Peter Thomas Scolari (September 12, 1955 – October 22, 2021) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Michael Harris on Newhart (1984–1990), Henry Desmond on Bosom Buddies (1980–1982) and Wayne Szalinski on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1997–2000). Scolari received 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.[1]
Peter Scolari | |
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![]() Scolari in 2010 | |
Born | Peter Thomas Scolari (1955-09-12)September 12, 1955 New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
Died | October 22, 2021(2021-10-22) (aged 66) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1978–2021 |
Spouses |
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Children | 4 |
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Scolari was born in New Rochelle, New York, on September 12, 1955.[2] 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.[3] Scolari was active in the Theatre Department of Occidental College in Eagle Rock, California in 1970's. He left the school after two years to pursue his professional career.
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Scolari's first ongoing role was in the short-lived 1980 sitcom Goodtime Girls as the juggling neighbor of the title characters. He and Tom Hanks were then cast in another sitcom, Bosom Buddies, as men who disguise themselves as women to live in an affordable apartment in a women's-only residence. After Bosom Buddies was canceled in 1982, Scolari joined the cast of Newhart in 1984, in which he played Michael Harris, a yuppie local TV producer. Scolari stayed with the series until its conclusion in 1990.
Following 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 and Bishop Marx on Paramount's series Evil (2019-2021).
Scolari appeared on Broadway in Wicked (as the Wizard of Oz), Sly Fox, Hairspray[4] and Lucky Guy, which reunited him with his Bosom Buddies co-star 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.[5]
In 1996, Scolari 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, Scolari portrayed Yogi Berra in Bronx Bombers. His wife Tracy Shayne played Berra's wife Carmen.[6]
Scolari was married to Debra Steagal, and later to actress Cathy Trien, with whom he had two children.[7] He married his longtime girlfriend, actress Tracy Shayne, in June 2013.[8]
A 2014 episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? brought up Scolari's substance abuse and his struggle with bipolar disorder.[9]
Scolari was an avid juggler[10] and occasionally showcased his talents on television, including a performance during the 1982 Circus of the Stars and in talk-show appearances.
Scolari died from leukemia in Manhattan on October 22, 2021, at age 66.[2][11] He had been diagnosed with the disease two years earlier.[12]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1978 | Take Off | Kookie | Segment: "1950s" |
1984 | The Rosebud Beach Hotel | Elliot Garner | |
1986 | Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures | Mr. Bill | Short film |
1990 | Corporate Affairs | Simon Tanner | |
1993 | Ticks | Charles Danson | Video |
1994 | Camp Nowhere | Donald Himmel | |
1996 | That Thing You Do! | Troy Chesterfield | |
2002 | Sorority Boys | Louis | |
2004 | The Polar Express | Billy - Lonely Boy | |
2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Pete Conrad (voice) | Documentary short |
2006 | Mentor | Jonathan Parks | |
Cathedral Pines | Father Mike McGary | ||
2007 | Suburban Girl | Mickey Lamm | |
A Plumm Summer | Agent Hardigan | ||
2012 | Letting Go | Bill | |
2016 | Dean | Patrick | |
2020 | Looks That Kill | Paul |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1979 | Wally Brown | Douglas Burdett | Unknown episode |
Angie | Kenny | Episode: "The Thief" | |
1980 | Goodtime Girls | Benny Loman | 13 episodes |
1980–1982 | Bosom Buddies | Henry Desmond / Hildegarde 'Hilde' Desmond | 37 episodes |
1982 | Circus of the Stars #7 | Himself | TV special |
Remington Steele | Albie Fervitz | Episode: "Steele Waters Run Deep" | |
Missing Children: A Mother's Story | Woody | TV movie | |
1983 | Carpool | Robert Duff | |
Happy Days | Jake | Episode: "May the Best Man Win" | |
Baby Makes Five | Eddie Riddle | 5 episodes | |
1984 | Amazons | Dr. Jerry Menzies | TV movie |
Finder of Lost Loves | Ted Caton | Episode: "A Gift" | |
Steambath | Paul | Episode: "Tandy's Legacy" | |
1984–1990 | Newhart | Michael Harris | 142 episodes Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1987–1989) |
1986 | Hotel | Tom | Episode: "Shadows of Doubt: Part 1" |
Family Ties | Paul Kenter | Episode "Once in Love with Elyse" | |
You Are the Jury | Stephen Best | Episode: "The State of Ohio vs. James Wolsky" | |
The Love Boat | Frank Hobbs | Episode: "Dare Devil" | |
The Love Boat | Wellington David Rothmeyer | 2 episodes | |
Fresno | Waiter | TV movie | |
1987 | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Chris Robinson | |
The New Mike Hammer | Andy Shales | Episode: "Green Blizzard" | |
Harry Anderson's Sideshow | performer | ||
1988 | The Twilight Zone | Delos of Atlantis / Leonard Randall | Episode: "The Trance" |
1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Morgan | Episode: "Microchips" |
Trying Time | Howard LaMotta | Episode: "Death and Taxes" | |
The Ryan White Story | David Day | TV movie | |
1990 | Encyclopedia Brown | Bandini | Episode: "The Case of the Incredible Culpepper" |
World's Greatest Magicians... At the Magic Castle | Unknown | TV movie | |
1991 | Danger Team | Police Officer Shields | |
Fire: Trapped on the 37th Floor | Paul DeWitt | ||
Perfect Harmony | Derek Sanders | ||
Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin | David Katz | ||
1992 | The House on Sycamore Street | Dr. Zachary 'Zach' Drummond | |
Batman: The Animated Series | John Hamner (voice) | Episode: "Moon of the Wolf" | |
Nurses | George Myrock | Episode: "Our Fred" | |
1993 | Fallen Angels | Clerk | Episode: "I'll Be Waiting" |
The Mommies | Ken Ballantine | Episode: "Enter Ken" | |
Family Album | Jonathan Lerner | 6 episodes | |
Animaniacs | Wilford B. Wolf (voice) | Episode: "Moon Over Minerva" | |
1994 | Burke's Law | Johnny Lake | Episode: "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?" |
Empty Nest | Dieter Dietz | Episode: "Brotherly Shove" | |
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Stuart Hofferman | Episode: "The Source" | |
Touched by an Angel | Charles Hibbard | Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" | |
Animaniacs | The Driver (voice) | Episode: "The Mindy 500" | |
Dave's World | Fred | Episode: "Six Years Old and All Washed Up" | |
1995 | Dave's World | Kenny's Boss | Episode: "Working Stiffs" |
The Mommies | Ken Ballantine | Episode: "I Do, I Do Again" | |
A Whole New Ballgame | Glenn | 2 episodes | |
Batman: The Animated Series | The Shark / Gunther Hardwicke (voice) | Episode: "The Terrible Trio" | |
Dweebs | Warren Mosbey | 10 episodes | |
Can't Hurry Love | Colin | Episode: "Three Blind Dates" | |
1995–1996 | Gargoyles | Preston Vogel (voice) | 5 episodes |
1996 | The Home Court | Kenyon Stanton | Episode: "Syd & Sensibility" |
The Drew Carey Show | Councilman Kemp | Episode: "What the Zoning Inspector Saw" | |
Stop the World, I Want to Get Off | Littlechap | TV movie | |
Talk to Me | Howard Grant | ||
For Hope | Date #2 (uncredited) | ||
1997 | Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man | Brad (voice) | Episode: "From Brad to Worse" |
The Nanny | Leslie Tilbert | Episode: "The Bank Robbery" | |
George & Leo | Dr. Michael Harris | Episode: "The Cameo Episode" | |
Pinky and the Brain | Weird Guy (voice) | Episode: "Mice Don't Dance/Brain Drained" | |
1997–2000 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show | Wayne Szalinski / Various | 66 episodes |
1998 | Pinky and the Brain | Mr. Perfect (voice) | Episode: "The Family That Poits Together, Narfs Together" |
From the Earth to the Moon | Pete Conrad | Episode: "Can We Do This?" | |
Hey Arnold! | Doug (voice) | Episode: "Stinky Goes Hollywood/Olga Gets Engaged" | |
2000 | The Ultimate Christmas Present | Edwin Hadley | TV movie |
2001 | Touched by an Angel | Tim Albright | Episode: "Heaven's Portal" |
Ally McBeal | Hooley | Episode: "Nine One One" | |
2002 | Reba | Parker Reynolds | Episode: "The Story of a Divorce" |
The King of Queens | Ron | Episode: "No Orleans" | |
ER | Kyle Evans | Episode: "Bygones" | |
The West Wing | Antares C.E.O. Jake Kimball | Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" | |
What I Like About You | Dad | Episode: "Pilot" | |
What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Prof. Higginson (voice) | Episode: "Scooby-Doo Christmas" | |
2003 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Ringmaster | Episode: "Cirque du Sabrina" |
2005 | Listen Up! | Andrew McKillop | 2 episodes |
2006 | Big Love | Seminary Teacher | Episode: "Affair" |
American Dad! | Himself / Limo Driver (voice) | Episode: "Roger n' Me" | |
2011 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Dr. Ray Palmer / Atom (voice) | Episode: "Sword of the Atom!" |
2012–2017 | Girls | Tad Horvath | Recurring role, 21 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (2016) Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series (2012) |
2013 | White Collar | Zimmer the Keymaster | Episode: "Brass Tacks" |
2015 | Gotham | Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb | 5 episodes |
Chopped | Himself | Episode: "Tournament of Stars: Actors" | |
2016 | Madoff | Peter Madoff | 4 episodes |
2017 | Odd Mom Out | Lawyer | Episode: "Jury Doody" |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Dennis Barkley | Episode: "Unintended Consequences" | |
2018 | The Good Fight | Greg | Episode: "Day 436" |
Murphy Brown | Fred Noonan | Episode: "The Wheels on the Dog Go Round and Round" | |
2019 | Fosse/Verdon | Mel | 2 episodes |
2019–2021 | Evil | Bishop Thomas Marx | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
2020 | Blue Bloods | Captain Higgins | Episode: "Careful What You Wish For" |
2021 | Lisey's Story | Dave Debusher | 2 episodes |
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | |
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1986–2000 |
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2001–present |
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General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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