Peter Billingsley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Billingsley
Billingsley at the 2014 ATX TV Festival for Sullivan and Son
Born	Peter Michaelsen (1971-04-16) April 16, 1971 (age 54) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, filmmaker
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Bains (m. 2015)
Children	2

Peter Billingsley (born April 16, 1971) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is famous for playing Ralphie Parker in the classic movie A Christmas Story. He also starred in the sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas. Peter started acting very young, even as a baby, appearing in many TV commercials. You might also know him as Jack Simmons in The Dirt Bike Kid or as Messy Marvin from old Hershey's Syrup commercials.

Early Life and Education

Peter Billingsley was born in New York City. His father, Alwin Michaelsen, worked as a financial consultant. His mother, Gail, was related to Sherman Billingsley, who owned the famous Stork Club.

A Family of Actors

Peter comes from a family of actors. All five of his siblings acted when they were kids. His older sister, Melissa Michaelsen, was known for her role in Me and Maxx. His older brother, Neil Billingsley, appeared in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow.

School Days

Peter' had a mix of schooling. He was taught by tutors, went to public schools, and attended private schools like the Professional Children's School in New York City. He even passed his high school exam when he was just 14 years old!

Young Astronaut Spokesperson

In 1986, Peter was a spokesperson for a program that encouraged young people to learn about space. He was even present at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for a space shuttle launch.

Peter's Acting Career

Peter's first acting job was at age two in a commercial. He went on to star in about 120 TV ads! He was especially known for playing Messy Marvin in commercials for Hershey's chocolate syrup.

Early Film Roles

One of Peter's first movie roles was in If Ever I See You Again (1978). He also appeared with Burt Reynolds in Paternity (1981), which earned him an award nomination. In 1982, he starred in movies like Death Valley and Massarati and the Brain. He also had a guest role on Little House on the Prairie.

Becoming Ralphie Parker

In 1983, Peter starred in A Christmas Story. This movie slowly became a huge holiday favorite. Many people still watch it every year! Peter was nominated for another Young Artist Award for his role. Even today, fans often greet him with a famous line from the movie: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" About 40 years later, he returned to play Ralphie again in A Christmas Story Christmas.

Later Acting Roles

As he got older, Peter continued to act. He made guest appearances on popular TV shows like Who's the Boss?, Punky Brewster, and The Wonder Years. He also starred in movies such as The Dirt Bike Kid, for which he won an award. In the 1990s, he took on more serious roles, like a character who gets involved with steroids in The Fourth Man. He even earned an Emmy Award nomination for his role in The Writing on the Wall, where he played a boy who learns about tolerance.

Behind the Scenes: Filmmaking

Peter Billingsley also became very active behind the camera. He started working as a post-production supervisor and assistant editor.

Directing and Producing

In 1994, Peter directed and wrote a short film called The Sacred Fire. This film won an award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films. He also worked as a producer for shows like Dinner for Five, earning an Emmy nomination.

Working with Friends

Peter often works with his friends, actors Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. He was a co-producer for the movie Elf, where he also had a small acting part as an elf named Ming Ming. He helped produce Zathura and The Break-Up.

Peter was an executive producer for the superhero movie Iron Man. He even had a small role in it as a scientist named William Ginter Riva. He played this character again in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). Peter directed the movie Couples Retreat (2009), which starred Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.

Music and Musicals

In 1999, Peter released a CD of Christmas songs. He also became an executive producer for a musical version of A Christmas Story, which opened in Seattle in 2010.

Personal Life

Peter Billingsley married Elizabeth "Buffy" Bains in 2015. They have two children together.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations