Peter Gallagher

Photo of Peter Gallagher

Biography

An accomplished stage and screen performer, with piercing blue eyes, thick black hair and strong, handsome features, dominated by full, pouty lips, Peter Gallagher received his training at Tufts University and apprenticed at the Boston Shakespeare Company. After appearing in the touring company of "Grease" and subsequently in the Broadway production, he went on to rack up numerous stage credits, including the American premiere of "Another …
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Job Title

Actor, Music, Visual Effects & Animation, Other

Born

August 19, 1955

Career Milestones

2010

Guest-starred as a priest counseling Denis Leary's character on FX's "Rescue Me"

2009

Co-starred opposite Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne in the drama "Adam"

2009

Joined the cast of Showtime's "Californication" as a university dean

2003

Cast as attorney Sandy Cohn, on the Fox drama "The O.C."

2003

Cast as Mandy Moore's dad in "How To Deal"

2001

Starred on Broadway in the revival of "Noises Off"

2000

Had leading role in Showtime original movie "The Last Debate"

2000

Played an imperious dance teacher in "Center Stage"

1999

Appeared in the Showtime original "Brotherhood of Murder"

1999

Played an odious real estate agent in "American Beauty"

1998

Co-starred in the ABC sitcom "The Secret Lives of Men"

1998

Appeared in the NBC miniseries "Brave New World"

1996

Starred a widower still mourning for his dead wife in "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday"

1996

Had featured role in the CBS miniseries "Titanic"

1995

Reteamed with Soderbergh for "The Underneath"

1993

Co-starred in Altman's "Short Cuts"

1992

Played Sky Masterson in successful Broadway revival of "Guys and Dolls"

1992

Starred as the ambitious studio executive Larry Levy in "The Player", directed by Altman

1990

Offered a chilling turn as a murder suspect in the ABC movie "True Betrayal"

1989

Breakthrough film role in "sex, lies, videotape", directed by Steven Soderbergh

1988

Co-starred in the CBS remake of "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", directed by Robert Altman

1988

Portrayed Leo Frank in the NBC miniseries "The Murder of Mary Phagan"

1987

Reprised stage role of Edmund Tyrone in Showtime production of "Long Day's Journey Into Night"

1984

Had small supporting role in the Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing"

1982

Co-starred in short-lived Broadway musical, "A Doll's Life"

1982

First film in a lead role, "Summer Lovers"

1980

Feature film debut as a singer in "The Idolmaker"

1980

TV-movie debut, "Skag" (NBC); also regular on the short-lived series

1978

Broadway acting debut as Danny Zuko in "Grease"

1977

Signed to co-star in the Broadway revival of "Hair" but was released from his contract when cast in the lead of the touring production of "Grease"

Worked with local theater troupes every summer, including the Boston Shakespeare Company, while attending university

Awards

2008

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For a Half-Hour Series in Californication

2000

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in American Beauty