‘Bosom Buddies’ And ‘Newhart’ Star Peter Scolari Dies At 66
by Marc Berman · ForbesEmmy-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.
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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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 Wings, The Music Man, and White's Lies.
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.