and Lawley are friends and collaborators, working together in support of Mike. ### [Sir Gregory Penne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sir_gregory_penne) _rivalry_ Jack is directly opposed to Sir Gregory, viewing him as a dangerous enemy. ### [Sampson Longvale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/sampson_longvale) _friendship_ Jack and Sampson are friends and allies, working together against common threats. ### [Stella Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _friendship_ Jack is Mike's loyal and close friend, often working alongside him in dangerous situations. ### [Mike Brixan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/mike_brixan) _friendship_ Jack is Mike's loyal and close friend, often working alongside him in dangerous situations. ### [Stella Mendoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/stella_mendoza) _friendship_ Jack and Stella are close allies and friends, often cooperating to support Mike and their shared cause. ### [Reggie Connolly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/reggie_connolly) _friendship_ Jack and Reggie are friends and likely comrades, with Reggie being part of the group allied with Jack. ### [Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/lawley_foss) _friendship_ Jack and Lawley are friends and collaborators, working together in support of Mike. ## In the story ### [I: The Headhunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/i-the-headhunter) Mentioned as an American film producer who runs the studio where Adele works. ### [II: Mr. Sampson Longvale Calls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/ii-mr-sampson-longvale-calls) Jack is initially brusque and dismissive toward Adele, but becomes animated and grateful upon meeting Sampson Longvale, whose offer of the Dower House solves his location problems. ### [III: The Niece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/iii-the-niece) A director who employs Adele on his lot, though she fears he thinks she is no good. ### [IV: The Leading Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/iv-the-leading-lady) Film producer who fires Stella Mendoza and impulsively casts Adele as the new leading lady. ### [V: Mr. Lawley Foss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/v-mr-lawley-foss) Film director; introduces Foss and expresses his difficulties with him. ### [The Master of Griff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/vi-the-master-of-griff) The director, who is suspicious of Sir Gregory's behavior and reluctantly allows Brixan to join as an extra. ### [VII: The Swords and Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/vii-the-swords-and-bhag) Mentioned by Penne as having said Brixan was going on to Longvale. ### [Bhag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/viii-bhag) Jack is pleased with Adele's performance and dismisses Reggie Connolly's complaints about his role in the film. ### [IX: The Ancestor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/ix-the-ancestor) Directs the film shoot, complains about Foss's tardiness and financial troubles, and sees a face at the window. ### [X: The Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/x-the-open-window) Directs the film crew and orders everyone to bed for an early morning shoot. ### [XI: The Mark on the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xi-the-mark-on-the-window) Awakened by the shot; questions Brixan and later denies authorizing the window mark. ### [XIII: The Trap That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiii-the-trap-that-failed) Praises Adele's performance, criticizes the British film industry, and rejects Stella Mendoza's return to the picture. ### [Mendoza Makes a Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xiv-mendoza-makes-a-fight) Confronts Stella Mendoza and fires Lawley Foss, asserting his authority as director. ### [The Erasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxi-the-erasure) Expresses frustration with Stella Mendoza and discusses the studio's financial issues. ### [XXV: The Man in the Car](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxv-the-man-in-the-car) Gives Adele the afternoon off, later receives news from Michael Brixan about Foss's head and discusses the case. ### [XXVI: The Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxvi-the-hand) Assists Brixan by arranging the meeting with Stella and offering his house as a base for the investigation. ### [The Caves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxvii-the-caves) Hosts dinner for Michael and Adele; identifies the butyl chloride as a knockout drug; plans to shoot at Griff Tower. ### [XXVIII: The Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxviii-the-tower) Directs the film shoot at Griff Tower, examines the derby hat clue, and decides to possibly shoot a night scene. ### [Bhag's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxix-bhag-s-return) Observes Bhag's emergence, comments on the handcuffs and butyl chloride, and decides to halt filming due to the crew's hysteria. ### [XXXI: John Percival Liggitt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxi-john-percival-liggitt) Praises Adele's acting; dismisses Reggie's boasts; informs Adele about the tramp with a letter for Brixan. ### [The Trap That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-trap-that-failed) Knebworth is surprised by the tramp's visit and later witnesses Brixan's failed ambush. ### [XXXIV: The Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-search) Unmasks Brixan; receives Adele's manuscript from her landlady; accompanies Brixan to Griff Towers. ### [XXXV: What Happened to Adele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxv-what-happened-to-adele) Mentioned as the supposed sender of the summons that lures Adele away. ### [At the Tower Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxvii-at-the-tower-again) Mentioned as having left the ladder that Adele uses to climb the tower. ### [The Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xl-the-widow) Leads the search for Brixan, discovers the hidden car and the trapdoor, realizing Brixan is in the Headhunter's hands. ### [XLII: Camera!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xlii-camera) Directing a love scene with frustration; predicts Adele will leave the screen to marry. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters/jack_knebworth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_avenger_se/characters