Peter Gallagher


Peter Killian Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Since 1980, Gallagher has played roles in numerous Hollywood films. He is best known for starring as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007, recurring roles such as Deputy Chief William Dodds on , Stacey Koons on the Showtime comedy-drama Californication, and Nick on the Netflix series Grace & Frankie. He also played CIA Director of Clandestine Services Arthur Campbell on Covert Affairs.

Early life

Gallagher was born in New York City. His mother, Mary Ann, was a bacteriologist, and his father, Thomas Francis Gallagher, Jr., was an advertising executive. Gallagher is the youngest of their three children. He is of Irish Catholic background and was raised in Armonk, New York. Gallagher graduated from Tufts University, where he was active in theater, appearing in such shows as Stephen Sondheim's Company and singing with the all-male a cappella group the Beelzebubs.

Career

Gallagher appeared on Broadway with Glenn Close in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and made his feature film debut in the Taylor Hackford film The Idolmaker, but first achieved fame for his role in Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape. He also starred as Sky Masterson in the 1992 Broadway hit revival of Guys and Dolls.
Gallagher played a potential career threat to Tim Robbins's studio executive in The Player ; the comatose fiancé of Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping ; a real estate salesman having an affair with Annette Bening in American Beauty ; a media executive in Mr. Deeds ; and a political reporter exposing media ethics during a presidential debate in The Last Debate.
From 2003 to 2007, Gallagher starred as Sandy Cohen, a Jewish public defender and corporate lawyer, on the Fox television show The O.C.. He hosts an annual award ceremony named "The Sandy Cohen Awards" or The Sandys, which, in honor of his character on The O.C., gives a scholarship to a law school student at UC Berkeley who wants to become a public defender.
Gallagher released an album titled 7 Days in Memphis in 2005, on the Sony BMG label. This includes a studio recording of his performance of "Don't Give Up On Me", which was featured in an episode of The O.C. He also has a video for his single "Still I Long For Your Kiss", in which he starred with his TV-wife Kelly Rowan.
In 2005, Gallagher received the P.T. Barnum Award from Tufts University for his exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment. In 2007, Gallagher received the "Light on the Hill" award at Tufts University. The award is given to notable alumni from Tufts who have demonstrated ambition, achievement, and active citizenship.
From February 13 through July 5, 2015, Gallagher starred on Broadway in On the Twentieth Century although he missed several performances in late February due to illness.

Personal life

Gallagher is married to Paula Harwood and has two children, James and Kathryn. His daughter Kathryn is an actress and singer, and in 2015 performed in Deaf West Theatre's production of Spring Awakening on Broadway as the voice of Martha. In November 2019, she began starring as Bella in Jagged Little Pill at the Broadhurst Theatre. Kathryn hosts a vlog for Broadway.com called Jagged Little Thrill, in which she chronicles the backstage happenings of the production.

Filmography

Film

Television films

Television series

Stage credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977HairClaude
1978GreaseDanny Zuko
1982A Doll's LifeOttoTheatre World Award
1983The Corn Is GreenMorgan Evans
1983Another CountryGuy Bennett
1984The Real ThingBillyClarence Derwent Awards—Most Promising Male
1985-86Pride and PrejudiceFitzwilliam Darcy
1986Long Day's Journey Into NightEdmund TyroneNominated—Tony Award for Featured Actor
1992Guys and DollsSky MastersonNominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical
1995Pal JoeyJoey Evans
2001-02Noises OffLloyd Dallas
2008The Country GirlBernie Dodd
2015On The Twentieth CenturyOscar Jaffe