A Medieval Times knight fights the good fight

The Red Knight, a.k.a. William Elliot III, prepares to throw a flower into the audience during a show at Medieval Times. Once an aspiring magician in Las Vegas, he’s now the assistant head knight at the Buena Park site. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Aug. 17, 2013 6 AM PT

The man known as the Red Knight at the Buena Park Medieval Times is William Elliot III, a once aspiring magician and Southern California native. Read more »

The knights at Medieval Times make a grand entrance before a show that will put their jousting skills and horsemanship to the test. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Horses, including purebred Spanish stallions, are a big part of the shows at Medieval Times. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Red Knight (William Elliot III) does battle with the Red & Yellow Knight (Zach Snyder) using medieval weaponry. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

William Elliot III shows off a dented battle mace made of titanium before performing as the Red Knight. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

William Elliot III, left, helps train fellow knight Mick Kaiser, right, and apprentice knight Tim Doupe before performing a show at Medieval Times in Buena Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

William Elliot III demonstrates a kick with Mick Kaiser. Elliot helps train the knights and performs as the Red Knight. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“I’m going to do this for as long as I can. We’re all grown-up kids here. It’s a fun job,” says William Elliot III about portraying the Red Knight at Medieval Times in Buena Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

William Elliot III, center, enters the arena to help train apprentice knights before performing a show. “I am a coach, I am an older brother, I’m a counselor. I’ve done it all for these guys,” he says of his second family. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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