Peter Scolari Biography – Peter Scolari Wiki
Peter Scolari born Peter Thomas Scolari was an American actor, majorly recognized for his roles as Michael Harris on Newhart (1984–1990) and Henry Desmond in Bosom Buddies (1980–1982). He was a recipient of three Emmy nominations for his work on Newhart and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his recurring role as Tad Horvath on Girls in 2016.
Scolari’s first ongoing role was in his first short-lived 1980 sitcom Goodtime Girls, as the juggling neighbor of the title characters. He first gained attention as the then-unknown Tom Hanks’ co-star in the 1980-1982 sitcom “Bosom Buddies,” in which their characters disguised themselves as women to live in affordable, females-only housing. After Bosom Buddies was canceled in 1982 and still struggling as an actor, he became part of the cast of Newhart opposite Bob Newhart in 1984, where he played Michael Harris, the yuppie local TV producer, until the series’ conclusion in 1990.
After central roles in the unsuccessful series Family Album and Dweebs, Scolari spent three seasons playing inventor Wayne Szalinski, a role originated on film by Rick Moranis, in the TV adaptation of the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He later had a recurring role as the father of Lena Dunham’s character on HBO’s Girls, for which he won an Emmy in 2016. He also portrayed Gotham City’s corrupt police commissioner, Gillian B. Loeb, in Fox’s superhero crime drama Gotham.
He was cast on Broadway in Wicked, Sly Fox, Hairspray, and Lucky Guy, which reunited him with his Bosom Buddies co-star Tom Hanks. Scolari also appeared Off-Broadway in Old Man Joseph and His Family, The Exonerated, In the Wings, The Music Man, and White’s Lies. In 1996, he starred in a version of the stage musical Stop the World – I Want to Get Off produced for the A&E television network. In 2014, he portrayed Yogi Berra in Bronx Bombers. His wife Tracy Shayne played Berra’s wife Carmen. Subsequently, he played the part of the Wizard of Oz in the Broadway musical Wicked.
Peter Scolari Age
He was born in New Rochelle, New York, on September 12, 1955, and died on October 22, 2021, in New York, New York, United States. He was 66 years.
Peter Scolari Wife
He was married four times. From June 2013 to October 22, 2021, he was married to his fourth wife actress Tracy Shayne. Before that, he had married actress Cathy Trien from 1998 to 2004 with whom he had two children. He had also married his ex-wife Debra Steagal from 1986 to 1996. His first wife had been Lisa Kretzchmar whom they lived together from 1981 to 1983 when they divorced.
Peter Scolari Parents
He was born in New Rochelle, New York. He described his father as an abusive, rageful man, and his mother as an alcoholic, and has said that their marriage was tumultuous. They stayed together for the kids and also because they were hopelessly in love with each other, but they were totally incompatible, he said in an interview with the Toronto Star.
Peter Scolari Children
He was the father of four children, Nicholas, Joseph, Keaton, and his only daughter Cali who survive him.
Peter Scolari Height
He stood at a listed height of 5 feet 5 inches (1.69meters) tall.
Peter Scolari Death
Scolari died from cancer (leukemia) on October 22, 2021, in New York City, at age 66. He had the disease for two years at the time of his death. His management company, Wright Entertainment, said the cause was cancer through his manager Ellen Lubin Sanitsky.
His Newhart co-star Bob Newhart said, “We were friends and colleagues for over 40 years,” Newhart said in a statement to The Associated Press. He said the contributions of on-screen couple Scolari and Julia Duffy in Newhart were an “essential part” of the show’s success.
Peter Scolari Cause of Death
He died from cancer (leukemia) on October 22, 2021, in New York City, at age 66.
