Peter White obit

Peter White, Soap Star & 'Boys in the Band' Actor, Dies at 86

 

He was not on the list.

Peter White, the actor known for his work on "All My Children" and in the original stage and film productions of "The Boys in the Band," died Wednesday. He was 86.

White's close friend and "AMC" co-star Kathleen Noone, told Soap Hub of his passing, saying, "I wanted you to know that Peter White, who played Linc, Phoebe's, Ruth Warrick's, son, died... from melanoma."

White was born in NYC on October 10, 1937.

Initially a stage actor, including in a touring production of "Barefoot in the Park" with Myrna Loy, he originated the role of mercurial straight fantasy man Alan in Mart Crowley's groundbreaking gay play "The Boys in the Band," which debuted off-Broadway in 1968.

The play became a huge hit and was adapted for the big screen in 1970 by director William Friedkin, who hired the entire original cast — an unusual move made possible by how risky starring in a gay-themed film was 50 years ago. No major Hollywood stars wanted the parts.

The controversial play made its Broadway debut in 2018, and was remade in 2020 for TV by Joe Mantello starring Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Michael Benjamin Washington, Tuc Watkins, and with Brian Hutchison assuming White's role.

On TV, he appeared on "All My Children" for 30 years, from 1976-2005, and acted on the daytime soaps "The Secret Storm" (1965-1966) and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" (1971), as well as nighttime soaps including "Falcon Crest" (1982), "Dynasty" (1983-1984), "Knots Landing" (1984), "Dallas" (1984-1991), and "The Colbys" (1985-1986).

He recurred on "Sisters" (1991-1996), and made dozens of guest appearances on top shows, from "Hill Street Blues" (1981) to "The Jeffersons" (1982) to "L.A. Law" (1988) to "The X-Files" (1999).

Other film credits include "The Pursuit of Happiness" (1971), "Blade" (1973), "Dave" (1993), "Flubber" (1997), and "Armageddon" (1998). His final appearance came in 2016's "Punching Henry."

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1970    The Boys in the Band    Alan McCarthy        

1971    The Pursuit of Happiness            Terence Lawrence     

1973    Blade            Freund

1991    Diary of a Hitman            Man in Garage

1993    Dave            Secretary of Commerce      

1996    Mr. Wrong  Mr. Alston 

1996    Mother            Charles

1997    Flubber            Mr. Sylvan            Uncredited

1998            Armageddon            Secretary of Defense   

1999            Passport to Paris            Grandpa Edward        

2000            Thirteen Days  John A. McCone          

2004    First Daughter            College Dean   

2007    South of Pico Mr. Rush    

2016            Punching Henry            Phil      

 

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1968            N.Y.P.D.        Russell            Episode: "The Peep Freak"

1970    The Bold Ones: The Senator            Howard Eager            Episode: "Power Play"

1971    Dan August  Jeremy Jackson            Episode: "Bullet for a Hero"

1971    Love Is a Many Splendored Thing    Dr. Sanford Hiller            258 episodes

1972    Banyon            Ross Vincent            Episode: "The Decent Thing to Do"

1973    Cannon            Dirk Allwin            Episode: "Dead Lady's Tears"

1974–2005            All My Children            Lincoln Tyler    12 episodes

1977    The Feather & Father Gang            Steve            Episode: "The Big Frame"

1981    Hill Street Blues            Minister            Episode: "Fecund Hand Rose"

1981    The Greatest American Hero            Yuri Semenenko / Simpson            Episode: "Reseda Rose"

1982            Between Two Brothers            Alex Brock            Television film

1982            Eleanor, First Lady of the World            James Roosevelt

1982    Falcon Crest    Eric Kenderson            2 episodes

1982    The Jeffersons            Gregory Graham            Episode: "Poetic Justice"

1982    Gavilan            Campbell            Episode: "Best Friend Money Can Buy"

1982    Insight            Mr. Gold            Episode: "The White Star Garage"

1983    Hart to Hart            Customs Inspector Camden            Episode: "Pounding Harts"

1983    I Want to Live  Judge Charles Fricke            Television film

1983    Boone            Dr. Brickman            Episode: "The Trial"

1983, 1984            Dynasty          Bill Rockwell            2 episodes

1984    Legmen            Allen Drewry            Episode: "Knight at Casanova's"

1984    Knots Landing            Pearson          2 episodes

1984    Sins of the Past            Peter Halloran            Television film

1984    Simon & Simon            Chef Sebastian / Neil Loosma            2 episodes

1984            Hardcastle and McCormick            Senator Evan Crocker            Episode: "Never My Love"

1984–1991            Dallas            Breslin / Ellis Newton            6 episodes

1985    The Execution            Gil Spahn            Television film

1985    Cover Up       Mark Jessup            Episode: "Rules to Die By"

1985    The Paper Chase            Paul Woods 3 episodes

1985    Crazy Like a Fox            Russ Cramer            Episode: "Murder Is a Two Stroke Penalty"

1985            Scarecrow and Mrs. King     Darrell Robison            Episode: "Sour Grapes"

1985–1986            The Colbys Arthur Cates   16 episodes

1986            Matlock          Atty. Harvey Ravanelle            Episode: "Diary of a Perfect Murder"

1988    L.A. Law     Stanley Silverman            Episode: "Open Heart Perjury"

1988            Superboy            Professor Thomas Lang            Episode: "The Jewel of Techacal"

1988    Amen            Mr. Lesser            Episode: "Get 'Em Up, Scout"

1988            Designing Women            Newscaster            Episode: "The Candidate"

1989            Hooperman      Stark            Episode: "Look Homeward, Dirtbag"

1989    Who's the Boss?            Donald Crenshaw            Episode: "Party Double"

1990            Daughter of the Streets            Herb            Television film

1990            Monsters         Donald Graber / Dave Panghurst            2 episodes

1991    The New Lassie            Garrett            Episode: "Hit and Run"

1991–1996            Sisters            Dr. Thomas Reed            14 episodes

1992    Pros and Cons            Terrence Morgan            Episode: "The Ex Spots the Mark"

1992    Life Goes On            Kenny Stollmark, Sr.            2 episodes

1994    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine            Ambassador Sharat            Episode: "Armageddon Game"

1994    Voices from Within            Frank Carson            Television film

1995    The Naked Truth            Mr. Hillerman            Episode: "Bald Star in Hot Oil Fest!"

1995            Murder, She Wrote            Mason Logan            Episode: "Unwilling Witness"

1997            Weapons of Mass Distraction            Sen. Norman Barrish            Television film

1997    Mad About You            Judge Chuffa            Episode: "Uncle Phil and the Coupons"

1998    Profiler            Charles Waters 2 episodes

1999    Ally McBeal            Senator Harold Watkins            Episode: "Sex, Lies and Politics"

1999    The X-Files     Gene Gogolak            Episode: "Arcadia"

2000    The West Wing            Mr. Gage    2 episodes

2000    JAG            Admiral Spencer            Episode: "A Separate Peace: Part 2"

2001, 2003            Strong Medicine            Dr. Soames            2 episodes

2002    NYPD Blue     Robert Irvin

2003            Miracles            Monsignor Androtti            Episode: "The Ferguson Syndrome"

2004    The D.A.     Dr. Jon Malcolm            Episode: "The People vs. Oliver C. Handley"

2005    See Arnold Run            Bob White            Television film

2006    Though None Go with Me       Ben Phillips

2007    Cold Case    JP Valentine            Episode: "Devil Music"

2008    Saving Grace   Mr. Williams            Episode: "Have a Seat, Earl"