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Peter Bonerz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peter Bonerz
Bonerz in July 1973
Born
Peter Roman Bonerz

(1938-08-06)August 6, 1938(age 86)
Alma materMarquette University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1965–present
Spouse
Rosalind DiTrapani Bonerz
(m.1963)
Children2

Peter Roman Bonerz[1](/ˈbɒnərz/,born August 6, 1938) is an American actor and director.

Early life

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Bonerz[2]was born inPortsmouth, New Hampshire,to Elfrieda (née Kern) and Christopher Bonerz.[3]He grew up inMilwaukee,Wisconsin,where he attendedMarquette University High School.Here, performing with the Prep Players, he gained his first theatrical experience. AtMarquette University,he participated in the Marquette University Players. After graduating with aBachelor of Sciencedegree in 1960, he decided to seek a career in theater, starting in New York City in improv with a troupe called The Premise. After compulsory service as a draftee in theUnited States Army,he worked with an improv troupe in San Francisco known asThe Committee,whose members includedRob Reiner,David Ogden Stiers,Howard HessemanandHamilton Camp.[4]

Career

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Bonerz's first network television appearance was in 1965 onThe Addams Familyin the season-two episode "Morticia, The Writer".[5]He had several more TV appearances in the late 1960s and also had roles in several films, includingFunnyman(1967);What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?(1969);Medium Cool(1969);Catch-22(1970), which also included his future co-starBob Newhart;Jennifer on My Mind(1971); andFuzz(1972). In 1971, Bonerz was part of an ensemble cast in the short-lived improvisational television showStory Theatre,which also includedAlan AldaandValerie Harper.In 1972, he landed the popular supporting role of Dr. Jerry Robinson, the eccentricorthodontistonThe Bob Newhart Show,whose most frequentcomic foilwasMarcia Wallaceas Carol, the sharp-tongued receptionist. Bonerz would reprise this role in a cameo appearance in the final, unaired episode of Bob Newhart's third series,Bob.[6]He also directed 29 episodes. The show ran for six seasons, with ratings among the top 20 in the first three seasons. Bonerz became the last surviving cast member upon the death of Bob Newhart in 2024.

His later acting roles included the TV miniseriesThe Bastard(1978) and as a psychiatrist in the movieSerial(1980). In 1979, Bonerz appeared onPassword Plusas a game show contestant/celebrity guest star with Marcia Wallace, his costar fromThe Bob Newhart Show.In 1986, Bonerz co-starred withTuesday WeldandRiver Phoenixin the television movieCircle of Violence: A Family Drama.In 1999, he playedEd. Weinbergerin the movieMan on the Moon.He voiced Sal in theAaahh!!! Real Monstersepisode "Internal Affairs". In 2014, he played Doug Demarco in the "Anniversaries" episode ofParks and Recreation.

Beginning in 1974, Bonerz directed 29 episodes ofThe Bob Newhart Show.Between 1974 and 2011, he directed over 350 episodes of various shows, including series likeMurphy Brown(93 episodes),Home Improvement(29 episodes),E/R(22 episodes),Friends(12 episodes),Joey (TV series)(3 episodes), and many others such asWings,NewsRadio,Archie Bunker's Place,andALF.He also directed films such asNobody's Perfekt(1981) andPolice Academy 6: City Under Siege(1989).[7]

Personal life

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Bonerz married Rosalind DiTrapani in 1963; together they have two children, Eli and Eric.[8]

Filmography

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As actor

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As director

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References

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  1. ^"Peter Bonerz".Television Academy Interviews.2017-10-22.Retrieved2024-07-18.
  2. ^Brown, Janice (2019-04-30)."Actor, Director, Comedian and Teacher: Peter Bonerz of Portsmouth New Hampshire (1938-Still Living)".Cow Hampshire.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  3. ^"Peter Bonerz Biography (1938-)".filmreference.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  4. ^"Peter Bonerz".Television Academy Interviews.2017-10-22.Retrieved2023-06-17.
  5. ^DVD commentary fromThe Addams Family - The Complete Series,Special Feature, "Guest Star Seance"
  6. ^"Newhart in the '90s: A Look at BOB".11 March 2015.Retrieved4 March2018.
  7. ^Peter Bonerz Biography (1938-)- Film Reference
  8. ^"Peter Bonerz".tcm.Retrieved2023-11-24.
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