---
name: "Peter Riegert"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-riegert"
fi1m_id: "peter-riegert"
imdb_id: "nm0726200"
tmdb_id: 20899
wikidata_id: "Q1339019"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 April 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-09-19T09:36:57.420861+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Peter Riegert

## Identity

Peter Riegert

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-riegert
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** peter-riegert
- **IMDb ID:** nm0726200
- **TMDB ID:** 20899
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1339019
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Riegert, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1339019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726200/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20899

Actor. Born 11 April 1947 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 April 1947, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1983–2015
- **Also known as:** Peter Riegart
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 86 (1), 1990s 76 (2), 2000s 82 (1), 2010s 68 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 73 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 4, Crime 3, Family 1, Fantasy 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $685m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Riegert, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1339019, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726200/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20899

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) (86)
- **Hulu:** [*Show Me a Hero*](https://film.one/tv/show-me-a-hero.md) (78)
- **Peacock:** [*The Mask*](https://film.one/film/the-mask.md) (71)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Peter Riegert

> Peter Riegert gives other actors room to be peculiar without disappearing beside them. We value his unforced steadiness, above all in *Local Hero*, where he gives the stranger characters someone convincing to talk to.

In *Local Hero* (1983), Peter Riegert does not try to match the eccentric people around Mac MacIntyre. His American oil executive in Scotland gives Bill Forsyth’s comedy a steady centre, and the restraint is funny in itself. Burt Lancaster’s Felix Happer can indulge his silliness while Denis Lawson’s Gordon Urquhart responds more briskly. Riegert leaves room for both, yet Mac remains a person worth watching even when someone else has the more conspicuous part.

His film debut was another ensemble comedy, *National Lampoon’s Animal House* (1978), in which he played Boon. The breakthrough lead in *Local Hero* was followed by Sam Posner, the pickle vendor and romantic lead in Joan Micklin Silver’s *Crossing Delancey* (1988). His natural delivery and ease with other actors suit that move into romance. We like a leading man who can be affable without continually checking that we find him charming. Those leading parts are worth remembering when looking at the long supporting career that followed.

We laughed at Mac’s steadiness beside Happer’s silliness; Riegert does not need to underline the difference. Forsyth trusts the actors’ different responses to supply the humour, and we are allowed to notice things without being hurried past them. That gentle pace suits the performances, though the film’s affection for eccentricity sometimes softens the questions raised by its coastal property deal. It does not pretend the locals are above wanting money. Riegert’s plainness is particularly useful in a film that can grow too fond of its odd people.

The supporting years brought Lt Mitch Kellaway in *The Mask* (1994) and recurring television work through the 1990s and 2000s. His high, nasal voice and frequent New York accent keep him recognisable even when he is playing quietly. As parts became scarcer, he turned to directing, co-writing and directing the feature *King of the Corner* (2004). His usefulness in an ensemble should not obscure what Forsyth understood: he can hold our attention at the centre of one. Start with *Local Hero*, and give the actor between the eccentrics as much attention as the eccentrics themselves.

## Biography

Peter Riegert is an American actor. He was born on 11 April 1947 in New York City and graduated from the University at Buffalo. Before turning to acting he worked as a teacher, waiter and social worker.

His film roles include Donald 'Boon' Schoenstein in *Animal House* (1978), MacIntyre in *Local Hero* (1983), Sam Posner in *Crossing Delancey* (1988) and Lt. Mitch Kellaway in *The Mask* (1994). On television he has appeared in *M*A*S*H*, *Seinfeld*, *The Sopranos* as Assemblyman Ronald Zellman, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* and *Succession*.

Riegert directed the short film *By Courier* (2000), which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance in the 1993 HBO film *Barbarians at the Gate*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Show Me a Hero* (2015), Fi1m 78, as Oscar Newman — [page](https://film.one/tv/show-me-a-hero.md)
- *We Bought a Zoo* (2011), Fi1m 58, as Delbert McGinty — [page](https://film.one/film/we-bought-a-zoo.md)
- *Traffic* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Attorney Michael Adler — [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *Sports Night* (1998), Fi1m 82, as Jay Rydell — [page](https://film.one/tv/sports-night.md)
- *The Mask* (1994), Fi1m 71, as Mitch Kellaway — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mask.md)
- *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86, as "Mac" MacIntyre — [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md)

## Complete filmography (82)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Harlan Coben's Shelter* (2023), series, as Alan Bolitar
- *Extrapolations* (2023), series, as Ben Zucker
- *Extra Innings* (2019), as Pete
- *Succession* (2018), series, as Roger Pugh — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/succession.md)
- *American Pastoral* (2016), as Lou Levov
- *Show Me a Hero* (2015), series, as Oscar Newman — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/show-me-a-hero.md)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), series, as Artie Goodman — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *At Middleton* (2013), as Boneyard Sims
- *Dads* (2013), series, as David Sachs
- *Sholem Aleichem: Laughing In The Darkness* (2012), as Tevye
- *We Bought a Zoo* (2011), as Delbert McGinty — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/we-bought-a-zoo.md)
- *Oka!* (2011), as Dr. Maguire
- *White Irish Drinkers* (2011), as Whitey
- *The Chosen One* (2010), as Bob
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Harvey Winter — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Love Conquers Paul* (2009), as Mr. Feigenbaum
- *Leverage* (2008), series, as Peter Blanchard
- *The Response* (2008), as Colonel Jefferson
- *Cashmere Mafia* (2008), series, Actor
- *Damages* (2007), series, as The Executive, George Moore — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Surrender, Dorothy* (2006), as Mel
- *Back When We Were Grownups* (2004), as Zeb
- *King of the Corner* (2004), as Leo Spivak · Director, Writer
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), series, as August Kellerman — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update* (2003), as Donald 'Boon' Schoenstein
- *How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog* (2002), as Larry
- *Bleacher Bums* (2001), as Decker
- *The Beast* (2001), series, Actor
- *Club Land* (2001), as Rabbi
- *By Courier* (2001), Director
- *Bojangles* (2001), as Marty
- *Traffic* (2000), as Attorney Michael Adler — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *In the Weeds* (2000), as Barry
- *Passion of Mind* (2000), as Dr. Peters, the New York Psychiatrist
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Chauncey Zeirko
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Max Weinstein (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Assemblyman Ronald Zellman — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story* (1998), Actor
- *Jerry and Tom* (1998), as Stanley
- *Hi-Life* (1998), as Minor
- *Sports Night* (1998), series, as Jay Rydell — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/sports-night.md)
- *The Baby Dance* (1998), as Richard Luckman
- *Face Down* (1997), as Lt. Coop Cooper
- *North Shore Fish* (1997), as Porker
- *Infinity* (1996), as Mel Feynman
- *Pie in the Sky* (1996), as Dad Dunlap
- *An Element of Truth* (1995), as Sidney Wiltz
- *Bleeding Hearts* (1995), as Doctor
- *Coldblooded* (1995), as Steve
- *The Infiltrator* (1995), Actor
- *Gypsy* (1994), as Herbie Sommers
- *The Mask* (1994), as Mitch Kellaway — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mask.md)
- *Barbarians at the Gate* (1993), as Peter Cohen
- *Middle Ages* (1992), series, as Walter Cooper
- *Passed Away* (1992), as Peter Syracusa
- *Utz* (1992), as Marius Fisher
- *Oscar* (1991), as Aldo
- *The Object of Beauty* (1991), as Lawrence "Larry" Oates
- *The Runestone* (1991), as Capt. Gregory Fanducci
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Jerold Dixon — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Beyond the Ocean* (1990), as Eric
- *A Shock to the System* (1990), as Robert Benham
- *W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult* (1989), as W. Eugene Smith
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as James Kimbrough — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *That's Adequate* (1989), as Adult Baby Elroy
- *Crossing Delancey* (1988), as Sam Posner
- *The Stranger* (1987), as Dr. Harris Kite
- *A Man in Love* (1987), as Michael Pozner
- *News at Eleven* (1986), as Eric Ross
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Gus Rosenthal (segment "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty")
- *Ellis Island* (1984), series, as Jacob Rubinstein
- *The City Girl* (1984), as Tim
- *Le Grand Carnaval* (1983), as Walter Giammanca, le boss américain
- *Local Hero* (1983), as "Mac" MacIntyre — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md)
- *Table Settings* (1982), Actor
- *National Lampoon's Movie Madness* (1982), as Jason Cooper ("Growing Yourself")
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Richard M. Nixon
- *Chilly Scenes of Winter* (1979), as Sam
- *Americathon* (1979), as Eric McMurkin
- *Animal House* (1978), as Donald 'Boon' Schoenstein
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, Actor — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Zeb

## Gallery

- ![Peter Riegert](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-26750b18cb27.jpg) Peter Riegert — Photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Peter_Riegert_1979.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Actor Peter Riegert and actress/singer Bette Midler at the premiere of Midler's movie "The Rose". (1979)](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-d7f3aa8da765.jpg) Actor Peter Riegert and actress/singer Bette Midler at the premiere of Midler's movie "The Rose". (1979) — Photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Midler_Riegert.jpeg/1280px-Midler_Riegert.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bette Midller and date Peter Riegert (left) at the premiere of her movie THE ROSE, 11/7/79 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but please c (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-546e5469ec6f.jpg) Bette Midller and date Peter Riegert (left) at the premiere of her movie THE ROSE, 11/7/79 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but please c (2010) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28255841215%29.jpg/1280px-Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28255841215%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979 (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-d7f3aa8da765.jpg) Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979 (2010) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28285968321%29.jpg/1280px-Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28285968321%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Peter Riegert](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-c991b280df76.jpg) Peter Riegert — Image via TMDB
- ![Peter Riegert](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-35c872682a59.jpg) Peter Riegert — Image via TMDB
- ![Peter Riegert](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-e43349f22a9d.jpg) Peter Riegert — Image via TMDB
- ![Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979 (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-dec07cd2e158.jpg) Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979 (2010) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28285968327%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979. (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-25f4307c2bf8.jpg) Bette Midler and date Peter Riegert arrive at the premiere of Midler's movie, THE ROSE, 1979. (2006) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28285971681%29.jpg/1280px-Peter_Riegert%2C_Bette_Midler_%28285971681%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Peter Riegert](https://film.one/media/person/59737/gallery-c32622546425.jpg) Peter Riegert — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2001: Best Live Action Short Film (nominated), for *By Courier*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/peter-riegert