Peter Franklin Hansen (December 5, 1921 – April 9, 2017) was an American actor, best known for his role as lawyer Lee Baldwin, on the soap opera General Hospital, appearing in the role from 1965 to 1986, briefly in 1989 and 1990, and returning to the role from 1992 to 2004. In 1989, he appeared in the movie The War of the Roses.

Early life Hansen was born on December 5, 1921, in Oakland, California to Sydney Henry Hansen (1897-1971) and Lena Gertrude Young (1896-1983). His family moved to Detroit, Michigan where his parents divorced. His mother remarried Falconer O'Brien, and had a daughter named Charlotte O'Brien, who died in 1934 at the age of five. Hansen served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and flew combat in the South Pacific. He flew F4U Corsairs and participated in the invasion of Peleliu in September 1944. In 1950, after he left the Marines, Hansen signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and became an actor.

Career Hansen appeared in more than 100 films, television series and made-for-television movies. His early acting roles were at the famed Pasadena Playhouse. Hansen was a guest star on Reed Hadley's CBS crime drama, The Public Defender, and the television adaptation of Gertrude Berg's comedy The Goldbergs. In addition to his work on General Hospital, he notably co-starred in 1963 on the NBC soap opera Ben Jerrod. He also appeared on The Golden Girls in 1985 (Season 1, Episode 5) as Dr. Elliott Clayton, a casanova who makes a pass at Blanche while dating Dorothy. In 1988, he starred in an episode of Cheers ("And God Created Woodman"; Season 6, Episode 14), as Daniel T. Collier, the CEO and chairman of the board of Lillian, the company which owns Cheers.

Other notable appearances include work on Broken Arrow, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Maverick, Sea Hunt, Petticoat Junction, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., How The West Was Won, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Magnum, P.I., L.A. Law, Night Court and Growing Pains.

Hansen had a major role in the 1950 Western film Branded with Alan Ladd, the 1951 science fiction film When Worlds Collide, and the 1952 Western film The Savage with Charlton Heston. In the 1960s, He made commercials for Chrysler products, mostly Plymouths, on shows hosted by Lawrence Welk, Steve Allen, and Garry Moore. In 1961, Hansen was a news anchor at the Los Angeles based TV station KCOP-TV.

In 1997, Hansen began playing the character on the sister show Port Charles. The early years of Port Charles saw the Baldwins as the core family, focusing on Lee's son, Scotty, and granddaughter, Karen. After their storyline took them back to "GH", Peter made occasional appearances on both shows, last appearing in 2004. Although he retired from acting afterwards, he did appear at the off-screen 50th Anniversary party in 2013 along with former on-screen wife Susan Brown.

Personal life and death Hansen met his wife, Florence Elizabeth "Betty" Moe, while in high school and married her in 1943. They had three children, Kristen, Peter and Gretchen, and three grandchildren: Allison, Erik and Jamal. Betty died in 1993 and his daughter, Kris, died in 1996. He then shared 24 years as companion to Barbara Wenzel.

Hansen resided in Tarzana, California, with his family, and he enjoyed flying, owning his own Cessna for decades, spent many vacations in the Sierra Nevada high country. He led a devoted spiritual life at St. Nicholas of Myra Episcopal Church, in Encino, California. Hansen died on April 9, 2017, at his home in Tarzana, at the age of 95. He was cremated and his ashes were returned to the family.

Awards Hansen won a Daytime Emmy Award for his portrayal of Lee Baldwin on General Hospital in 1979 in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 1950 Branded Tonio The Goldbergs Ted Gordon 1951 The Last Outpost Lt. Crosby Western film directed by Lewis R. Foster Passage West Michael Karns Western film directed by Lewis R. Foster Darling, How Could You! Dr. Steve Clark When Worlds Collide Dr. Tony Drake 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Spectator Uncredited, Drama film directed and produced by Cecil B. DeMille Something to Live For Stage Cast Member Uncredited, Drama film directed and produced by George Stevens The Savage Lt. Weston Hathersall 1954 Prisoner of War Capt. Fred Osborne Uncredited, War–drama film directed by Andrew Marton Brigadoon New York Club Patron Drum Beat Lt. Goodsall CinemaScope western film in WarnerColor written & directed by Delmer Daves and co-produced by Daves and Alan Ladd 1955 The Violent Men George Menefee A Bullet for Joey Fred Film noir directed by Lewis Allen Top of the World Capt. Cochrane Adventure film directed by Lewis R. Foster and written by John D. Klorer and N. Richard Nash The King's Thief Isaac Newton Uncredited 1956 Hell on Frisco Bay Detective Connors Film noir–crime film directed by Frank Turtle Diane 2nd Court Physician Uncredited The Proud and Profane Lieutenant (jg) Hutchins A Cry in the Night Dr. Frazee The Ten Commandments Young aide Three Violent People Lt. Marr Western film directed by Rudolph Maté 1957 5 Steps to Danger Karl Plesser 1958 The Deep Six Lieutenant Dooley 1961 Pocketful of Miracles Governor's Aide Uncredited 1964 Apache Rifles Capt. Green 1965 Harlow Hansen - Assistant Director 1983 The Man Who Wasn't There Police Lieutenant 1985 Junior Electrician 1989 The War of the Roses Mr. Marshall 2002 Dragonfly Phillip Darrow

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1950 The Goldbergs Ted Gordon 1954 Schlitz Playhouse Episode: "At the Natchez Inn" (S 3:Ep 21) Cavalcade of America Episode: "Duel at the O.K. Corral" (S 2:Ep 20) The Public Defender Episode: "Escape" (S 1:Ep 20) The Lone Wolf Jackson Smith Episode: "The Planetarium Story" (S 1:Ep 36) Schlitz Playhouse Claudius Fabian Episode: "The Roman and the Renegade" (S 3:Ep 49) The Loretta Young Show Jim Roberts Episode: "The Lamp" (S 2:Ep 4) Your Favorite Story Episode: "The Unknown" (S 3:Ep 1) Lady in the Wings Edward MacDowell Space Patrol Doctor Paul Yates Episode: "Danger: Radiation" (S 4:Ep 37) The Lone Ranger Marshal Jim Episode: "Homer with a High Hat" (S 4:Ep 15) 1955 Bill Taylor Episode: "The Law Lady" (S 4:EP 25) Peter Sawtelle Episode: "Sawtelle Saga's End" (S 4:Ep 29) The Public Defender Episode: "The Man Who Couldn't Remember" (S 2:Ep 18) The Lone Ranger Jack Morrison Episode: "Sheriff's Sale (S 4:Ep 21) Lux Video Theatre Philip Adams Episode: "The Two Dollar Bettor" (S 6:Ep 3) The Lone Ranger Smiley Phillips Episode: "Death Goes to Press" (S 4:Ep 43) Stage 7 Capt. Chuck Boske Episode: "Armed" (S 1:Ep 14) The Public Defender Simms Episode: "The Sapphire Mink" (S 2:Ep 32) Science Fiction Theatre Dr. Dan Scott Episode: "Beyond Return" (S 1:Ep 32) 1956 Climax! Lawyer Episode: "Faceless Adversary" (S 2:Ep 33) Science Fiction Theatre Dr. Warren Stark Episode: "Signals from the Heart" (S 2:Ep 1) Dr. Henry Maxton Episode: "The Unguided Missile" (S 2:Ep 8) Telephone Time William Smith Episode: "Grandpa Changes the World" (S 1:Ep 16) Science Fiction Theatre Prof. Norman Hughes Episode: "The Throwback" (S 2:Ep 19) Broken Arrow Capt. Dennis Farrell Episode: "Medicine Men" (S 1:Ep 6) Science Fiction Theatre Dr. Edgar Barnes Episode: "Doctor Robot" (S 2:Ep 30) Broken Arrow Capt. Dennis Farrell Episode: "Rebellion" (S 1:Ep 22) 1957 Dr. Christian Rufus Corning Episode: "Revenge" (S 1:Ep 16) Science Fiction Theatre Dr. Jim Wallaby Episode: "The Strange Lodger" (S 2:Ep 39) Zane Grey Theater Holton Episode: "Village of Fear" (S 1:Ep 210 The Gray Ghost Manning Episode: "Renegade Rangers" (S 1:Ep 28) Navy Log Episode: "The Lady and the Atom" (S 2:Ep 23) Dr. Christian Walters Episode: "The Alien" (S 1: Ep 25) Navy Log Barry Episode: "The Marines Have Landed" (S 2:Ep 35) Broken Arrow Capt. Dennis Farrell Episode: "White Man's Magic" (S 2:Epp 1) 1958 Flight Kovacs Episode: "Flight Surgeon" (S 1:Ep 4) 1958 The Restless Gun QuintEpisode "A Pressing Engagement" 1965 General Hospital Lee Baldwin 1958 Perry Mason "The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife" S1 Ep26 Howard Black 1997-2000 Port Charles Lee Baldwin Recurring role

References Notes

Credited as Peter Hanson. Uncredited role. Credited as Peter Nason.

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