Peter Riegert's unfailing ability to slip effortlessly into almost any role, be it dramatic, comedic, or musical, has enabled him to work continuously in films, television and on stage for three decades.

Riegert marked time in a series of jobs from teaching eighth grade to waiting tables before he decided he wanted to pursue a career as an actor. Soon after settling on show business, the Bronx native joined the improvisational comedy troupe, War Babies.

He obtained his Equity card playing Chico Marx in the stage musical "Minnie's Boys" and went on to appear in several theatrical productions, including the 1976 Off-Broadway hit "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" by David Mamet.

Riegert has appeared memorably in more than 30 films, including the recently SAG and Oscar-awarded "Traffic," the classic "Local Hero," opposite Burt Lancaster, the memorable romantic comedy "Crossing Delancey" and the perennial comedy favorite, "Animal House." He also starred in the "The Mask," opposite Jim Carrey, "Passed Away," "Oscar," opposite Sylvester Stallone, "Object Of Beauty" and "A Man In Love," among many others.

Riegert most recently starred in Showtime's "Bojangles," opposite Gregory Hines, and in the 2001 season's first several episodes of "The Sopranos." He will next be seen this month in the new ABC drama "The Beast." Riegert has appeared in many made-for-TV movies including, "The Baby Dance," "North Shore Fish" and "Face Down." Other cable features include "The Infiltrator" "Gypsy," opposite Bette Midler, and "Barbarians At The Gate," opposite James Garner, among many others. On network television, Riegert was featured in the infamous final episode of "Seinfeld" and the movies "Jacqueline Susann, The Element Of Truth," "Mystery Dance," "Ellis Island," and the comedy series "Middle Ages."

On Broadway, Riegert has starred in David Mamet's "The Old Neighborhood, " "An American Daughter," "The Nerd," "Censored," "Scenes From King Kong" and "Dance With Me," and on the off-Broadway stage in "Road To Nirvana," "The Birthday Party," "Isn't It Romantic," "Sexual Perversity In Chicago" and "A Rosen By Any Other Name."

His experience as an actor--as well as his pre-acting career as a social worker--sustained him in his recent directorial debut of the short film "By Courier," based on an 0'Henry short story. Legendary jazz musician Al Cooper composed the music for the film which was honored this year with an Academy Award Award as Best Live Action Short Film.

Riegert adapted and directed "By Courier," employing a host of friends and well wishers in his low-budget effort. His acting experience helped him in inspiring his actors, while his social work experience came in handy in managing the ensuing chaos when both a tornado and torrential rains threatened to scuttle the production, which was planned for and only for that particular weekend in upstate New York. The film subsequently was shown successfully at the Telluride and Hamptons Film Festivals prior to earning its Oscar nod.

Representation:
Agency:
Bresler * Kelly & Associates
310-497-3611

Peter Riegert's advice to the aspiring actor:

"It never occurs to me that acting with a superstar is something to worry about. I figure the bigger, the better, because more will be demanded of me."
          --Peter Riegert in NEW YORK POST, April 21, 1997.

FILM

Whitey And Davey Traffic How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog Passion Of Mind Jerry And Tom A Pie In The Sky Infinity Cold Blooded The Mask Passed Away Utz Oscar The Rhunestone Object Of Beauty A Shock To The System Crossing Delancy A Man In Love La Grande Carnival Local Hero Chilly Scenes Of Winter Animal House A Director Talks About His Films

Dir. Seth Kiersley Dir. Steven Soderbergh Dir. Michael Kalesniko Dir. Alain Berliner Dir. Saul Rubinek Dir. Bryan Gordon Dir. Matthew Broderick Dir. Wallace Wolodarsky Dir. Chuck Russell Dir. Charlie Peters Dir. George Sluizer Dir. John Landis Dir. Willard Carroll Dir. Michael Lindsay - Hogg Dir. Jan Egleson Dir. Joan Micklin-Silver Dir. Diane Kurys Dir. Alex Arcady Dir. Bill Forsythe Dir. Joan Micklin - Silver Dir. John Landis Short - Starred in and Produced

TELEVISION

The Beast The Sopranos (Recurring) Bojangles Sports Night Famly Guy Jacqueline Susann Movie Seinfeld (Final Episode) Baby Dance North Shore Fish Face Down The Element Of Truth The Infiltrator Mystery Dance Gypsy Middle Ages Barbarians At The Gate News At Eleven Ellis Island Concealed Enemies W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult Trying Times

ABC HBO Showtime ABC FBC USA NBC Showtime Showtime Showtime CBS HBO ABC CBS CBS HBO CBS CBS PBS PBS PBS

THEATER

Broadway The Old Neighborhood - Booth Theater An American Daughter - Lincoln Center The Nerd - Helen Hayes Theater Censored Scenes From King Kong - Princess Theater Dance With Me - Mayfair Theater

Off-Broadway Road To Nirvana - Circle Repertory Theater The Birhtday Party - Csc Repertory Theater Isn't It Romantic - The Phoenix Theater Sexual Perversity In Chicago - Cherry Lane Theater A Rosen By Any Other Name - American Jewish Thcater

For more info and credits see

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