Peter Riegert
(born April 11, 1947) is an American actor, screenwriter, and film director.
Born in The Bronx, Riegert grew up in Hartsdale, NY, graduated Ardsley High
School in 1964 and later from the University of Buffalo and worked at a
number of jobs, including teaching, waiting tables, and social worker before
settling on acting as a career. He made his Broadway debut in the musical
Dance with Me. Other Broadway credits include The Old Neighborhood, An
American Daughter, The Nerd, and Censored Scenes From King Kong.
Off-Broadway he has appeared in Road to Nirvana, The Birthday Party, Isn't
It Romantic, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and A Rosen by Any Other Name.
Riegert's notable feature film credits include Animal House, Crossing
Delancey, Local Hero, Chilly Scenes of Winter, Oscar, The Mask, Traffic
(which won him the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by
the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture), and How to Kill Your Neighbor's
Dog.
Riegert made his television debut as Cpl. Igor Straminsky in two episodes of
M*A*S*H. He has also portrayed crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald
Zellman in The Sopranos and defense attorney Chauncey Zeirko in multiple
episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He starred opposite former
girlfriend Bette Midler in the television adaptation of Gypsy and was
featured in the HBO drama Barbarians at the Gate (which earned him an Emmy
Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a
Special), the final episode of Seinfeld, and the television movie Back When
We Were Grownups, and he voiced the character of Max Weinstein in the
episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" on Family Guy.
Riegert made his screenwriting and directorial debuts with By Courier, based
on a short story by O. Henry. It received an Academy Award nomination for
Best Live Action Short Film and won him the Festival Award for Best First
Feature at the Marco Island Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and
starred in the full-length feature King of the Corner.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Peter Riegert
• Peter Riegert at the Internet Movie Database
• Peter Riegert at the Internet Broadway Database
• IndustryCentral profile
• AllMovie.com profile
• Interview with Riegert
Born April 11, 1947, in the Bronx, New York, NY; son of Milton (a food
wholesaler) and Lucille (a piano teacher) Riegert. Addresses: Agent:
John S.Kelly, Bresler, Kelly and Associates, 11500 West Olympic Blvd., Suite
352, Los Angeles, CA 90064; (voice work) Special Artists Agency, 9465
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 890, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.
Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Actor
Birth Details
April 11, 1947
New York, New York, United States
Famous Works
CREDITS
Film Appearances
Donald "Boon" Schoenstein, Animal House (also known as
NationalLampoon's "Animal House"), Universal, 1978
Eric McMurkin, Americathon, United Artists, 1979
Sam Maguire, Chilly Scenes of Winter (also known as Head
over Heels), United Artists, 1979
Jason Cooper, National Lampoon Goes to the Movies (also known
as National Lampoon's "Movie Madness"), United Artists, 1981
Mac MacIntyre, Local Hero, Warner Bros., 1983
Walter Giammanca, Le grand carnaval (also known as The Big
Carnival), Carthago Films, 1983
Tim, The City Girl, Moon Pictures, 1984
Dr. Harris Kite, Cudzoziemka (also known as The Stranger
and El extrano), Columbia, 1987
Michael Pozner, Un homme amoureux (also known as A Man in
Love and Un uomo innamorato), Gaumont, 1987
Sam Posner, Crossing Delancey, Warner Bros., 1988
Baby Elroy as an adult, That's Adequate, Southgate
Entertainment,1989
Eric, Oltre l'oceano (also known as Beyond the Ocean),
Medusa Distribuzione, 1990
Robert Benham, A Shock to the System, Corsair Pictures, 1990
Aldo, Oscar, Buena Vista, 1991
Larry, The Object of Beauty, Avenue Entertainment, 1991
Captain Gregory Fanducci, The Runestone, Hyperion Pictures,
1992
Peter Syracusa, Passed Away, Buena Vista, 1992
Marius Fisher, Utz, First Run Features/Castle Rock
Productions, 1993
Doctor, White Man's Burden (also known as Bleeding Hearts
and Fatal Destiny), Savoy Pictures, 1994
Lieutenant Mitch Kellaway, The Mask, New Line Cinema, 1994
Dad Dunlap, Pie in the Sky, Fine Line Features, 1995
Steve, Coldblooded (also known as The Reluctant Hitman),
IRS Releasing, 1995
Mel Feynman, Infinity, First Look Pictures, 1996
Minor, Hi-Life, Lions Gate Films, 1998
Attorney Michael Adler, Traffic (also known as
Traffic--Die Macht des Kartells), USA Films, 2000
Barry, In the Weeds, Moonstone Entertainment, 2000
Dr. Peters, Passion of Mind, Paramount Classics, 2000
Larry, How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog, Artistic License,
2000
C-Scam, Landscape Films, 2000
Leo Spivak, King of the Corner (also known as The Pursuit
of Happiness), Pursuit Films, 2004
Appeared in the short film A Director Talks about His Film.
Film Director and Producer
By Courier (short film), Two Tequila Productions, 2000
King of the Corner, Pursuit Films, 2004
Television Appearances
Series
Walter Cooper, Middle Ages, CBS, 1992
Ted Fisher, The Beast, ABC, 2001
State assemblyman Ronald Zellman, a recurring role, The Sopranos,HBO,
2001-2002
Miniseries
Jacob Rubinstein/Jake Rubin, Ellis Island, CBS, 1984
Movies
Eric Ross, News at Eleven, CBS, 1986
Herbie, Gypsy (musical), CBS, 1993
Peter Cohen, Barbarians at the Gate, HBO, 1993
Rabbi Cooper, The Infiltrator, HBO, 1995
Sidney Wiltz, An Element of Truth, CBS, 1995
Porker, North Shore Fish, Showtime, 1996
Lieutenant Coop Cooper, Face Down, Showtime, 1997
Irving Mansfield, Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story
(alsoknown as Jacqueline Susann, la scandaleuse), USA Network,
1998
Richard Luckman, The Baby Dance, Showtime, 1998
Stan, Jerry and Tom (also known as Tom and Jerry),
Showtime, 1999
Marty Forkins, Bojangles, Showtime, 2001
Rabbi, Club Land, Showtime, 2001
Decker, Bleacher Bums (also known as The Cheap Seats),
Showtime, 2002
Mel, Surrender Dorothy, CBS, 2006
Specials
Table Settings, HBO, c. 1983
Richard M. Nixon, "Concealed Enemies," American Playhouse,
PBS, 1984
W. Eugene Smith, "W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult,"
American Masters (also known as American Masters: W. Eugene
Smith: Photography Made Difficult), PBS, 1989
Himself, Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach, Arts and
Entertainment,1996
Himself, Burt Lancaster, American Movie Classics, 1997
Himself, Behind the Movies: Animal House, NBC, 2001
Himself, Unseen Untold: National Lampoon's "Animal House,"
Spike TV, 2003
Zeb, "Back When We Were Grownups," Hallmark Hall of Fame,
CBS, 2004
(In archive footage) Mouthing Off: 51 Greatest Smartasses,
ComedyCentral, 2004
(In archive footage) Live from New York: The First 5 Years of
SaturdayNight Live, NBC, 2005
Awards Presentations
Himself, The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards,
IndependentFilm Channel, 2001
Episodic
Groucho Marx, Feelin' Good, PBS, 1974
Igor, "Change Day," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1977
Igor, "War of Nerves," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1977
Gus Rosenthal as an adult, "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty,"
TheTwilight Zone, CBS, 1985
Bill, "The Hit List," Trying Times, PBS, 1989
Jerold Dixon, "Deceit," Law & Order (also known as Law &
Order Prime), NBC, 1996
Kimbrough, "The Finale: Part 1," Seinfeld, NBC, 1998
Jay Rydell, "The Cut Man Cometh," Sports Night, ABC, 2000
Defense attorney, "Shrunk," Law & Order (also known as
Law& Order Prime), NBC, 2003
Voice of Max Weinstein, "When You Wish upon a Weinstein," Family
Guy (animated; also known as Padre de familia and Padre
del familia), Fox, 2003
Chauncey Zeirko, "Conscience," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
(also known as Law & Order's Sex Crimes,Law & Order: SVU,
and Special Victims Unit), NBC, 2004
Chauncey Zeirko, "Lowdown," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(also
known as Law & Order's Sex Crimes,Law & Order: SVU, and
Special Victims Unit), NBC, 2004
Chauncey Zeirko, "Sick," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
(also known as Law & Order's Sex Crimes,Law & Order: SVU,and
Special Victims Unit), NBC, 2004
Chauncey Zeirko, "Design," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
(also known as Law & Order's Sex Crimes,Law & Order: SVU,
and Special Victims Unit), NBC, 2005
Appeared as Marshall Rifkin in LateLine, NBC and Showtime.
Pilots
Alan Baker, Mystery Dance, ABC, 1995
Stage Appearances
Honey Boy, Dance with Me (musical), Mayfair Theatre, New York
City, 1975-76
Danny Shapiro, Sexual Perversity in Chicago/The Duck Variations,
Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1976-77
S. Vogel, Sauvage Sagar, and Vincenzo Chiaruggi, Censored Scenes
fromKing Kong (musical), Princess Theatre, New York City, 1980
Sunday Runners in the Rain, New York Shakespeare Festival,
PublicTheatre, Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1980
Marty Sterling, Isn't It Romantic?, Marymount Manhattan
Theatre, New York City, 1981
Key Exchange, Westwood Playhouse (later known as the Geffen
Playhouse), Los Angeles, 1982
Table Settings, c. 1983
Marty, La Brea Tarpits, Workshop of the Players Art Theatre,
New York City, 1984
Sandy, A Hell of a Town, Westside Arts Theatre Upstairs, New
YorkCity, 1984
The Cherry Orchard, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1985
Festival of Original One-Act Comedies, Manhattan Punch Line
Theatre, New York City, 1985
The Spanish Prisoner, New Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre,
1985
Barney Rosen, A Rosen by Any Other Name, American Jewish
Theatre,New York City, 1986
Goldberg, The Birthday Party, Classic Stage Company, Classic
StageCompany Theatre, New York City, 1987
Axel Hammond, The Nerd, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City,
1987-88
Goldberg, The Birthday Party, and prisoner, Mountain
Language (double-bill), Classic Stage Company, Classic Stage Company
Theatre, 1989
Jerry, Road to Nirvana, Circle Repertory Theatre, New York
City, 1991
Walter Abrahmson, An American Daughter, Cort Theatre, New
York City, 1997
Bobby Gould, The Old Neighborhood (consists of The
Disappearance of the Jews,Jolly, and Deeny), Booth
Theatre, New York City, 1997-98
Celebration [and] The Room (double-bill), American
Conservatory Theater, Geary Theater, San Francisco, CA, 2001
Appeared in Call Me Charlie, The Performing Garage, New York
City;and as Chico Marx, Minnie's Boys (musical), Playhouse in the
Park, Philadelphia, PA.
Stage Work
Director, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Conservatory
Theater, San Francisco, CA, 2006
RECORDINGS
Videos
Himself, The Yearbook: An "Animal House" Reunion, Universal
Studios Home Video, 2000
Donald "Boon" Schoenstein, Where Are They Now? A Delta Alumni
Update, Universal, 2003
Audiobooks
Andrea Barrett, The Voyage of the Narwhal, Random House, 1999
WRITINGS
Screenplays
By Courier (short film), Two Tequila Productions, 2000
Actor/director/co-writer
Peter
Riegert personally took this film from town to
town, showing it in theaters to build word of mouth.
He would usually stay for a day or two to meet and
answer audience questions after each showing of the
film.
more
First comment: People, don't forget to submit a
vote with your review! I'm reading the reviews and
most are excellent, and I'm wondering why the
overall rating is only a 6.3. Then I see a lot of
excellent reviews with NO VOTE! I assume these are
counted as ZEROs in the rating.
REVIEW - I saw this movie at the Philadelphia Film
Festival on 4/16/2004. I thought it was very good -
both sad and funny. My favorite part was the
interaction between the main character, Leo (Peter
Riegert) and his father (Eli Wallach). Eric Bogosian
was also very funny as the rabbi. And although her
part was small, it was worth seeing how great Rita
Moreno looked - Wow, she looks amazing! She made
Isabella Rossellini look like a haggard old frump.
The daughter was nothing special, and the weakest
link was the up and coming business hot shot played
by Jake Hoffman (Dustin Hoffman's son.) He was too
young and goofy to play a ruthless guy moving up in
the business world.
It's a shame that a bittersweet comedy like this
that combines elements of different genres and can't
be easily characterized as a "Drama" or a "Comedy"
or a "Tearjerker" will have trouble finding an
audience. Hollywood's marketing people need to do a
better job of finding an audience for these films -
there are tons of people who want to see movies like
this, and they are too lazy to figure out how to
market them. It's easy to market to teenage boys -
do a little work and figure out how to reach the
audience who wants to see movies like this! The only
scene I thought was a little unrealistic was the
scene I'll simply refer to as the "underwear" scene.
As the scene was going on, I thought maybe it was
going to be revealed as a dream sequence - it just
seemed like such a strange and out of character
thing for Leo to do.
I would love to see this movie find its rightful
audience. Many people would enjoy this movie.
Born in
The Bronx, Riegert grew up in
Hartsdale, NY, graduated Ardsley High School in 1964 and
later from the
University of Buffalo and worked at a number of jobs,
including teaching, waiting tables, and
social worker before settling on acting as a career. He
made his
Broadway debut in the
musical
Dance with Me. Other Broadway credits include The
Old Neighborhood, An American Daughter, The
Nerd, and Censored Scenes From King Kong.
Off-Broadway he has appeared in Road to Nirvana,
The Birthday Party, Isn't It Romantic,
Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and A Rosen by Any
Other Name.
Riegert made his screenwriting and directorial debuts
with By Courier, based on a short story by
O. Henry. It received an
Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film
and won him the Festival Award for Best First Feature at the
Marco Island Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and
starred in the full-length feature
King of the Corner.
Born:
photos 
board 
trailer 
details 
18% 
First comment: People, don't forget to submit a vote with your review! I'm reading the reviews and most are excellent, and I'm wondering why the overall rating is only a 6.3. Then I see a lot of excellent reviews with NO VOTE! I assume these are counted as ZEROs in the rating.
REVIEW - I saw this movie at the Philadelphia Film Festival on 4/16/2004. I thought it was very good - both sad and funny. My favorite part was the interaction between the main character, Leo (Peter Riegert) and his father (Eli Wallach). Eric Bogosian was also very funny as the rabbi. And although her part was small, it was worth seeing how great Rita Moreno looked - Wow, she looks amazing! She made Isabella Rossellini look like a haggard old frump. The daughter was nothing special, and the weakest link was the up and coming business hot shot played by Jake Hoffman (Dustin Hoffman's son.) He was too young and goofy to play a ruthless guy moving up in the business world.
It's a shame that a bittersweet comedy like this that combines elements of different genres and can't be easily characterized as a "Drama" or a "Comedy" or a "Tearjerker" will have trouble finding an audience. Hollywood's marketing people need to do a better job of finding an audience for these films - there are tons of people who want to see movies like this, and they are too lazy to figure out how to market them. It's easy to market to teenage boys - do a little work and figure out how to reach the audience who wants to see movies like this! The only scene I thought was a little unrealistic was the scene I'll simply refer to as the "underwear" scene. As the scene was going on, I thought maybe it was going to be revealed as a dream sequence - it just seemed like such a strange and out of character thing for Leo to do.
I would love to see this movie find its rightful audience. Many people would enjoy this movie.