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. 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 (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)"'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 7, 2015 and its short-lived sequel The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994)."'The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 7, 2015 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.
Filmography Film Writer The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
Director The Trip to Bountiful (1985) Full Moon in Blue Water (1988) Blood Red (1989) Night Game (1989) Convicts (1991) Arctic Blue (1993) The Only Thrill (1997) (Also executive producer) Terra Nova (1998) (Also producer) Lost Junction (2003) Whiskey School (2005)
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1966 Ambush Bay Sgt. William Maccone 1967 In the Heat of the Night Fryer 1968 Counterpoint Sergeant Calloway 1971 Von Richthofen and Brown Major Oswald Boelke 1972 Tomorrow Douglas 1973 The Exorcist Dr. Barringer 1974 Man on a Swing Willie Younger 1975 The Stepford Wives Walter Eberhart 1985 Witchfire 1987 Gardens of Stone Col. Feld 1989 Coyote Mountain Deputy Sheriff Short film
Television TV movies Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer 1980 City in Fear 1996 Lily Dale 2000 Mermaid
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Tom 1 episode Death Valley Days Jimmy 1 episode 1968 N.Y.P.D. The Man 1 episode 1972 McMillan & Wife Joey 1 episode 1973 Pueblo ENC M.O. Goldman TV movie1977 The Andros Targets Bill Lockhart 1 episode Delta County, U.S.A. Billy WingateTV movie The Quinns Michael Quinn Ryan's Hope Charlie Dean 2 episodes The Storyteller Lee GardnerTV movie 1978 A Question of Guilt Lieutenant Tom Wharton 1982 Texas Tom Brandon 3 episodes
References
External links Peter Masterson and Carlin Glynn Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
Pete Masterson at the University of Wisconsin's Actors Studio audio collection