Who is Peter Gallagher? The Secrets of Longevity in Hollywood

 

Peter Gallagher Wiki Bio

American actor Peter Killian Gallagher was born in New York City, USA, on 19 August 1955, making Leo his zodiac sign. He’s appeared in 114 TV series and movies, and is perhaps still known best for portraying Buddy Kane in the critically acclaimed 1999 drama movie “American Beauty”, directed by Sam Mendes, and which starred Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning and Thora Birch. It follows a sexually frustrated father who’s attracted to his daughter’s friend, and the film won 117 of its 219 award nominations, including five Oscar wins for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, amongst others.

Education and early life

Peter was raised in Armonk, New York State by his father Thomas Francis Gallagher, Jr. who was an advertising executive, and mother Mary Ann (nee O’Shea) who was a bacteriologist; he has two older siblings.

Peter grew up being focused on his studies, as his parents wanted him to pursue an education rather than a career in the film industry. He was mostly into appearing in school plays and playing football with his peers while attending Byram Hills High School, and upon matriculating in 1973, Peter enrolled at Tufts University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1977.

He then honed his acting skills at the William Esper Studio and appeared in a number of off-Broadway plays.

Roles in TV series

Peter’s debut TV series role was playing John Skagska in six episodes of the 1980 drama “Skag”, and the ‘80s saw him appear in an episode or two of a couple of series, such as the adventure comedy “ABC Weekend Specials”, the 1987 crime drama “Private Eye” and the 1988 historical crime drama “The Murder of Mary Phagan”.

In 1993, Peter played Dr. Yorgrau in three episodes of the crime mystery “Fallen Angels”, created by William Horberg, and which starred Dan Hedaya, Lynette Walden and Miguel Ferrer. It follows the lives of God’s fallen angels, the series aired from 1993 through 1996 and won three of its 24 award nominations.

Peter’s following notable performance was playing the lead character Michael in all the 13 episodes of the comedy “The Secret Lives of Men”, created by Susan Harris, and which starred Bradley Whitford, Mitch Rouse and Peter Gallagher. It follows three friends Andy, Phil and Michael, who’ve founded their own exclusive club.

The 2000s saw Peter appear in only five TV series, but including portraying the main character Sandy Cohen in all the 92 episodes of the romantic drama “The O. C.”, which Josh Schwartz created, and which also starred Adam Brody and Mischa Barton. It follows the lives of several troublesome teenagers, the series aired from 2003 through 2007 and won 15 of its 37 award nominations.

From 2010 through 2014, Peter played Arthur Campbell in 68 episodes of the crime action “Covert Affairs”, created by Matt Corman and Chris Ord, and which starred Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham and Kari Matchett. It follows the life of new CIA operative Annie Walker, and the series won one of its two award nominations.

Peter’s three most recent TV series roles have been in the 2022 episode “Who’s the Boss” of the comedy “Reboot”, five episodes of the 2023 crime mystery “Truth Be Told” and three episodes of the 2023 animated action adventure “The Owl House” (voice role).

Roles in movies

Peter made his debut film appearance in the 1980 biographical musical drama “The Idolmaker”, while some of his following roles were in the 1982 romantic comedy “Summer Lovers”, the 1986 drama “My Little Girl” and the 1988 war drama “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”.

He gained recognition in 1992, when cast to play Larry Levy in the crime comedy “The Player”, directed by Robert Altman, and which starred Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi and Fred Ward. It follows a Hollywood studio executive who’s begun receiving death threats from a man whose script he’s rejected, and the movie won 24 of its 60 award nominations, including Oscar nominations for Best Film Editing, Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Published. Some of Peter’s notable roles in the remainder of the decade were in the 1993 comedy “Watch It”, the 1996 thriller “Last Dance”, and the 1999 mystery horror thriller “House on Haunted Hill”.

In 2002, he portrayed Chuck Cedar in the popular romantic comedy “Mr. Deeds”, directed by Steven Brill, and which starred Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder and John Turturro. It follows a small-town man who’s become the majority owner of a media conglomerate, and has begun changing things around; the movie won five of its 14 award nominations. Peter could then have been seen appearing in the 2008 romantic musical “Center Stage: Turn It Up”, the 2009 romantic comedy “Adam” and the 2009 romantic crime drama “The War Boys”.

He played Willy Williams in the 2015 romantic comedy “Hello, My Name Is Doris”, written and directed by Michael Showalter, and which starred Sally Field, Max Greenfield and Tyne Daly. It tells the story of a woman in her 60s who’s been inspired by a self-help seminar to pursue her younger co-worker, and the movie won two of its 13 award nominations.

Peter’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2020 fantasy mystery comedy “Palm Springs”, and in 2021 the musical fantasy “One December Night” and the fantasy comedy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas”; he’s currently shooting for the upcoming movie “Humane”.

Other credits

Peter wrote the 1991 musical mystery movie “The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez”.

He’s sung songs in 11 movies, TV series and TV specials, including the 2015 TV special “The 69th Tony Awards”, the 2020 fantasy mystery comedy movie “Palm Springs”, and the 2022 musical family movie “One December Night”.

Some of Peter’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!”, “Stars in the House” and “Hollywood Insider”.

Awards and nominations

Peter’s won four of his nine award nominations, including his 1994 Golden Globe win for Best Ensemble Cast, for his and his colleagues’ performance in “Short Cuts”.

He also won a 1984 Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Male, a 1993 Venice Film Festival Special Volpi Cup Award, for “Short Cuts” (shared with colleagues) and a 2000 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture, for “American Beauty” (shared with colleagues).

Love life and relationships

Peter avoids speaking about his love life in public, but it’s known that he and American non-celebrity woman Paula Harwood have been married since 7 May 1983.

Neither of the two has spoken about how they met and how long they’d dated prior to marrying, but it’s believed that they met on a blind date in 1981. Paula gave birth to their son James Gallagher in 1990, while their daughter Kathryn Gallagher followed in 1993; James is today a screenwriter and director, while Kathryn’s a successful actress and producer, who’s appeared in 12 TV series and movies, and is probably known best for playing Annika Atwater in eight episodes of the hit romantic crime series “You”.

Peter’s yet to speak of the women whom he had dated prior to meeting Paula, whom he’s married to as of April 2023, and they have two children together.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Peter’s passionate about music, and was a member of the male a cappella group Beelzebubs while attending Tufts University.

Unlike what some people believe to be true, Peter’s not related to Oasis musicians Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher.

His mother had struggled with Alzheimer’s disease for 20 years, prior to dying in 2004.

Peter’s revealed that he prefers to play the bad guy rather than the good guy, as the former’s more interesting to portray.

He’s described the new pop culture as ‘no culture, all pop, no pleasure, all guilt’.

Peter’s followed by more than 110,000 people on Instagram, and has posted over 170 pictures and videos; he’s a huge dog-lover, and often features his pet dog in his pictures.

Peter’s favorite actor is Richard Gere, and some of his favorite movies include “Internal Affairs”, “Mr. Jones” and “Red Corner”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Peter’s age is 67. He has blue eyes and black hair, is 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, and weighs around 170lbs (78kgs).

Peter’s net worth’s been estimated at over $12 million, as of April 2023.