Peter Jason

Excellent, prolific and versatile character actor 'Peter Jason' (qv) was born on July 22, 1944, in Hollywood, CA, and grew up in Balboa. He attended Newport Beach Elementary School, Horace Ensign Junior High and Newport Harbor High School. He originally planned on being a football player, but fell in love with acting after playing the lead in a high school production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Following his high school graduation he attended Orange Coast Junior College and did a season of summer stock at the Peterborough Playhouse in New Hampshire. He then studied as a drama major at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, PA. More stage work followed with the acting group the South Coast Repertory Company. He made his film debut in 'Howard Hawks' (qv)' final film, _Rio Lobo (1970)_ (qv) (which Jason says is one of his favorites).He worked with 'Orson Welles' (qv) on the uncompleted _The Other Side of the Wind (2018)_ (qv) as an actor, boom operator, prop man and even cook for the cast and crew.Jason has appeared in many films for director 'Walter Hill' (qv); he's especially memorable as the racist redneck bartender in _48 Hrs. (1982)_ (qv). He has also appeared in many films for director 'John Carpenter' (qv): he's very engaging as the jolly Dr. Paul Leahy in _Prince of Darkness (1987)_ (qv) and was terrific as underground guerrilla army leader Gilbert in _They Live (1988)_ (qv).Other notable roles include a sinister government agent in _Dreamscape (1984)_ (qv), rugged Maj. G.F. Devin in 'Clint Eastwood' (qv)'s _Heartbreak Ridge (1986)_ (qv), jerky detective Fedorchuk in _Alien Nation (1988)_ (qv), a newspaper reporter in _Seabiscuit (2003)_ (qv) and the U.S. president in _Alien Apocalypse (2005)_ (qv).Jason recently had a recurring role as dissolute gambler Con Stapleton in the superbly gritty cable Western TV series _Deadwood (2004)_ (qv). He also had a regular part as Capt. Skip Gleason on _Mike Hammer, Private Eye (1997)_ (qv).Among the many TV shows Peter has done guest spots on are _Desperate Housewives (2004)_ (qv), _Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)_ (qv), _Nash Bridges (1996)_ (qv), _Coach (1989)_ (qv), _The Golden Girls (1985)_ (qv), _Murder, She Wrote (1984)_ (qv), _Married... with Children (1987)_ (qv), _Roseanne (1988)_ (qv), _Dear John (1988)_ (qv), _Quantum Leap (1989)_ (qv), _Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)_ (qv), _B.J. and the Bear (1978)_ (qv), _The Incredible Hulk (1977)_ (qv), _Gunsmoke (1955)_ (qv) and _Hawaii Five-O (1968)_ (qv). In addition to his substantial film and TV show credits, Jason has acted in over 150 plays and hundreds of TV commercials. An accomplished baritone vocalist, Jason has sung in such musical stage productions as "The Music Man" (this is one of his favorite plays), "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off," "The Roar of the Greasepaint" and "Threepenny Opera" (as Mack the Knife). He's been married to his wife Eileen for 33 years.In his spare time he makes his own furniture with found, recycled wood.::woodyanders