Peter Weller

Peter Weller

Weller at Sci-Fi 2014 in Dallas, February 2014
Born June 24, 1947
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, U.S.
Occupation Actor, film director, lecturer
Years active 1973–present
Spouse(s) Sherri Stowe (m. 2006)

Peter Frederick Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American film and stage actor, director and history lecturer.

Weller has appeared in more than 70 films and television series, including turns as the title characters in blockbuster hit RoboCop and its sequel RoboCop 2, and the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.[1] He has also appeared in such critically acclaimed films as Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite, the Oliver Stone-produced The New Age and David Cronenberg's movie of William Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch. He received an Academy Award nomination for his direction of the 1993 short Partners, in which he also acted. In television, he hosted the show Engineering an Empire on the History Channel. He also played Christopher Henderson in the fifth season of 24 and Stan Liddy in the fifth season of the Showtime original series Dexter.

Early life

Weller was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the son of Dorothy Jean (née Davidson), a homemaker, and Frederick Bradford Weller, a lawyer, federal judge, and career helicopter pilot for the United States Army.[2][3] Weller had a "middle-class Catholic" upbringing.[4] As a result of his father's army work, Weller spent many years abroad during his childhood. His family lived in Germany for several years before eventually moving to Texas, where he attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio. While enrolled at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), he played trumpet in one of the campus bands. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre[5] and began his acting career after attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Career

Stage

Weller's stage career began in the 1950s with appearances on Broadway in Full Circle, directed by Otto Preminger, and Summer Brave, William Inge's rewrite of his play Picnic. About this time, he became a member of the famed Actors Studio.[6]

In December 2006, Weller starred as architect Frank Lloyd Wright at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in Frank's Home, a new play by Richard Nelson.

Film

Weller was in the 1984 film Firstborn with Corey Haim, where he played the abusive boyfriend of Haim's mother (played by Teri Garr).

Weller has appeared in more than 50 films and television series, including turns as the title characters in the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, and blockbuster hits RoboCop and RoboCop 2,[7] as well as Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013. He has also appeared in such critically acclaimed films as Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite, the Oliver Stone-produced The New Age and David Cronenberg's movie of William Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch.

In 1995, he appeared in Screamers, a science-fiction film based on the short story "Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick and directed by Christian Duguay.

Television

In a 1977 episode of the television series Lou Grant, he plays Oberster SA-Führer Donald Sterner/Stryker, a tragically disillusioned Jewish-American Neo-Nazi leader who later committed suicide off-screen with his Colt 45 near the end of the episode when his heritage was discovered.

Duguay would later direct Weller in the 2005–2007 television series Engineering an Empire for the History Channel, which Weller hosted.

On television, he played the shuttle captain in the short-lived series Odyssey 5 and made guest appearances as Terran supremacist John Frederick Paxton in the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes "Demons", "Terra Prime" and in Fringe as the character Alistair Peck.

Weller is a contributor to the History Channel in several productions, credited as "Peter Weller, Syracuse University", where he is an adjunct faculty member. He is a graduate student in art history at UCLA, focusing on the Italian Renaissance. Weller also hosts the series Engineering an Empire for the network.

In 2005, Weller co-starred as the Captain in a made-for-television remake of The Poseidon Adventure.

Weller at the Texas Theater in Dallas, TX. in 2012

In 2006, Weller joined the cast of 24 as terrorist collaborator Christopher Henderson.[8] Weller received a "cheer" in TV Guide's "Cheers & Jeers" section for his performance.

On January 15, 2010, Weller was seen in a teaser trailer for the companion documentary God of War: Unearthing the Legend that was featured in the game God of War III which Weller also hosted.[9]

On April 15, 2010, Weller guest-starred in an episode of the science fiction drama Fringe. He also guest-starred on the Showtime original series Dexter,[10] and had a guest appearance in the December 22, 2010 episode of Psych; where he played villain "Yin"[11]

In 2013, he played the part of the villain in the remake of the "Hookman" episode of the original Hawaii Five-O. The part was originally played in 1973 by J. J. Armes. In seasons six and seven of Sons of Anarchy, he plays the ruthless ex-cop Charles Barosky, a boss at the Stockton port and has dealings with the SAMCRO motorcycle club.

Directing

Weller has also directed various projects for television, including episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street, Monk and three episodes of the aforementioned Odyssey 5. He directed a 1997 adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Gold Coast starring David Caruso and Marg Helgenberger after previously starring in a version of Leonard's thriller Cat Chaser. He has directed eleven episodes of the series Sons of Anarchy, two in Season 4, titled "Dorylus" (air date 9/20/11) and "Hands", three in Season 5, titled "Authority Vested", "Toad's Wild Ride" and "Darthy", three in Season 6, titled "One One Six", "Los Fantasmas" and "Aon Rud Pearsanta" and three in Season 7, titled "Some Strange Eruption", "What a Piece of Work Is Man" and "Suits of Woe".

Voice acting

On May 23, 2012 it was announced that Weller would be the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the two-part animated adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns.[12]

Personal life

In 2004, Weller completed a master's degree in Roman and Renaissance Art at Syracuse University and occasionally taught courses in ancient history at the university. In 2007, Weller began a Ph.D. at UCLA, in Italian Renaissance art history.[13] He filed his dissertation in October 2013,[14] and revealed at the Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas on August 2, 2014, that he had been conferred his doctorate.[15]

On June 24, 2006, he married longtime girlfriend and actress Sherri Stowe at the Santa Maria Assunta church in Positano, Italy. It was also Weller's 59th birthday. Guests among the wedding were Carrie Fisher and Marg Helgenberger.[16]

Filmography

Director

Film

Year Title Notes
1993 Partners Television short
1997 Gold Coast Television film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995–1996 Homicide: Life on the Street director Episodes: "Hate Crimes", "White Lies"
1997 Michael Hayes director Episode: "The Doctor's Tale"
2002–2003 Odyssey 5 Chuck Taggart 19 (20) Episodes
2005 Star Trek: Enterprise John Frederick Paxton Episode: "Demons"

Episode: "Terra Prime"

2006 Monk director Episode: "Mr. Monk, Private Eye"
actor playing Stottlemeyer Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Actor"
24 Christopher Henderson 11 episodes
2007 Las Vegas director Episode: "A Cannon Carol"
2010 Dexter Stan Liddy 8 episodes
2011–2014 Sons of Anarchy Charles Barosky 10 episodes
2012 House Dr. Penza Episode: "Post Mortem"
The Mob Doctor director Episode: "Confessions"
2012–2014 Longmire Lucian Connally 3 episodes
2013 Hawaii Five-0 Curt Stoner Episode: "Hookman"
2014 The Strain director 3 episodes

Actor

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Man Without a Country Lt. Fellows Television film
1975 The Silence Red Sash Television film
1979 Butch and Sundance: The Early Days Joe Le Fors
1980 Just Tell Me What You Want Steven Routledge
1982 Shoot the Moon Frank Henderson
1983 Kentucky Woman Deke Cullover Television film
Two Kinds of Love Joe Farley Television film
Of Unknown Origin Bart Hughes Paris Film Festival for Best Actor
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Buckaroo Banzai
Firstborn Sam
1986 A Killing Affair Baston Morris
Apology Rad Hungate Television film
1987 RoboCop Officer Alex J. Murphy/RoboCop Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
1988 The Tunnel Juan Pablo Castel
Shakedown Roland Dalton
1989 Leviathan Steven Beck
Cat Chaser George Moran
1990 Women and Men: Stories of Seduction Hobie Television film
RoboCop 2 RoboCop
Rainbow Drive Mike Gallagher Television film
1991 Road to Ruin Jack Sloan
Naked Lunch William "Bill" Lee Nominated – Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
1992 Fifty/Fifty Jake Wyer
1993 Partners Doctor Short television film
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
Sunset Grill Ryder Hart
1994 The Substitute Wife Martin Hightower Television film
The New Age Peter Witner
Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Uncredited Television film
1995 Present Tense, Past Perfect Charles Short television film
Beyond the Clouds Husband
Screamers Joe Hendricksson
Mighty Aphrodite Jerry Bender
Decoy Baxter
1997 End of Summer Theo Remmington Television film
1998 Top of the World Ray Mercer
The Sands of Time John Shannon Television film
1999 Diplomatic Siege Steve Mitchell
2000 Shadow Hours Stuart Chappell
Falling Through Lou
Contaminated Man Joseph Müller
Ivans Xtc Don West Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula Father Stefan Television film
2001 Styx Nelson
2003 The Order Driscoll
2005 Man of God Rabbi
Undiscovered Wick Treadway
The Poseidon Adventure Captain Paul Gallico Television film
2006 The Hard Easy Ed Koster
2007 Prey Tom Newman
Dating Vietnam Jack Newton
2010 Once Fallen Eddie
2012 Dragon Eyes Mr. V
The Dark Knight Returns Bruce Wayne/Batman Direct-to-video animated film
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness Alexander Marcus
2015 Skin Trade Costello

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Lou Grant Donald Stryker Episode: 1.5 "Nazi"
1978 Mourning Becomes Electra Peter Miniseries
1987 Faerie Tale Theatre The Soldier Episode: 6.3 "The Dancing Princesses"
2002–2003 Odyssey 5 Chuck Taggart Season 1: Episodes 1-19
2003 The Handler Gerard Episode: 1.4 "Body of Evidence"
2005 Star Trek: Enterprise John Frederick Paxton Episodes: 4.20 "Demons",
4.21 "Terra Prime" 
2005–2007 Engineering an Empire Host Documentary series
2006 24 Christopher Henderson Season 5: 11 Episodes
Monk Actor Playing Stottlemeyer Episodes: 5.1 "Mr. Monk and the Actor"
2010 Fringe Alistair Peck Episode: 2.18 "White Tulip"
Dexter Stan Liddy Episodes: Season 5 (8 episodes)
Psych Professor Karl Rotmensen/Yin Episode: 5.16 "Yang 3 in 2D"
2011–2014 Sons of Anarchy Charles Barosky Season: 4,5,6,7
2012 House Surgeon Episode: 8.20 "Post Mortem"
2012–2014 Longmire Lucien Connally Episodes: 1.6 "The Worst Kind of Hunter"
2.12 "A Good Death Is Hard To Find"
3.5 "Wanted Man"
2013 Hawaii Five-0 Curt Stoner Episode: 3.15 "Hookman"
2013-2014 Sons of Anarchy Charles Barosky 11 Episodes

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "TV: 'RoboCop' Heads to Miami for 'Dexter'!".
  2. ↑ "Peter Weller Biography (1947–)". Filmreference.com. 1947-06-24. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  3. ↑ "Obituaries". pcgazette.com. Archived from the original on 2003-03-20. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  4. ↑ "People Profile | Peter Weller". Cigar Aficionado. 1996-03-01. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  5. ↑ "2014 Emerald Eagle Honors Honorees". University of North Texas. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Movies & TV: Peter Weller". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ "TV: 'RoboCop' Heads to Miami for 'Dexter'!".
  8. ↑ "Peter Weller Joins Showtime's 'Dexter'".
  9. ↑ Chester, Nick. "Awesome: RoboCop to Host God of War Documentary".
  10. ↑ "Peter Weller Joins Showtime's Dexter".
  11. ↑ "'Psych' Season Finale Recap: Who Was Yin?".
  12. ↑ "Animated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Cast Announced".
  13. ↑ "An interview with Peter Weller". Theflorentine.net. 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  14. ↑ Ebiri, Bilge (20 May 2013). "Peter Weller on Star Trek, Getting His Ph.D., and Defending J.J. Abrams". vulture.com. Retrieved 2013-08-21. When is your dissertation due? 'I file it in October.'
  15. ↑ "STLV: Pegg: Scotty Not A ‘Clown’ – Talks Accent & Star Trek 2016 + Weller: Marcus Not ‘Villain’ + more". TrekMovie.com. 3 August 2014. Yes you read that sentence right: Dr. Peter Weller, who recently completed a PhD in Italian history. And he didn’t let you forget it, including correcting one fan who addressed him as “Mister Weller.”
  16. ↑ "'Robocop' Star Weds in Italy". Zap2It. June 29, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

External links