Peter Gallagher - Actor - TV Insider

Peter Gallagher Peter Gallagher Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: August 19, 1955

Age: 70 years old

Birth Place: New York, New York

Children: Kathryn Gallagher

Awards

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An accomplished stage and screen performer, 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 Country" (1982), the short-lived musical "A Doll's Life" (also 1982) and a small role as Glenn Close's lover in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" (1984). He won praise and a Tony nomination as Edmund Tyrone (alongside Jack Lemmon and Kevin Spacey) in Jonathan Miller's controversial production of "Long Day's Journey Into Night," presented in 1987 on Broadway, London's West End and cable TV.

In 1992, he triumphed as Sky Masterson in the successful revival of "Guys and Dolls." More recently, he made a memorable Joey opposite Patti LuPone in the four-day run of City Center Encores' "Pal Joey" in 1995. He and LuPone also reteamed for a one-night only benefit staging of "Annie Get Your Gun" (1998).

Gallagher made his film debut as a Fabian-like singer in "The Idolmaker" (1980) and followed with Randal Kleiser's menage-a-trois romance "Summer Lovers" (1981). He began to play ne'er-do-wells in "Dreamchild" (1985), cast as a reporter who hustles the elderly inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice and his breakthrough came as the arrogant, adulterous yuppie lawyer in Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies and videotape" (1989). Gallagher displayed his aptitude for comedy as aggressive Hollywood executive Larry Levy in Robert Altman's "The Player" and a vacuous news anchor in Tim Robbins' "Bob Roberts" (both 1992) before returning to presumptuous lawyer mode with a supporting role in Harold Becker's thriller, "Malice" (1993). Altman featured him in "Short Cuts" (also 1993) as a helicopter pilot who extracts revenge on his cheating wife. The actor has remained a fixture in films, alternating between supporting roles in mainstream fare (e.g., the comatose yuppie in 1995's "While You Were Sleeping," the arrogant attorney in 1996's "Last Dance") and leads in smaller, independent features (especially Soderbergh's underrated 1995 noir thriller "The Underneath" and 1996's "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday"). On the small screen, Gallagher has generally been associated with quality productions debuting as Karl Malden's medical student son in the TV-movie and short-lived spin-off series "Skag" (NBC, 1980). Other notable roles include a supporting role to Art Carney and James Cagney in "Terrible Joe Moran" (CBS, 1984), the accused murderer Leo Frank in "The Murder of Mary Phagan" (NBC, 1988), as one of the navy officers in Altman's TV remake of "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" (CBS, 1988), and as the prime suspect in a murder case who is romanced by a female undercover cop (Mare Winningham) in the superior "True Betrayal" (ABC, 1990). In 1993, Gallagher was featured in two short films made for the Showtime network's "Fallen Angels" anthology series: Tom Cruise's "The Frightening Frammis" and Steven Soderbergh's "The Quiet Room." He also scored as an ambitious advertising executive with a conscience in the drama "White Mile" (HBO, 1994). More recently, he co-starred as a fictitious passenger on the doomed liner in the CBS miniseries "Titanic" (1996), an overworked FBI agent investigating a terrorist incident in "Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing" (HBO, 1997) and was featured in the NBC remake of "Brave New World" (1998). In 1998, Gallagher returned to series TV as a businessman in the throes of a divorce in the short-lived ABC sitcom "The Secret Lives of Men." That series' failure to find an audience was certainly levened by the success of Gallagher's next project, director Sam Mendes' powerful and affecting comedy-drama "American Beauty" (1999), in which the actor was particularly effective in a prominent supporting role as Annette Bening's employer and idol (and eventual lover), the smarmy realtor Buddy "The King" Kane. His next project, a modern remake of the cult horror classic "The House on Haunted Hill" (1999), was less impressive, but that same year he earned critical praise for his turn in the TV movie "Brotherhood of Murder" for his role as a volatile white supremist--he would reunite with co-star Steven Baldwin in 2001 for the B-grade thriller "Protection." Gallagher next appeared in several little-seen or forgettable features, indies and telepics--including a turn as an aging choreographer in director Nicholas Hytner's ill-received dancer drama "Center Stage" (2000)--including before resurfacing in Showtime's major television miniseries, an adaptation of novelist Anne Rice's "Feast of All Saints" (2001) as Philippe Ferronaire, and as scheming my corporate CEO Chuck Cedar opposite sweet-natured small town guy Longfellow Deeds (Adam Sandler) in "Mr. Deeds," a 2002 remake of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." Gallagher next appeared as Mandy Moore's romantically challenged father in the teen romance "How to Deal" (2003) before making another foray into series television as Sandy Cohren, the patriarch of a Newport Beach clan, on the WB youth drama "The O.C." (2003 - ).

Credits

Actor Guest Producer Director Writer Music All Credits

HumaneStream

ActorCharles YorkMovie202472%

The Day the Music DiedStream

SelfMovie202270%

Mr. MayorStream

Guest StarBrettSeries2021

One December NightStream

ActorMike SullivanMovie2021

Zoey's Extraordinary ChristmasStream

ActorMitchMovie2021

One Night Only: The Best of Broadway

GuestSpecial2020

Zoey's Extraordinary PlaylistStream

ActorMitch ClarkeSeries202081%

Palm SpringsStream

ActorHowardMovie202094%

Zavisnut v Palm-Springs

ActorMovie2020

The Kelly Clarkson Show

GuestTalk2019

Access Daily

GuestTalk2019

Tamron HallStream

GuestTalk2019

After

ActorChancellor Ken ScottMovie2019

Murphy Brown

Guest StarJohn HaggertyShow2018

The GiftedStream

Guest StarBenedict RyanSeries201779%

A Bad Moms ChristmasStream

ActorHankMovie201732%

Literally, Right Before Aaron

ActorOrson SchwartzmanMovie2017

Grace and FrankieStream

Guest StarNickSeries201690%

Center Stage: On PointeStream

ActorPeter GallagherMovie2016

Man Seeking WomanStream

Guest StarSeries201594%

Hello, My Name Is Doris

ActorWilly WilliamsMovie2015

The Meredith Vieira Show

GuestTalk2014

Kroll ShowStream

Guest StarSageSeries201390%

Step Up RevolutionStream

ActorMr. AndersonMovie201240%

WhitneyStream

Guest StarSeries201121%

New GirlStream

Guest StarGavinSeries201195%

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

ActorPaul SveckMovie2011

The Talk

GuestTalk2010

Single Father

ProducerShow2010

Access Hollywood Live

GuestShow2010

Covert AffairsStream

ActorArthur CampbellSeries201093%

Breakfast in Bed Marathon

ActorShow2010

BurlesqueStream

ActorVinceMovie201037%

ConvictionStream

ActorBarry ScheckMovie201067%

Gas Hole

NarratorMovie2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest StarEthan CarverSeries200993%

AdamStream

ActorMarty BuchwaldMovie200964%

The War Boys

ActorSlaterMovie2009

The Wendy Williams Show

GuestTalk2008

Mother's Day: O.C. Style

ActorShow2008

Center Stage: Turn It Up

ActorJonathan ReevesMovie2008

The Gathering

ActorDr. Michael FosterShow2007

CalifornicationStream

Guest StarDean Stacy KoonsSeries200757%

The Gathering - Tödliche Zusammenkunft

ActorDr. Michael FosterMovie2007

SharkStream

Guest StarSeries200652%

How I Met Your MotherStream

Guest StarProfessor VinickSeries200584%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest StarDr. David Hamilton.Series200584%

Robot ChickenStream

Guest VoiceSeries2005

Welcome to the O.C.: A Day in the Life

ActorShow2004

The O.C.: Obsess Completely

ActorShow2004

Rescue MeStream

Guest StarSeries200488%

The O.C.Stream

ActorSandy CohenSeries200368%

Secrets of the Pyramids

NarratorShow2003

How to Deal

ActorLen MartinMovie2003

A Tale of Two Wives

ActorBill GoodmanMovie2003

The Adventures of Tom Thumb & Thumbelina

VoiceThe Mole KingMovie2002

Mr. DeedsStream

ActorChuck CedarMovie200222%

The Feast of All Saints

ActorShow2001

Protection

ActorTedMovie2001

Perfume

ActorGuidoMovie2001

Jesucristo Superestrella

ActorFirst PriestMovie2000

Cupid & Cate

ActorHarryMovie2000

Other Voices

ActorJordinMovie2000

Center StageStream

ActorJonathan ReevesMovie200041%

The Last Debate

ActorTom ChapmanMovie2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest StarDeputy Chief William DoddsSeries199978%

Family Guy

Guest VoiceJaredShow1999

Family GuyStream

Guest VoiceJaredSeries1999

American BeautyStream

ActorBuddy KaneMovie199987%

Brotherhood of Murder

ActorBob MathewsMovie1999

House on Haunted HillStream

ActorDonald W. Blackburn, M.D.Movie199931%

The Secret Lives of Men

ActorShow1998

Johnny Skidmarks

ActorJohnny ScardinoMovie1998

Virtual Obsession

ActorDr. Joe MessengerMovie1998

Brave New World

ActorBernard MarxMovie1998

Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing

ActorJohn AnticevMovie1997

The Man Who Knew Too Little

ActorJames 'Jimmy' RitchieMovie1997

Titanic

ActorShow1996

Last Dance

ActorJohn HayesMovie1996

To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday

ActorDavid LewisMovie1996

The Underneath

ActorMichael ChambersMovie1995

While You Were SleepingStream

ActorPeter CallaghanMovie199581%

Cafe Society

ActorJack KaleMovie1995

Obsession

ActorMovie1994

Un Regreso Inesperado

ActorMovie1994

The Hudsucker ProxyStream

ActorVic Tenetta, Party SingerMovie199464%

Mother's Boys

ActorRobert MadiganMovie1994

Mrs. Parker and the Vicious CircleStream

ActorAlan CampbellMovie199476%

White Mile

ActorJack RobbinsMovie1994

Fallen Angels

ActorDr. YorgrauSeries1993

Homicide: Life on the StreetStream

Guest StarChris RawlsSeries199391%

Watch It

ActorJohnMovie1993

Short Cuts

ActorStormy WeathersMovie1993

Malice

ActorAtty. Dennis RileyMovie1993

Sorpresa

ActorMovie1993

The PlayerStream

ActorLarry LevyMovie199297%

An Inconvenient Woman

ActorPhilip QuennellShow1991

Late for Dinner

ActorBob FreemanMovie1991

The Lover

ActorPollakMovie1991

An Inconvenient Woman

ActorPhilip QuennellMovie1991

The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez

ActorMattMovie1991

Une femme encombrante

ActorMovie1991

Love and Lies

ActorDavid WestMovie1990

Consonancia en Mañana

ActorRichard QuinceMovie1990

L'Inévitable trahison

ActorMovie1990

Sex, Lies, and VideotapeStream

ActorJohnMovie198996%

Sex fiction

ActorMovie1989

The Murder of Mary Phagan

ActorShow1988

The Caine Mutiny Court-MartialStream

ActorLt. Com. John ChalleeMovie1988

High Spirits

ActorBrother TonyMovie1988

The Caine Mutiny

ActorMovie1988

The Murder of Mary PhaganStream

ActorLeo FrankMovie1988

Long Day's Journey into Night

ActorEdmund TyroneMovie1987

My Little Girl

ActorKaiMovie1986

Dreamchild

ActorJack DolanMovie1985

Summer Lover

ActorMovie1982

Summer Lovers

ActorMichael PappasMovie1982

BergeracStream

ActorSeries1981

Skag

ActorJohn SkagskaShow1980

The IdolmakerStream

ActorCaesareMovie198090%

Skag

ActorJohn SkagskaMovie1980

Photos

Adam Brody, Peter Gallagher in series finale of The O.C. - 'The End Isn't Near, It's Here'Peter Gallagher as Chief William Dodds in Law & Order: Special Victims UnitThe O.C. - Peter Gallagher as Sandy Cohen and Kelly Rowan as Kirsten CohenPeter Gallagher as Hamilton in Grey's Anatomy - 'Put the Squeeze on Me'Brett Dalton, Peter Gallagher, Eloise Mumford in One December NightPeter Gallagher'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist' - Peter Gallagher as Mitch Clarke'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist' stars Mary Steenburgen, Jane Levy, Andrew Leeds, and Peter GallagherZoey's Extraordinary Playlist Season 2 - Jane Levy as Zoey and Peter Gallagher as MitchZoey's Extraordinary Playlist Season 2 finale - Peter Gallagher as Mitch and Jane Levy as ZoeyJane Levy and Peter Gallagher in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Mitch GoodbyePeter Gallagher and Skylar Astin in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1Mary Steenburgen as Maggie Clarke, Peter Gallagher as Mitch in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Maggie Without MitchMary Steenburgen as Maggie Clarke, Peter Gallagher as Mitch, Jane Levy as Zoey Clarke in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 2 Family GriefAndrew Leeds as David, Alex Newell as Mo, Peter Gallagher as Mitch, John Clarence Stewart as Simon, Michael Thomas Grant as Leif, Jane Levy as Zoey, Skylar Astin as Max, Lauren Graham as Joan in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1Jane Levy as Zoey Clarke, Peter Gallagher as Mitch in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1Peter GallagherZoeys Extraordinary Playlist Cast - John Clarence Stewart, Peter Gallagher, Mary Steenburgen, Jane Levy, Lauren Graham, Alex Newell, and Skylar AstinMary Steenburgen and Peter Gallagher in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1, Episode 2Grace and Frankie - Season 6 - Peter Gallagher and Mary SteenburgenPeter Gallagher and Mary Steenburgen of Zoey's Extraordinary PlaylistThe O.C cast - Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Melinda Clarke, Peter Gallagher, Rachel Bilson, Kelly Rowan, Benjamin McKenzie and Samaire ArmstrongPeter Gallagher as Mitch in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season PilotJane Levy as Zoey, Peter Gallagher as Mitch in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season PilotJane Levy as Zoey, Peter Gallagher as Mitch in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season PilotGrace and Frankie - Season 6 - Peter Gallagher and Jane FondaPeter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 21Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 21Ice T as Sergeant Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins, Mariska Hargitay as Lieutenant Olivia Benson, Peter Gallagher as Deputy Chief William Dodds in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 21New Girl - Guest star Nelson Franklin, Max Greenfield, guest star Peter Gallagher, Hannah Simone, Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, and Lamorne Morris in the 'ThanksGavin' episodeLamorne Morris, Jake Johnson and guest star Peter Gallagher in the 'ThanksGavin' episode of New GirlOlivia (Mariska Hargitay) and Chief William Dodds (Peter Gallagher) in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 18THE O.C. - Peter Gallagher, Autumn Reeser, Adam BrodyAll Photos ⇩ ADVERTISEMENT

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Tag » How Old Is Peter Gallagher