History of Peter Scolari in Timeline

Peter Thomas Scolari was an American actor widely recognized for his comedic roles in television. He gained fame for playing Henry Desmond alongside Tom Hanks in the sitcom "Bosom Buddies" and achieved further success as Michael Harris in "Newhart". His performance in "Newhart" earned him three Emmy Award nominations.

September 12, 1955: Peter Scolari's Birth

Peter Thomas Scolari was born on September 12, 1955.

1972: Enrollment at Occidental College

Peter Scolari enrolled at Occidental College in Los Angeles as a theater arts major in 1972.

1974: Acclaim for "Reflections" Performance

Peter Scolari received a positive review from The New York Times for his performance in the 1974 production of "Reflections".

1978: Film Debut in "Take Off"

Peter Scolari made his film debut under the pseudonym Barney Tramble in the 1978 film "Take Off".

1979: Move to Los Angeles

Peter Scolari moved back to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue acting opportunities.

1979: NBC Pilot "The Further Adventures Of Wally Brown"

Peter Scolari was signed to star in an NBC pilot titled "The Further Adventures Of Wally Brown" in 1979, but the show was not picked up.

1980: Debut in "Bosom Buddies"

Peter Scolari landed a significant role in the sitcom "Bosom Buddies" in 1980, playing Henry Desmond alongside Tom Hanks.

1980: Role in "Goodtime Girls"

Peter Scolari starred in the short-lived sitcom "Goodtime Girls" in 1980, playing the character of Benny.

1982: Conclusion of "Bosom Buddies"

The sitcom "Bosom Buddies", starring Peter Scolari, concluded after two seasons in 1982.

1983: Divorce from Lisa Kretzchmar

Peter Scolari and his first wife, Lisa Kretzchmar, divorced in 1983.

1983: Starring in "Baby Makes Five"

Peter Scolari had a starring role in the sitcom "Baby Makes Five" in 1983, but the show was canceled after only five episodes.

1984: Joining the Cast of "Newhart"

Peter Scolari joined the cast of the sitcom "Newhart" in 1984, portraying the character of Michael Harris.

1986: Marriage to Debra Steagal

Peter Scolari married Debra Steagal, a costume designer, in 1986.

1987: First Emmy Nomination

Peter Scolari received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in "Newhart" in 1987.

1990: End of "Newhart" and Emmy Recognition

Peter Scolari's role in "Newhart" ended in 1990. His performance earned him three Emmy nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy.

1993: Starring in "Family Album"

Peter Scolari starred in the television series "Family Album" in 1993, playing a character whose wife was portrayed by Pamela Reed.

1996: Role in "That Thing You Do!"

Peter Scolari appeared in the film "That Thing You Do!", directed by Tom Hanks, in 1996. He played the character of Troy Chesterfield.

1996: Lead Role in "Stop the World – I Want to Get Off"

Peter Scolari played the lead role of Littlechap in a television production of the musical "Stop the World – I Want to Get Off" for the A&E network in 1996.

1997: Starring in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show"

Peter Scolari took on the role of Wayne Szalinski in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show", which premiered in 1997.

1998: Role in "From the Earth to the Moon"

Peter Scolari portrayed astronaut Pete Conrad in the miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" in 1998.

2000: Conclusion of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show"

The television series "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show", starring Peter Scolari, came to an end in 2000.

2003: Broadway Debut in "Hairspray"

Peter Scolari made his Broadway debut in the musical "Hairspray" in 2003.

2004: Broadway Role in "Hairspray"

Peter Scolari appeared on Broadway as Wilbur Turnblad in the musical "Hairspray".

2004: Voice Acting in "The Polar Express"

Peter Scolari lent his voice to the animated film "The Polar Express" in 2004, alongside Tom Hanks.

2012: Joining the Cast of "Girls"

Peter Scolari joined the cast of the HBO series "Girls" in 2012, portraying the recurring character of Tad Horvath.

2012: Broadway Performance in "Magic/Bird"

Peter Scolari showcased his acting versatility by playing various roles, including Pat Riley, Red Auerbach, Jerry Buss, and Bob Woolf, in the Broadway play "Magic/Bird" in 2012.

2013: Marriage to Tracy Shayne

Peter Scolari married actress Tracy Shayne in 2013. They remained together until his death.

2013: Reunion with Tom Hanks in "Lucky Guy"

Peter Scolari reunited with his "Bosom Buddies" co-star Tom Hanks in the Broadway play "Lucky Guy" in 2013.

2014: Oprah: Where Are They Now? Appearance

In 2014, Peter Scolari openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder on an episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?", offering insights into his personal challenges.

2014: Portraying Yogi Berra in "Bronx Bombers"

Peter Scolari starred as Yogi Berra in the Broadway play "Bronx Bombers" in 2014. His wife, Tracy Shayne, played Berra's wife, Carmen.

2015: Recurring Role in "Gotham"

Peter Scolari began his recurring role as Gillian B. Loeb in the television series "Gotham" in 2015.

2016: Joining the Cast of "Wicked"

Peter Scolari joined the Broadway cast of the musical "Wicked" in 2016 as a replacement for the role of the Wizard of Oz.

2017: End of "Girls" and Emmy Win

Peter Scolari's role in "Girls" concluded in 2017. His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2016.

2019: Roles in "Fosse/Verdon" and "Evil"

Peter Scolari took on roles in two television series in 2019: as a show business manager in the miniseries "Fosse/Verdon" and as Bishop Marx in the series "Evil".