Peter Masterson

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Peter Masterson
Born
Carlos Bee Masterson Jr.

(1934-06-01)June 1, 1934
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2018(2018-12-18) (aged 84)
Other namesPete Masterson
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1965–2005
Spouse
(m. 1960)
Children3, including Mary Stuart Masterson
RelativesHorton Foote (cousin)

Peter Masterson (born Carlos Bee Masterson Jr.; June 1, 1934 – December 18, 2018) 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.[1] Although he got good notices, the play closed after nine performances.[2]

Life and career[edit]

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 (1966), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Counterpoint (1968), Von Richthofen and Brown (1971), Tomorrow (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Man on a Swing (1974), and Gardens of Stone (1987).[3][4]

Masterson co-wrote (with Larry L. King) the books for the hit musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978)[5] and its short-lived sequel The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994).[6] 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 (1988), Night Game (1989), Blood Red (1989), Convicts (1991), Arctic Blue (1993), The Only Thrill (1997), Lost Junction (2003), and Whiskey School (2005).[4]

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.[3][4]

Filmography[edit]

Film
Year Title Credit Notes
Director Writer Producer Actor Role
1966 Ambush Bay Yes Sgt. William Maccone
1967 In the Heat of the Night Yes Fryer
1968 Counterpoint Yes Sergeant Calloway
1971 Von Richthofen and Brown Yes Major Oswald Boelke
1972 Tomorrow Yes Douglas
1973 The Exorcist Yes Dr. Barringer
1974 Man on a Swing Yes Willie Younger
1975 The Stepford Wives Yes Walter Eberhart
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Yes
1985 Witchfire Yes
1985 The Trip to Bountiful Yes
1987 Gardens of Stone Yes Col. Feld
1988 Full Moon in Blue Water Yes
1989 Coyote Mountain Yes Deputy Sheriff Short
1989 Blood Red Yes
1989 Night Game Yes
1991 Convicts Yes
1993 Arctic Blue Yes
1997 The Only Thrill Yes Executive
1998 Terra Nova Yes Yes
2003 Lost Junction Yes
2005 Whiskey School Yes
Television
Year Title Credit Role Notes
1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Actor Tom 1 episode
1966 Death Valley Days Actor Jimmy 1 episode
1968 N.Y.P.D. Actor The Man 1 episode
1972 McMillan & Wife Actor Joey 1 episode
1973 Pueblo Actor ENC M.O. Goldman TV movie
1977 The Andros Targets Actor Bill Lockhart 1 episode
1977 Delta County, U.S.A. Actor Billy Wingate TV movie
1977 The Quinns Actor Michael Quinn TV movie
1977 Ryan's Hope Actor Charlie Dean 2 episodes
1977 The Storyteller Actor Lee Gardner TV movie
1978 A Question of Guilt Actor Lieutenant Tom Wharton TV movie
1980 City in Fear Writer, executive producer TV movie
1982 Texas Actor Tom Brandon 3 episodes
1996 Lily Dale Director TV movie
2000 Mermaid Director TV movie

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald". Internet Broadway Databse. The Broadwau League. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ Goldman, William (1969). The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway (First ed.). New York: Harcourt, Brace & World. pp. 192–202. ISBN 978-0-1517-9923-7.
  3. ^ a b Dansby, Andrew (December 20, 2018). "Writer, actor, director Peter Masterson dies". houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  4. ^ a b c Sandomir, Richard (December 21, 2018). "Peter Masterson, 84, a 'Best Little Whorehouse' Creator, Is Dead". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 7, 2015
  6. ^ "'The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public' Broadway" Archived 2015-09-14 at the Wayback Machine playbillvault.com, accessed November 7, 2015

External links[edit]