Biography
Born August 19, 1955, in Armonk, New York, Peter Gallagher possesses a striking, introspective presence that suits both glossy studio productions and low-budget American independents, as well as the Broadway stage. While studying at Tufts University he performed each summer with local theater companies, and upon receiving his degree in 1977 he joined the Broadway revival of Hair. He next took the role of Danny Zuko in Grease, an appearance that secured his first screen part as a 1950s pop singer in the 1980 feature The Idolmaker. Two years afterward he appeared in Summer Lovers, yet the project proved so disheartening that he abandoned Los Angeles and returned to theater, earning a Theatre World Award that same year for the Broadway musical A Doll's Life and a Clarence Derwent Award in 1984 for Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing.
Gallagher reentered film in 1985 with Dennis Potter’s Dreamchild and followed it in 1987 with My Little Girl. After receiving a Tony nomination for a contentious revival of Long Day’s Journey into Night, he achieved wider recognition by playing an unfaithful lawyer in Steven Soderbergh’s groundbreaking 1989 debut sex, lies and videotape. Although the performance strengthened his standing among independent filmmakers, his ensuing roles often appeared in commercial vehicles such as 1990’s Tune in Tomorrow and the television drama Love and Lies. Critical notice from art-house viewers arrived with his lead in Peter Sellars’ 1991 avant-silent The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez, and his stature grew further after starring in Robert Altman’s 1992 return The Player. In subsequent seasons he alternated between provocative fare—Tim Robbins’ Bob Roberts, Altman’s Short Cuts, and Soderbergh’s The Underneath—and more polished studio pictures including Malice, While You Were Sleeping, and To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. He later joined the casts of American Beauty (2000) and Mr. Deeds (2002) before taking a recurring part on Fox’s nighttime soap The O.C. The series quickly became a hit, and audiences praised his portrayal of Sandy Cohen, an idealistic Newport Beach district attorney who welcomes a troubled adolescent from modest circumstances into his affluent household.
Music formed a central element of The O.C. from its outset, and the producers, aware of their influence, chose songs with unusual boldness. They also tapped Gallagher’s latent Broadway affinity, spotlighting him in a season-two episode that found Sandy performing Solomon Burke’s “Don’t Give Up on Me” as a musical tribute to his wife Kirsten, played by Kelly Rowan. The moment produced a recording contract, and in November 2005 Gallagher issued 7 Days in Memphis. Cut at Ardent Studios with Steve Cropper and an ensemble of seasoned session musicians, the album blended classic soul numbers with a pair of contemporary tracks.
Gallagher reentered film in 1985 with Dennis Potter’s Dreamchild and followed it in 1987 with My Little Girl. After receiving a Tony nomination for a contentious revival of Long Day’s Journey into Night, he achieved wider recognition by playing an unfaithful lawyer in Steven Soderbergh’s groundbreaking 1989 debut sex, lies and videotape. Although the performance strengthened his standing among independent filmmakers, his ensuing roles often appeared in commercial vehicles such as 1990’s Tune in Tomorrow and the television drama Love and Lies. Critical notice from art-house viewers arrived with his lead in Peter Sellars’ 1991 avant-silent The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez, and his stature grew further after starring in Robert Altman’s 1992 return The Player. In subsequent seasons he alternated between provocative fare—Tim Robbins’ Bob Roberts, Altman’s Short Cuts, and Soderbergh’s The Underneath—and more polished studio pictures including Malice, While You Were Sleeping, and To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. He later joined the casts of American Beauty (2000) and Mr. Deeds (2002) before taking a recurring part on Fox’s nighttime soap The O.C. The series quickly became a hit, and audiences praised his portrayal of Sandy Cohen, an idealistic Newport Beach district attorney who welcomes a troubled adolescent from modest circumstances into his affluent household.
Music formed a central element of The O.C. from its outset, and the producers, aware of their influence, chose songs with unusual boldness. They also tapped Gallagher’s latent Broadway affinity, spotlighting him in a season-two episode that found Sandy performing Solomon Burke’s “Don’t Give Up on Me” as a musical tribute to his wife Kirsten, played by Kelly Rowan. The moment produced a recording contract, and in November 2005 Gallagher issued 7 Days in Memphis. Cut at Ardent Studios with Steve Cropper and an ensemble of seasoned session musicians, the album blended classic soul numbers with a pair of contemporary tracks.
Albums
Waterfall
2020
Guitar Sounds
2020
Polysynth 1a
2020
Walk with Me
2017
The Serenity Prayer
2016
7 Days In Memphis
2005
Singles
