Peter Strauss

Peter Lawrence Strauss[1] (born February 20, 1947) is an American television and film actor, known for his roles in several television miniseries in the 1970s and 1980s. He is an Emmy winner and five-time Golden Globe Awards nominee.[2]

Peter Strauss
Strauss in 1976
Born
Peter Lawrence Strauss

(1947-02-20) February 20, 1947 (age 77)
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active1969–present
Spouses
Beverly Baker Paulding
(m. 1973; div. 1979)
Nicole Fons
(m. 1983; div. 1994)
(m. 1998)
Children2

Early life

Strauss was born in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, the son of Warren B. Strauss, a German-born wine importer.[1][3] His family is Jewish.[4][5] Strauss graduated from the Hackley School in 1965 and Northwestern University in 1969.

Career

He won an Emmy Award[6] for his role on the 1979 made-for-television movie The Jericho Mile, and he starred in a television remake of the classic 1946 film Angel on My Shoulder in 1980.[7] In 1985, he played Abel Roznovski in the miniseries Kane & Abel based on Jeffrey Archer's book.[8] His other noted television miniseries credits include starring roles in Rich Man, Poor Man, its sequel Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, and Masada. Strauss played Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. in the 1977 TV movie Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy. In 1973, he portrayed Stephen Linder, Mary Richards' suave younger boyfriend in The Mary Tyler Moore Show fourth-season episode, "Angels in the Snow."

Strauss starred in the films Soldier Blue (1970) and Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983), and has appeared in several others. He portrayed Justin, the Rats of NIMH's captain of the guard, in 1982's The Secret of NIMH. Strauss starred as an abused husband in the television movie Men Don't Tell, alongside Judith Light. In 2005, he played the U.S. President in the thriller XXX: State of the Union alongside Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson, Scott Speedman and Willem Dafoe. He was the voice of Moses in the animated series K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments. He starred in the short-lived series Body & Soul as Dr. Isaac Braun in 2002. He provided the voice for Stoker Van Rotten in both the 1990s and 2006 versions of Biker Mice from Mars.

Personal life

Strauss married Rachel Ticotin on December 31, 1998. Strauss runs a successful citrus production business[9] and is on the advisory board of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. He sold a ranch property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.[10] The ranch has since been acquired by the National Park Service as the Peter Strauss Ranch.[11]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970The Young LawyersStuartEpisode: "The Two Dollar Thing"
1971–1975Medical CenterLloyd Halloran, Tom Desmond2 episodes
1972–1975The Streets of San FranciscoBobby Jepsen, Lou Kovic, Martin Novac3 episodes
1972Young Dr. KildareReverend TellerEpisode: "By This Sign"
1973The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStephenEpisode: "Angels in the Snow"
1973The Man Without a CountryArthur DanforthTelevision film
1974Barnaby JonesClay WakefieldEpisode: "The Last Contract"
1974CannonDave Nordorff, Reverend Will2 episodes
1974Judgement: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya – General YamashitaLawyerTelevision film
1974Hawaii Five-OTom MorganEpisode: "Death with Father"
1975Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux KlanBen JacobsTelevision film
1976–1977Rich Man, Poor Man Book IIRudy Jordache26 episodes

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

1976Rich Man, Poor ManRudy JordacheMiniseries; 13 episodes

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series DramaNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

1977Young Joe, the Forgotten KennedyJoseph P. Kennedy Jr.Television film
1979The Jericho MileLarry 'Rain' MurphyTelevision film

Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

1980Angel on My ShoulderEddie KagelTelevision film
1981MasadaEleazar Ben YairMiniseries; 4 episodes

Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

1981A Whale for the KillingCharles LandonTelevision film
1983Heart of SteelEmoryTelevision film

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

1985Kane & AbelAbel RosnovskiMiniseries

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

1985Tender Is the NightDick DiverMiniseries
1986Penalty PhaseJudge Kenneth HoffmanTelevision film
1986Under SiegeJohn GarryTelevision film
1987Proud MenCharley MacLeod, Jr.Television film
1989Peter GunnPeter GunnTelevision film
1989Brotherhood of the RoseSaul GrismanMiniseries
199083 Hours 'Til DawnWayne StractonTelevision film
1991Flight of Black AngelCol. Matt Ryan, Callsign RingleaderTelevision film
1992Trial: The Price of PassionWarren BlackburnTelevision film
1992Fugitive Among UsMax ColeTelevision film
1993Men Don't TellEd MacAffreyTelevision film

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film

1994ReunionSam YatesTelevision film
1994Batman: The Animated SeriesSteven Carlyle (voice)Episode: "House and Garden"[12]
1994The YearlingEzra 'Penny' BaxterTelevision film
1994Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden StoryLarry McLindenTelevision film
1995Texas JusticeT. Cullen DavisTelevision film
1995Santo BugitoGreenbeard McMelville (voice)Episode: "My Name Is Revenge"[12]
1996–1997MoloneyNicholas Moloney26 episodes
1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestLab Guard (voice)Episode: "Nemesis"[12]
1996The Incredible HulkWalter Langkowski (voice)Episode: "Man to Man, Beast to Beast"[12]
1996Aaahh!!! Real MonstersDr. Evil, Sumo (voice)Episode: "You Only Scare Twice"[12]
1996Adventures from the Book of VirtuesDionysius (voice)Episode: "Friendship"[12]
1996DuckmanNarrator (voice)Episode: "Pig Amok"
1996In the Lake of the WoodsJohn WaylanTelevision film
1996Biker Mice from MarsStoker (voice)4 episodes
1998My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard StorySam SheppardTelevision film
1999Joan of ArcLa HireMiniseries
1999Seasons of LoveThomas LinthorneMiniseries
2000A Father's ChoiceCharlie 'Mac' McClainTelevision film
2001Strange FrequencyBen StantonEpisode: "Don't Stop Believing"
2001Murder on the Orient ExpressMr. Samuel RatchettTelevision film
2002Body & SoulDr. Isaac Braun14 episodes
2003111 Gramercy ParkTurk KarnegianTelevision film
2004Law & OrderDr. Paul CedarsEpisode: "Coming Down Hard"
2005Killer InstinctRobert HaleEpisode: "Who's Your Daddy"
2006Biker Mice from MarsStoker, Night Shift, High Commander (voice)5 episodes[12]
2006The WayHutchTelevision film
2007Dirty Sexy MoneyDutch GeorgeEpisode: "The Watch"
2008–2010Tracey Ullman's State of the UnionNarrator13 episodes
2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitKevin BurtonEpisode: "Locum"
2010Royal PainsGraham BarnesEpisode: "Comfort's Overrated"
2010Jack's Family AdventureWild Bill CohenTelevision film
2014Sugar DaddiesGrant ZagerTelevision film
2020Grey's AnatomyDaniel SchwartzEpisode: "The Last Supper"

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969Hail, Hero!Frank Dixon
1970Soldier BlueHonus Gent
1971Sergeant KlemsOtto Flems
1972The Trial of the Catonsville NineThomas Lewis
1976The Last TycoonWylie
1982The Secret of NIMHJustin (voice)[12]
1983Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden ZoneWolff
1995Nick of TimeBrendan Grant
1996Keys to TulsaChip Carlson
2003Kids' Ten Commandments: Toying with the TruthMoses (voice)Video short[12]
2003Kids' Ten Commandments: The Rest Is Yet to ComeMoses (voice)Video short[12]
2003Kids' Ten Commandments: The Not So Golden CalfMoses (voice)Video short[12]
2003Kids' Ten Commandments: Stolen Jewels, Stolen HeartsMoses (voice)Video short[12]
2003Kids' Ten Commandments: A Life and Seth SituationMoses (voice)Video short[12]
2005XXX: State of the UnionPresident James Sanford
2007License to WedMr. Jones
2016Drawing HomeRussell Robb Sr.
2018Operation FinaleLotar Hermann[13]

References

  • Demetria Fulton; preview of Peter Strauss in Barnaby Jones; episode “The Last Contract” (12/31/1974).