Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz | |
|---|---|
 Bonerz in July 1973 | |
| Born | Peter Roman Bonerz August 6, 1938 |
| Alma mater | Marquette University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Spouse |
Rosalind DiTrapani Bonerz
(m.1963) |
| Children | 2 |
Peter Roman Bonerz[1](/ˈbɒnərz/,born August 6, 1938) is an American actor and director.
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Bonerz married Rosalind DiTrapani in 1963; together they have two sons, Eli and Eric.[8]
Filmography
[edit]As actor
[edit]- 1965:The Addams Family– Mr. Boswell
- 1966:Summer Fun– Chips
- 1967:Hey, Landlord– Proctor
- 1967:Funnyman– Perry
- 1968:That Girl– Larry Yorkin
- 1968–1969:The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour– Various
- 1969:Where It's At– Unknown role
- 1969:Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice?– Mr. Bentley
- 1969:Medium Cool– Gus
- 1969:The Governor & J.J.– Hubbell
- 1970:A Storm in Summer– Stanley
- 1970:Catch-22– MacWatt
- 1970:Hawaii Five-O– Earl
- 1971:U.S.A.–
- 1971:Story Theatre– Unknown role
- 1971:McMillan and Wife- George Harvard (ep. “Death is a Seven Point Favorite” )
- 1971:Jennifer of My Mind– Sergei Wasserman
- 1972–1978:The Bob Newhart Show– Dr. Jerry Robinson
- 1986:Murder, She Wrote- Calhoun Fletcher (ep. “The Perfect Foil” )
As director
[edit]- 1966:Summer Fun
- 1974:The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- 1974:Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
- 1974–1978:The Bob Newhart Show
- 1975:When Things Were Rotten
- 1976:Good Heavens
- 1976:Father O Father(TV film)
- 1976:The Tony Randall Show
- 1977:Szysznyk
- 1978:Apple Pie
- 1979:McGurk: A Dog's Life
- 1980:Love, Natalie
- 1980:G.I.'s
- 1981:Nobody's Perfekt
- 1982:In Security
- 1982:High Five(TV short)
- 1983:Focus on Fishko(short)
- 1983:Simeon Show
- 1984:Back Together
- 1984:Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs
- 1985:The Recovery Room
- 1988:Sharing Richard
- 1989:Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
- 1989:Julie Brown: The Show(TV short)
- 1993:The Elvira Show(TV short)
- 1996–1999:Home Improvement
- 2005–2006:Joey
- 2005–2007:Living with Fran
- 2006:Drive/II
- 2011:$h*! My Dad Says
References
[edit]- ^"Peter Bonerz".Television Academy Interviews.2017-10-22.Retrieved2024-07-18.
- ^Brown, Janice (2019-04-30)."Actor, Director, Comedian and Teacher: Peter Bonerz of Portsmouth New Hampshire (1938-Still Living)".Cow Hampshire.Retrieved2023-11-24.
- ^"Peter Bonerz Biography (1938-)".filmreference.Retrieved2023-11-24.
- ^"Peter Bonerz".Television Academy Interviews.2017-10-22.Retrieved2023-06-17.
- ^DVD commentary fromThe Addams Family - The Complete Series,Special Feature, "Guest Star Seance"
- ^"Newhart in the '90s: A Look at BOB".11 March 2015.Retrieved4 March2018.
- ^Peter Bonerz Biography (1938-)- Film Reference
- ^"Peter Bonerz".tcm.Retrieved2023-11-24.
External links
[edit]
- 1938 births
- Living people
- Male actors from New Hampshire
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American television directors
- American comedy film directors
- Marquette University alumni
- People from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Military personnel from Milwaukee
- Military personnel from New Hampshire
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- United States Army soldiers
- Directors Guild of America Award winners
- Male actors from Milwaukee
- Film directors from New Hampshire
- Marquette University High School alumni