Peter Gallagher Biography

PETER GALLAGHER

Date of Birth: August 19, 1955

Peter Gallagher was born in Armonk, New York. While attending Tufts University, he sang with an a cappella group called the Beelzebubs.

Peter spent his summers appearing with area theater groups, and after graduating in 1977, he acted on Broadway in a revival of Hair. Peter then starred as Danny Zuko in Grease, a performance which led to his portrayal of a 1950s-era pop singer in his film debut, The Idolmaker (1980). Summer Lovers followed two years later, but proved such a miserable experience that Gallagher fled Hollywood to return to the stage.

An award-winning stage actor, Peter earned a Theatre World Award for his work in A Doll's Life (1982) and a Clarence Derwent Award for The Real Thing (1984). He also starred as Sky Masterson in the Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls (1992-95) and as Joey Evans in the concert revival of Pal Joey(1995).

In 1985, Peter returned to the big screen in Dreamchild, followed in 1987 by My Little Girl. After garnering a Tony nomination for his work in a controversial revival of Long Day's Journey into Night, he enjoyed success as an adulterous attorney in the influential 1989 film Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989). The performance earned Peter considerable credibility within the independent filmmaking community.

A subsequent turn in the 1991 avant-silent The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez brought acclaim from art house audiences, and with a lead role in The Player (1992), Peter's stock rose even higher. He delivered a memorable performance as the unworthy object of Sandra Bullock's desire in While You Were Sleeping (1995), though he spent much of the film in a coma.

In 1999, he gave smarm a convincing name, starring as a sleazy physician in The House on Haunted Hill, a remake of the 1958 horror classic, and as a similarly repugnant real estate salesman in American Beauty. In 2003, Peter also achieved TV success when he landed a regular starring role as Sandy Cohen on the huge hit Fox TV series, The O.C. (2003 - 2007). Peter was then seen playing the crude businessman and the lead girl's strict father in the dance film Step Up Revolution (2012).

Still going strong, Peter recently played the role of Ken Scott in After(2019).

He has been married to Paula Harwood since 1983, and they have two children.

Filmography:

Step Up Revolution (2012)
Burlesque (2010)
Conviction (2010)
The War Boys (2009)
Adam (2009)
How to Deal (2003)
Mr. Deeds (2002)
The Sweet Spot (2002)
Protection (2001)
Lunar Girl (2001)
Perfume (2001)
Center Stage (2001)
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
American Beauty (1999)
Other Voices (1999)
Johnny Skidmarks (1998)
The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)
To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)
Last Dance (1996)
Cannes Man (1996)
Underneath (1995)
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Cafe Society (1995)
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Short Cuts (1993)
Malice (1993)
Mother's Boys (1993)
Watch It (1993)
The Player (1992)
Bob Roberts (1992)
Milena (1991)
The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez (1991)
Late for Dinner (1991)
Tune in Tomorrow... (1990)
sex, lies, and videotape (1989)
My Little Girl (1986)
Dreamchild (1985)
Summer Lovers (1982)
The Idolmaker (1980)
Manny's Orphans (1978)