‘Bosom Buddies’ And ‘Newhart’ Star Peter Scolari Dies At 66

by · Forbes
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 03: Peter Scolari attends Bravo's screening of "Odd Mom Out" at Florence Gould ... [+] Hall on June 3, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)Getty Images

Emmy-winning actor Peter Scolari, who is remembered for his roles on two classic sitcoms, Bosom Buddies and Newhart, died on Friday following a two-year battle with cancer. He was 66.

Born September 12, 1955 in New Rochelle, New York, Scolari's first regular television role was in the short-lived 1980 sitcom Goodtime Girls. Immediately following was comedy Bosom Buddies opposite Tom Hanks, which has endured over the years despite only a two season run.

CULVER CITY, CA - APRIL 17: The cast of 'Bosom Buddies' including Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari, Donna ... [+] Dixon, Holland Taylor, and Telma Hopkins are honored at the 8th Annual TV Land Awards at Sony Pictures Studios on April 17, 2010 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/FilmMagic)FilmMagic

Following a round of guest appearances on series like Happy Days, Remington Steele, and Finder of Lost Loves, and as a regular on another comedy, Baby Makes Five, Scolari in 1984 joined the cast of Newhart, Bob Newhart’s second successful CBS sitcom, as TV producer Michael Harris. He earned three consecutive Emmy nominations on the series for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (and eventually won the statuette in 2016 for his guest role on HBO’s Girls, playing Tad Horvath, the father of Lena Dunham’s Hannah).

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Peter Scolari poses in the press room at the 2016 Creative Arts ... [+] Emmy Awards held at Microsoft Theater on September 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)WireImage

Following lead roles in unsuccessful comedies Family Album and Dweebs, Scolari spent three seasons playing inventor Wayne Szalinski, a role originated on film by Rick Moranis, in the syndicated adaption of the Disney film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He also peppered his resume with dozens of additional guest roles in series like Empty Nest, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Dave’s World, The Nanny, George & Leo (reuniting with Bob Newhart), Ally McBeal, ER, Reba, and The West Wing.

Scolari also had an ongoing role as Gotham City’s corrupt police commissioner, Gillian B, Loeb, in Fox superhero drama Gotham in 2015.

On Broadway, Scolari appeared in Wicked, Sly Fox, Hairspray and Lucky Guy, which reunited him with his Bosom Buddies co-star Tom Hanks. Scolari also appeared Off Broadway in Old Man Joseph and His Family, The Exonerated, In the WingsThe Music Man, and White's Lies.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 01: Actors Stephen Tyrone Williams, Brian Dysktra, producer Colin Callender ... [+] actor Richard Masur, director George C. Wolfe, actors Tom Hanks, Christopher McDonald, Peter Scolari, Michael Gaston and Danny Mastrogiorgio attend the "Lucky Guy" Broadway Opening Night - After Party at Gotham Hall on April 1, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)WireImage

More recently, Scolari had a recurring role on psychological drama Evil as Bishop Thomas Marx, which is currently streaming on Paramount+.

Peter Scolari was “one of the funniest — sneakily funny — actors we’ve worked with,” wrote Evil co-creator Robert King on Twitter. “He always took a nothing scene and found different ways to twist it, and throw in odd pauses that made it jump. … He was just wonderful. Beyond everything else, Peter Scolari was a mensch, a hard worker, a thoughtful actor, always a pleasure on a set.”

"Sad to see the news that Peter Scolari lost his battle with cancer," Harvey Fierstein wrote. "There wasn't a sweeter man on the planet. We performed together in HAIRSPRAY for a time and he was always a total delight. Farewell, dear Peter."

Scolari is survived by his wife, Tracy Shayne, and children Nicholas, Joseph, Keaton and Cali. He was previously married to Debra Steagal and Cathy Trien.