Ted had created the gravity rod, and later the cosmic rod, as a new source of energy. However, his cousin Sandra knight, the Phantom Lady, had talked him into using his invention as a costumed crime fighter. In the early 40's he became the protector of his hometown, Opal City, and a member of both the Justice Society of America and the All-Star Squadron.

Despite all of his successes as a mystery man things started to fall apart for him in his personal life.

He was fighting with his long time love, Doris Lee, about him not being around, of course she was unaware of his alternate life. Then in the late 40's she was murdered, and on top of that Ted had unwittingly helped develop the atom bomb. These events caused him to have a nervous breakdown resulting in his stay at a mental institute. In his absence a new Starman had taken over his duties as protector of Opal City. The new Starman was Charles McNider, Doctor Mid-nite. We later found out that his son, David Knight, had traveled back in time right before his death and took over for McNider as Starman. His brother Jack Knight had also traveled back in time and helped his father take up his mantel again and get his life and mind back together.

After the retirement of the Justice Society of America Ted had married a woman named Adele Doris Drew, and fathered his children, David and Jack. Tragedy struck again during the events of Zero Hour. During one of the JSA's missions its members were kept young do to an after affect of there defeat of Ian Karkull. During Zero Hour the villain Extant restored Ted to his natural age and killed several of his friends and teamates. He then decided it was time to give up his Starman career and go back to his first love of science.

He then passed on his mantle to his older son David. It was a short career. David was killed by Ted's old nemesis The Mist. The mantle then passed on to his other son Jack, much to both of their dismay. Jack had promised to take on the family buisness only if his father would use his science discoveries to help better the world. Acting as an advisor to Jack the two repaired their relationship. On several occasions Ted had helped Jack on his adventures. Ted died during a final battle with the Mist. He used his gravity rod to lift himself, the Mist and, the Mists doomsday bomb into the stratosphere, saving his city and its people one last time.