Peter Boyle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Boyle
Boyle in 1978
Born	Peter Lawrence Boyle (1935-10-18)October 18, 1935 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 12, 2006(2006-12-12) (aged 71) New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Green River Cemetery, Springs, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1966–2006
Spouse(s)	Loraine Alterman ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	2

Peter Lawrence Boyle (born October 18, 1935 – died December 12, 2006) was a well-known American actor. He was famous for playing interesting characters. You might remember him as Frank Barone on the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. He also played the funny monster in the movie Young Frankenstein (1974).

Peter Boyle also starred in the film The Candidate (1972). He won an Emmy Award in 1996 for his role on the TV show The X-Files. People praised his acting in both funny and serious roles. His career took off after his performance in the 1970 film Joe. He also played Wizard in Taxi Driver (1976).

Early life and beginnings

Peter Lawrence Boyle was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. His parents were Alice and Francis Xavier Boyle. He was the youngest of three children. He had two older sisters, Alice and Sidney. His family later moved to Philadelphia.

Family and early influences

His father, Francis, was a TV personality in Philadelphia from 1951 to 1963. He hosted a Western show called Chuck Wagon Pete. He also hosted a children's program called Uncle Pete Presents The Little Rascals. This show featured old Little Rascals and Three Stooges comedy shorts. It also showed Popeye cartoons.

Peter's grandparents on his father's side were immigrants from Ireland. His mother had mostly French, British, and Irish family. He grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools. After high school in 1953, Peter spent three years studying to become a teacher in a Catholic order. He earned a degree from La Salle University in 1957. However, he decided not to become a religious teacher.

While in Philadelphia, he worked as a cameraman for a cooking show.

Starting his acting journey

After joining the United States Navy in 1959, his military career was cut short due to health reasons. In New York City, Peter Boyle studied acting with a famous teacher named Uta Hagen. To support himself, he worked as a postal clerk and a restaurant host.

Peter Boyle played a police officer named Murray in a traveling play called The Odd Couple. He later joined a comedy group called The Second City in Chicago. He also had a small part in the 1969 film Medium Cool.

Career highlights

Peter Boyle became well-known for his first main role in the 1970 movie Joe. He played a tough factory worker in New York City. Around this time, Peter became good friends with actress Jane Fonda. He joined her in many protests against the Vietnam War.

After seeing how people reacted to his role in Joe, Peter Boyle turned down other roles. He didn't want to play characters that made violence seem cool. However, in 1974, he starred in Crazy Joe. This film was about the life of a New York gangster.

Big roles and funny monsters

His next big role was as a campaign manager in The Candidate (1972). He helped a candidate running for the U.S. Senate. In 1973, he appeared in Steelyard Blues with Jane Fonda. This movie was about a group of friends trying to get an old flying boat working again. He also played an Irish mobster in The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973).

Peter Boyle had another huge hit playing Frankenstein's monster in the 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein. In one famous scene, the monster wears a top hat and dances to "Puttin' on the Ritz". Peter said he played the monster like a baby. He explained that the monster was big and scary, but he had just been "born" and the world was new to him.

Peter met his wife, Loraine Alterman, while filming Young Frankenstein. She was a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine. He even asked her out while still in his monster makeup! Through Loraine, Peter became friends with John Lennon. John Lennon was the best man at Peter and Loraine's wedding in 1977. Peter and Loraine had two daughters, Lucy and Amy.

Dramatic roles and TV success

Peter Boyle received his first Emmy nomination for his serious acting in the 1977 TV movie Tail Gunner Joe. He played Senator Joseph McCarthy, a famous senator from the past. Peter was often cast as a character actor, meaning he played many different types of supporting roles.

His roles included a wise cab driver in Taxi Driver (1976) with Robert De Niro. He was also a corrupt space mining boss in Outland (1981) with Sean Connery. He played Boatswain Moon in the pirate comedy Yellowbeard (1983). He was a crime boss in Johnny Dangerously (1984). He also played a patient who sings a Ray Charles song in The Dream Team (1989).

Later, he appeared as a cab driver in The Shadow (1994). He was the father of Sandra Bullock's fiancé in While You Were Sleeping (1995). He played a corporate boss in Dr. Dolittle (1998). He was also the father of Billy Bob Thornton's character in Monster's Ball (2001). Kids might remember him as Old Man Wickles in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004).

In 1990, Peter Boyle suffered a serious stroke. It affected his speech and movement for nearly six months. After recovering, he won an Emmy Award in 1996. This was for his guest role on The X-Files. In that episode, he played an insurance salesman who could see parts of the future.

Peter Boyle became very famous for playing Frank Barone on the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. This show aired from 1996 to 2005. He was nominated for an Emmy seven times for this role.

In 1999, he had a heart attack while working on Everybody Loves Raymond. He recovered and returned to the show. After this, Peter became more involved in his Catholic faith.

He also appeared in commercials for Alka-Seltzer. He said the famous line, "I can't believe I ate that whole thing!" Peter Boyle was in all three The Santa Clause movies. In the first one, he played Scott Calvin's boss. In the sequels, he played Father Time.

Death and legacy

Peter Boyle died on December 12, 2006, at age 71. He passed away in New York City. He had been suffering from multiple myeloma (a type of cancer) and heart disease. At the time of his death, he had finished filming All Roads Lead Home and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. The movie All Roads Lead Home has a special message dedicated to him.

Peter Boyle's death greatly affected his co-stars from Everybody Loves Raymond. The show had ended less than two years before he died. Ray Romano said, "He gave me great advice, he always made me laugh, and the way he connected with everyone around him amazed me." Patricia Heaton said, "Peter was an incredible man who made all of us who had the privilege of working with him aspire to be better actors."

On October 18, 2007, which would have been Peter's 72nd birthday, his friend Bruce Springsteen honored him. During a concert, Springsteen dedicated a song to Peter.

After Peter Boyle died, his wife Loraine Alterman Boyle started the Peter Boyle Memorial Fund. This fund supports the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Peter's friends, family, and co-stars gather each year for a comedy fundraiser in Los Angeles. This event honors Peter and raises money for research. It has become the most successful fundraiser in the IMF's history.

He was buried at Green River Cemetery in Springs, New York.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards (Primetime)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Other Accolades

See also

In Spanish: Peter Boyle para niños