Peter Riegert(/riːɡɜːrt/REE-gert;) (born April 11, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein inAnimal House(1978), oil company executive "Mac" MacIntyre inLocal Hero(1983), pickle store owner Sam Posner inCrossing Delancey(1988) and Lt. Mitch Kellaway inThe Mask(1994). He directed the short filmBy Courier(2000), for which he was nominated along with producer Ericka Frederick for theAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
Peter Riegert | |
|---|---|
 Riegert at the premiere ofThe Rosein 1979 | |
| Born | April 11, 1947 |
| Alma mater | The State University of New York(The University at Buffalo) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
On television, Riegert had a recurring role as crooked Newark Assemblyman and later State SenatorRonald Zellmanin seasons three and four of theHBOseriesThe Sopranos(2001–2002), appeared as George Moore in the first season of theFXseriesDamages(2007), and portrayedSeth Green's father in the comedy seriesDads(2013–2014). He was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Awardfor his performance in the HBO filmBarbarians at the Gatein 1993.
Early life and education
editRiegert was born on April 11, 1947, inthe Bronx,New York,the son of Lucille, a piano teacher, and Milton Riegert, a food wholesaler.[1]Riegert grew up inHartsdale, New York,and was raised in a non-observantJewishhousehold.[2]
He graduated fromArdsley High Schoolin 1964 and later from theUniversity at Buffalo.He worked at a number of jobs, including teaching, waiting tables, and as asocial workerbefore settling on acting as a career.
Career
editStage
editRiegert made hisBroadwaydebut in themusicalDance with Me.Other Broadway credits includeThe Old Neighborhood,An American Daughter,The Nerd,andCensored Scenes From King Kong.Off-Broadway he has appeared inRoad to Nirvana,The Birthday Party,Isn't It Romantic,Sexual Perversity in Chicago,andA Rosen by Any Other Name.
Film
editRiegert's film debut came in 1978'sNational Lampoon's Animal House.He has subsequently appeared in films such asCrossing Delancey,Local Hero,The Mask,Traffic,andWe Bought a Zoo.
Television
editRiegert made histelevisiondebut in two episodes ofM*A*S*H.He has also portrayed Newark Assemblyman and laterNew JerseyState SenatorRonald ZellmaninThe Sopranosanddefense attorneyChauncey Zeirko in multiple episodes ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.He starred opposite former girlfriendBette Midlerin the television adaptation ofGypsyand was featured in theHBOdramaBarbarians at the Gate(which earned him anEmmy Awardnomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special). He also starred as composer Jake Rubin (based on real-life composerIrving Berlin) in the 1984 miniseriesEllis Island,the final episode ofSeinfeldas the president ofNBC,and thetelevision movieBack When We Were Grownups.Riegert voiced the character of Max Weinstein in the controversial episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"ofFamily Guy.Riegert guest-starred in a Season 2 episode ofLeverageas corrupt lawyer Peter Blanchard. In 2011, Riegert began a multi-episode arc onOne Tree Hillas August Kellerman, Nathan's unforgiving college professor. Riegert appeared as the character George Moore in Season 1 ofDamages.He also appeared in a recurring role as Judge Harvey Winter in CBS'The Good Wife.He appeared inDadsas David Sachs, the father of Eli Sachs, played bySeth Green.Riegert also appeared in Seasons 3 and 4 ofUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.He made a multi-episode guest appearance in the second half of theNetflixoriginal comedy seriesDisjointed.Riegert has a recurring role as left-wing lawyer Roger Pugh on Season 3 of the HBO seriesSuccession.[3]
Director and writer
editRiegert made his screenwriting and directorial debuts withBy Courier,based on a short story byO. Henry.It received anAcademy Awardnomination for Best Live Action Short Film and won him the Festival Award for Best First Feature at theMarco IslandFilm Festival.
Riegert also directed and co-wroteKing of the Corner,a 2004 film featured at theNewport Film Festival,in which he also starred alongsideIsabella Rossellini.It also featuredEric Bogosian,Dominic Chianese,Beverly D'AngeloandRita Moreno.
Voice work
editRiegert narrated theaudiobookofMichael Chabon'sThe Yiddish Policemen's Union,which was nominated for a 2008Audie Awardinliterary fiction.He also narrated the audiobook ofThe Voyage of the Narwhal,[4]and has read the stories ofRaymond Carver.
He was also the narrator forThe First Basket,a documentary film on professional basketball's influence on Jewish culture.[5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | National Lampoon's Animal House | Donald "Boon" Schoenstein | |
| 1979 | Americathon | McMerkin | |
| 1979 | Chilly Scenes of Winter | Sam | |
| 1981 | National Lampoon's Movie Madness | Jason Cooper | |
| 1983 | Local Hero | MacIntyre | |
| 1987 | A Man in Love | Michael Pozner | |
| 1987 | The Stranger | Dr. Harris Kite | |
| 1988 | Crossing Delancey | Sam Posner | |
| 1989 | That's Adequate | Adult Baby Elroy | |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Robert "Bob" Benham | |
| 1991 | The Object of Beauty | Lawrence "Larry" Oates | |
| 1991 | Oscar | Aldo | |
| 1991 | The Runestone | Capt. Gregory Fanducci | |
| 1992 | Utz | Marius Fisher | |
| 1992 | Passed Away | Peter Syracusa | |
| 1994 | The Mask | Lt. Mitch Kellaway | |
| 1995 | Coldblooded | Steve | |
| 1996 | Pie in the Sky | Dad Dunlap | |
| 1996 | Infinity | Mel Feynman | |
| 1998 | Jerry and Tom | Stanley | |
| 1998 | Hi-Life | Minor | |
| 2000 | Passion of Mind | Dr. Peters | |
| 2000 | How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog | Larry | |
| 2000 | Traffic | Attorney Michael Adler | |
| 2003 | Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update | Donald "Boone" Schoenstein | Video short |
| 2004 | King of the Corner | Leo Spivak | Also writer and director |
| 2009 | Love Conquers Paul | Mr. Feigenbaum | |
| 2010 | The Chosen One | Bob | |
| 2010 | White Irish Drinkers | Whitey | |
| 2011 | Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness | Himself | |
| 2011 | We Bought a Zoo | Delbert McGinty | |
| 2013 | At Middleton | Boneyard Sims | |
| 2014 | The Walk | Alfred Foxman | Short |
| 2016 | American Pastoral | Lou Levov |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | M*A*S*H | Cpl. Igor Straminsky | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | American Playhouse | Richard M. Nixon | Episodes: "Concealed Enemies",Parts I-IV |
| 1984 | Ellis Island | Jacob Rubinstein | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Gus Rosenthal | Episode: "The Beacon/One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty" |
| 1986 | News at Eleven | Eric Ross | Television film |
| 1989 | American Masters | W. Eugene Smith | Episode: "W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult" |
| 1989 | Trying Times | Bill | Episode: "The Hit List" |
| 1992 | Middle Ages | Walter Cooper | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | Barbarians at the Gate | Peter Cohen | Television film |
| 1993 | Gypsy | Herbie | Television film |
| 1995 | The Infiltrator | Rabbi Cooper | Television film |
| 1995 | Mystery Dance | Alan Baker | Episode #1.1 |
| 1995 | An Element of Truth | Sidney Wiltz | Television film |
| 1996 | Law & Order | Jerold Dixon | Episode: "Deceit" |
| 1997 | North Shore Fish | Porker | Television film |
| 1997 | Face Down | Lieutenant Cooper (Coop) | Television film |
| 1998 | Seinfeld | James Kimbrough | Episode: "The Finale" |
| 1998 | The Baby Dance | Richard Luckman | Television film |
| 1998 | Scandalous Me: Jacqueline Susann Story | Irving Mansfield | Television film |
| 2000 | Sports Night | Jay Rydell | Episode: "The Cut Man Cometh" |
| 2001 | Bojangles | Marty Forkins | Television film |
| 2001 | The Beast | Ted Fisher | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Bleacher Bums | Decker | Television film |
| 2001–2002 | The Sopranos | Assemblyman Ronald Zellman | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Family Guy | Max Weinstein (voice) | Episode: "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" |
| 2004 | Back When We Were Grownups | Zeb Davitch | Television film |
| 2004–2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Chauncey Zeirko | 7 episodes |
| 2007 | Damages | George Moore / The Executive | 9 episodes |
| 2008 | Cashmere Mafia | Len Dinerstein | Episode: "Dog Eat Dog" |
| 2009 | Leverage | Peter Blanchard | Episode: "The Lost Heir Job" |
| 2009–2012 | The Good Wife | Judge Harvey Winter | 5 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | One Tree Hill | Dr. August Kellerman | 6 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Dads | David Sachs | 19 episodes |
| 2015 | Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll | Ted | Episode: "Supercalifragilisticjuliefriggingandrews" |
| 2015 | Show Me a Hero | Oscar Newman | 6 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Artie Goodman | 9 episodes |
| 2018 | Disjointed | Walter | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Succession | Roger Pugh | |
| 2022 | Bull | Dr. Cohen | |
| 2023 | Extrapolations | Ben Zucker |
References
edit- ^"Peter Riegert Biography (1947-)".Film Reference.Retrieved15 January2017.
- ^Fox, Michael (June 3, 2005)."Peter Reigert gives voice to 'bad Jews' in directorial debut".J. The Jewish News of Northern California.Retrieved17 November2019.
I was aware of being Jewish and I don't mean that in a small way.
- ^Drysdale, Neil (November 1, 2021)."Peter Riegert in Succession: Will Local Hero lock horns with Logan Roy?".The Press and Journal.Aberdeen.RetrievedMay 14,2022.
- ^"The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett on Audio Download".LearnOutLoud.Retrieved15 January2017.
- ^"The Production Team".The First Basket.Retrieved15 January2017.
