Peter Masterson


Peter Masterson was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. He made his Broadway debut in November 1967 in The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald, playing the title character. Although he got good notices, the play closed after nine performances.

Life and career

Masterson often worked with his cousin, writer Horton Foote. Acting from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, including 1975's The Stepford Wives as Walter Eberhart, since then he concentrated mostly on directing and producing. Actress Mary Stuart Masterson is his daughter; she appeared with her father in The Stepford Wives, playing one of his daughters. His other acting credits include roles in Ambush Bay, In the Heat of the Night, Counterpoint, Von Richthofen and Brown, Tomorrow, The Exorcist, Man on a Swing, and Gardens of Stone.
Masterson co-wrote the books for the hit musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and its short-lived sequel The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public. In 1980, he produced the ABC television movie, City in Fear based on an idea by screenwriter William Goldman, an idea that became the well-reviewed 1979 novel Panic on Page One by Linda Stewart, and the television script by Albert Ruben. The cast was led by Robert Vaughn and David Janssen in his final role before his death. In 1985, he directed The Trip to Bountiful, for which Geraldine Page won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film also featured his wife, Carlin Glynn, who had previously won a Tony Award for her role in Whorehouse. His directing credits additionally include Full Moon in Blue Water, Night Game, Blood Red, Convicts, Arctic Blue, The Only Thrill, Lost Junction, and Whiskey School.

Illness and death

Masterson died at the age of 84 on December 18, 2018, after suffering a fall at his home. He had received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease 14 years earlier.

Filmography

Film

Writer
  • The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Director
  • The Trip to Bountiful
  • Full Moon in Blue Water
  • Blood Red
  • Night Game
  • Convicts
  • Arctic Blue
  • The Only Thrill
  • Terra Nova
  • Lost Junction
  • Whiskey School
Acting roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Ambush BaySgt. William Maccone
1967In the Heat of the NightFryer
1968CounterpointSergeant Calloway
1971Von Richthofen and BrownMajor Oswald Boelke
1972TomorrowDouglas
1973The ExorcistDr. Barringer
1974Man on a SwingWillie Younger
1975The Stepford WivesWalter Eberhart
1985Witchfire
1987Gardens of StoneCol. Feld
1989Coyote MountainDeputy SheriffShort film

Television

TV movies
YearTitleDirectorWriterExecutive
Producer
1980City in Fear
1996Lily Dale
2000Mermaid

Acting roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreTom1 episode
1966Death Valley DaysJimmy1 episode
1968N.Y.P.D.The Man1 episode
1972McMillan & WifeJoey1 episode
1973PuebloENC M.O. GoldmanTV movie
1977The Andros TargetsBill Lockhart1 episode
1977Delta County, U.S.A.Billy WingateTV movie
1977The QuinnsMichael QuinnTV movie
1977Ryan's HopeCharlie Dean2 episodes
1977The StorytellerLee GardnerTV movie
1978A Question of GuiltLieutenant Tom WhartonTV movie
1982TexasTom Brandon3 episodes