Peter Scolari
Peter Thomas Scolari (born September 12, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Harris on Newhart (1984–1990) and Henry Desmond in Bosom Buddies (1980–1982). Scolari received three Emmy nominations for his work on Newhart and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his recurring role as Tad Horvath on Girls in 2016.[1]
Peter Scolari | |
|---|---|
 Scolari in 2010 | |
| Born | Peter Thomas Scolari September 12, 1955 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 4 |
Early life
Scolari was born in New Rochelle, New York, on September 12, 1955. He has described his father as an abusive, "rageful man", and his mother as an alcoholic, and has said that their marriage was tumultuous. "They stayed together for the kids and also because they were hopelessly in love with each other, but they were totally incompatible," he said in an interview with The Toronto Star.[2]
Career
Television
Scolari's first ongoing role was in his first short-lived 1980 sitcom Goodtime Girls, as the juggling neighbor of the title characters. He was then cast co-starring with then-unknown Tom Hanks, in another sitcom Bosom Buddies, as two young creative professionals who disguise themselves as women to get an affordable apartment in a women-only building. After Bosom Buddies was cancelled in 1982, and still struggling as an actor, Scolari joined the cast of Newhart, opposite Bob Newhart, in 1984, where he played Michael Harris, the yuppie local TV producer, until the series' conclusion in 1990. He has remained close to Newhart, with whom he frequently plays golf, since the show's last season.
Following central roles in the unsuccessful series Family Album and Dweebs, Scolari spent three seasons playing inventor Wayne Szalinski, a role originated on film by Rick Moranis, in the TV adaptation of the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He later had a recurring role as the father of Lena Dunham's character on HBO's Girls, for which he won an Emmy in 2016. He also portrayed Gotham City’s corrupt police commissioner, Gillian B. Loeb, in Fox’s superhero crime drama Gotham.
Broadway
Scolari has appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Sly Fox, Hairspray,[3] and Lucky Guy, which reunited him with his Bosom Buddies co-star Tom Hanks. Scolari also appeared Off Broadway in Old Man Joseph and His Family, The Exonerated, In the Wings, The Music Man, and White's Lies.[4]
In 1996, Scolari starred in a version of the stage musical Stop the World – I Want to Get Off produced for the A&E television network.
In 2014, Scolari portrayed Yogi Berra in Bronx Bombers. His wife Tracey Shayne played Berra's wife Carmen.[5] Subsequently, he played the part of The Wizard in the Broadway musical Wicked.
Personal life
He was married to Debra Steagal, and later to actress Cathy Trien, with whom he has two children.[6] One of his children is an aspiring pop star. He married long-time girlfriend Tracy Shayne in June 2013.[7]
A 2014 episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? brought up Scolari's substance abuse and his struggle with bipolar disorder.[8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Take Off | Kookie | Segment: "1950s" |
| 1984 | The Rosebud Beach Hotel | Elliot Garner | |
| 1986 | Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures | Mr. Bill | Short film |
| 1990 | Corporate Affairs | Simon Tanner | |
| 1993 | Ticks | Charles Danson | Video |
| 1994 | Camp Nowhere | Donald Himmel | |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Troy Chesterfield | |
| 2002 | Sorority Boys | Louis | |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Billy - Lonely Boy | |
| 2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Pete Conrad (voice) | Documentary short |
| 2006 | Mentor | Jonathan Parks | |
| 2006 | Cathedral Pines | Father Mike McGary | |
| 2007 | Suburban Girl | Mickey Lamm | |
| 2007 | A Plumm Summer | Agent Hardigan | |
| 2012 | Letting Go | Bill | |
| 2016 | Dean | Patrick |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Wally Brown | Douglas Burdett | Unknown episode |
| 1979 | Angie | Kenny | Episode: "The Thief" |
| 1980 | Goodtime Girls | Benny Loman | 13 episodes |
| 1980–1982 | Bosom Buddies | Henry Desmond / Hildegarde 'Hilde' Desmond | 37 episodes |
| 1982 | Remington Steele | Albie Fervitz | Episode: "Steele Waters Run Deep" |
| 1982 | Missing Children: A Mother's Story | Woody | TV movie |
| 1983 | Carpool | Robert Duff | TV movie |
| 1983 | Happy Days | Jake | Episode: "May the Best Man Win" |
| 1983 | Baby Makes Five | Eddie Riddle | 5 episodes |
| 1984 | Amazons | Dr. Jerry Menzies | TV movie |
| 1984 | Finder of Lost Loves | Ted Caton | Episode: "A Gift" |
| 1984–1990 | Newhart | Michael Harris | 142 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1987–89) |
| 1986 | Hotel | Tom | Episode: "Shadows of Doubt: Part 1" |
| 1986 | Family Ties | Paul Kenter | Episode "Once in Love with Elyse" |
| 1986 | You Are the Jury | Stephen Best | Episode: "The State of Ohio vs. James Wolsky |
| 1986 | The Love Boat | Frank Hobbs | Episode: "Dare Devil" |
| 1986 | The Love Boat | Wellington David Rothmeyer | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Fresno | Waiter | TV movie |
| 1987 | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Chris Robinson | TV movie |
| 1987 | The New Mike Hammer | Andy Shales | Episode: "Green Blizzard" |
| 1988 | The Twilight Zone | Delos of Atlantis / Leonard Randall | Episode: "The Trance" |
| 1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Morgan | Episode: "Microchips" |
| 1989 | Trying Time | Howard LaMotta | Episode: "Death and Taxes" |
| 1989 | The Ryan White Story | David Day | TV movie |
| 1990 | Encyclopedia Brown | Bandini | Episode: "The Case of the Incredible Culpepper" |
| 1990 | World's Greatest Magicians... At the Magic Castle | Unknown | TV movie |
| 1991 | Danger Team | Police Officer Shields | TV movie |
| 1991 | Fire: Trapped by the 37th Floor | Paul DeWitt | TV movie |
| 1991 | Perfect Harmony | Derek Sanders | TV movie |
| 1991 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin | David Katz | TV movie |
| 1992 | The House on Sycamore Street | Dr. Zachary 'Zach' Drummond | TV movie |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | John Hamner (voice) | Episode: "Moon of the Wolf" |
| 1992 | Nurses | George Myrock | Episode: "Our Fred" |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | Clerk | Episode: "I'll Be Waiting" |
| 1993 | The Mommies | Ken Ballantine | Episode: "Enter Ken" |
| 1993 | Family Album | Jonathan Lerner | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | Animaniacs | Wilford B. Wolf | Episode: "Moon Over Minerva" |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | Johnny Lake | Episode: "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?" |
| 1994 | Empty Nest | Dieter Dietz | Episode: "Brotherly Shove" |
| 1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Stuart Hofferman | Episode: "The Source" |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel | Charles Hibbard | Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" |
| 1994 | Animaniacs | The Driver | Episode: "The Mindy 500" |
| 1994 | Dave's World | Fred | Episode: "Six Years Old and All Washed Up" |
| 1995 | Dave's World | Kenny's Boss | Episode: "Working Stiffs" |
| 1995 | The Mommies | Ken Ballantine | Episode: "I Do, I Do Again" |
| 1995 | A Whole New Ballgame | Glenn | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Batman: The Animated Series | The Shark / Gunther Hardwicke (voice) | Episode: "The Terrible Trio" |
| 1995 | Dweebs | Warren Mosbey | 10 episodes |
| 1995 | Can't Hurry Love | Colin | Episode: "Three Blind Dates" |
| 1995–1996 | Gargoyles | Preston Vogel (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 1996 | The Home Court | Kenyon Stanton | Episode: "Syd & Sensibility" |
| 1996 | The Drew Carey Show | Councilman Kemp | Episode: "What the Zoning Inspector Saw" |
| 1996 | Stop the World, I Want to Get Off | Littlechap | TV movie |
| 1996 | Talk to Me | Howard Grant | TV movie |
| 1996 | For Hope | Date #2 (uncredited) | TV movie |
| 1997 | Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man | Brad (voice) | Episode: "From Brad to Worse" |
| 1997 | The Nanny | Leslie Tilbert | Episode: "The Bank Robbery" |
| 1997 | George & Leo | Dr. Michael Harris | Episode: "The Cameo Episode" |
| 1997 | Pinky and the Brain | Weird Guy (voice) | Episode: "Mice Don't Dance/Brain Drained" |
| 1997–2000 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show | Wayne Szalinski / Various | 66 episodes |
| 1998 | Pinky and the Brain | Mr. Perfect (voice) | Episode: "The Family That Poits Together, Narfs Together" |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Pete Conrad | Episode: "Can We Do This?" |
| 1998 | Hey Arnold! | Doug (voice) | Episode: "Stinky Goes Hollywood/Olga Gets Engaged" |
| 2000 | The Ultimate Christmas Present | Edwin Hadley | TV movie |
| 2001 | Touched by an Angel | Tim Albright | Episode: "Heaven's Portal" |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Hooley | Episode: "Nine One One" |
| 2002 | Reba | Parker Reynolds | Episode: "The Story of a Divorce" |
| 2002 | The King of Queens | Ron | Episode: "No Orleans" |
| 2002 | ER | Kyle Evans | Episode: "Bygones" |
| 2002 | The West Wing | Antares C.E.O. Jake Kimball | Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" |
| 2002 | What I Like About You | Dad | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Prof. Higginson (voice) | Episode: "Scooby-Doo Christmas" |
| 2003 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Ringmaster | Episode: "Cirque du Sabrina" |
| 2005 | Listen Up! | Andrew McKillop | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Big Love | Seminary Teacher | Episode: "Affair" |
| 2006 | American Dad! | Himself / Limo Driver (voice) | Episode: "Roger n' Me" |
| 2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Ray Palmer / Atom (voice) | Episode: "Sword of the Atom!" |
| 2012–2017 | Girls | Tad Horvath | 21 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2016) |
| 2013 | White Collar | Zimmer the Keymaster | Episode: "Brass Tacks" |
| 2015 | Gotham | Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Chopped | Himself | Episode: "Tournament of Stars: Actors" |
| 2016 | Madoff | Peter Madoff | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Odd Mom Out | Lawyer | Episode: "Jury Doody" |
| 2017 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Dennis Barkley | Episode: "Unintended Consequences" |
| 2018 | The Good Fight | Greg | Episode: "Day 436" |
| 2019-2020 | Evil | Bishop Thomas Marx | 3 episodes |
References
- Deadline.com. "Peter Scolari Wins Guest Actor Comedy Series Emmy for Role as Lena Dunham's Dad". deadline.com. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
- Ouzounian, Richard (September 20, 2008). "From tragedy, a comedian is born". The Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- The Broadway League. "Internet Broadway Database". Ibdb.com. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
- "Internet Off-Broadway Database". Lortel.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
- "Newlyweds enjoy roles in Broadway's 'Bronx Bombers'". Oneidadispatch.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- "Peter Scolari Marries Tracy Shayne, Tom Hanks Toasts Girls Actor - Us Weekly". usmagazine.com. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- Eggenberger, Nicole (October 4, 2013). "Peter Scolari Marries Tracy Shayne, Tom Hanks Gives "Amazing" Toast". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
- "Ralph Macchio, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Kenny Loggins & Peter Scolari." Oprah: Where Are They Now? Exec Prod. Julie Simpson, Jill Van Lokern, and Jonathan Sinclair. Co-Exec. Prod. Heather Aldridge. CEO/Chief Creat. Off. Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey Network. 10 Jan. 2014.
External links
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