Peter Riegert | |
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Peter Riegert in 1979 at the première of The Rose
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Born |
The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
April 11, 1947
Alma mater | The State University of New York (The University at Buffalo) |
Occupation | Actor, screenwriter, director |
Years active | 1975–present |
Peter Riegert (born April 11, 1947) is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his roles as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein in Animal House (1978), "Mac" MacIntyre in Local Hero (1983), fast-talking gangster Aldo in Oscar (1991), tough, no-nonsense Lt. Kellaway in The Mask (1994), newspaper editor Delbert McGinty in We Bought a Zoo (2011) and glove manufacturer Lou Levov in American Pastoral (2016). He directed the short film By Courier (2000) and, along with producer Ericka Frederick, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
On television, he had a recurring role as crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Zellman in seasons three and four of the HBO series The Sopranos (2001–2002), appeared as George Moore in the first season of the FX series Damages (2007) and portrayed Seth Green's father in the comedy series Dads (2013–2014). He had earlier been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance in the HBO film Barbarians at the Gate (1993).
Riegert was born in The Bronx, the son of Lucille, a piano teacher, and Milton Riegert, a food wholesaler. Riegert grew up in Hartsdale, New York, and was raised in a nonobservant Jewish household. He graduated from Ardsley High School in 1964 and later from the University at Buffalo. He worked at a number of jobs, including teaching, waiting tables, and social worker before settling on acting as a career.