Peter Masterson Explained

Peter Masterson
Birth Date:1 June 1934
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Birth Name:Carlos Bee Masterson Jr.
Death Place:Kinderhook, New York, U.S.
Other Names:Pete Masterson
Years Active:1965–2005
Relatives:Horton Foote (cousin)
Children:3, including Mary Stuart Masterson

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

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).

Masterson co-wrote (with Larry L. King) the books for the hit musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978)[3] and its short-lived sequel The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994).[4] 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).

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.[5] [6]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleCreditNotes
DirectorWriterProducerActorRole
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
1982The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1985Witchfire
1985The Trip to Bountiful
1987Gardens of StoneCol. Feld
1988Full Moon in Blue Water
1989Coyote MountainDeputy SheriffShort
1989Blood Red
1989Night Game
1991Convicts
1993Arctic Blue
1997The Only Thrill
1998Terra Nova
2003Lost Junction
2005Whiskey School
Television
YearTitleCreditRoleNotes
1966Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreActor Tom1 episode
1966Death Valley DaysActorJimmy1 episode
1968N.Y.P.D.ActorThe Man1 episode
1972McMillan & WifeActorJoey1 episode
1973PuebloActorENC M.O. GoldmanTV movie
1977The Andros TargetsActorBill Lockhart1 episode
1977Delta County, U.S.A.ActorBilly WingateTV movie
1977The QuinnsActorMichael QuinnTV movie
1977Ryan's HopeActorCharlie Dean2 episodes
1977The StorytellerActorLee GardnerTV movie
1978A Question of GuiltActorLieutenant Tom WhartonTV movie
1980City in FearWriter, executive producerTV movie
1982TexasActorTom Brandon3 episodes
1996Lily DaleDirectorTV movie
2000MermaidDirectorTV movie

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald . Internet Broadway Databse . The Broadwau League . 25 August 2023.
  2. Book: Goldman . William . The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway . 1969 . Harcourt, Brace & World . New York . 192–202 . First . 978-0-1517-9923-7.
  3. http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/3092/The-Best-Little-Whorehouse-in-Texas "'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Broadway"
  4. http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/5019/The-Best-Little-Whorehouse-Goes-Public "'The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public' Broadway"
  5. Web site: Writer, actor, director Peter Masterson dies. Houston Chronicle. Dansby. Andrew. December 20, 2018. houstonchronicle.com. 2018-12-20.
  6. Web site: Peter Masterson, 84, a 'Best Little Whorehouse' Creator, Is Dead. Richard. Sandomir. December 21, 2018. The New York Times. December 22, 2018. https://archive.today/20181222171714/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/obituaries/peter-masterson-dead.html. December 22, 2018. live.