Peter Lawrence Strauss is an American television and film actor, known for his roles in several television miniseries in the 1970s and 1980s. He is an Emmy winner and five-time Golden Globe Awards nominee.
Early life Strauss was born in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, the son of Warren B. Strauss, a German-born wine importer. His family is Jewish.
Career He won an Emmy Award for his role on the 1979 made-for-television movie The Jericho Mile, and he starred in a television remake of the classic 1946 film Angel on My Shoulder in 1980. In 1985, he played Abel Roznovski in the miniseries Kane & Abel based on Jeffrey Archer's book. His other noted television miniseries credits include starring roles in Rich Man, Poor Man, its sequel Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, and Masada. Strauss played Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. in the 1977 TV movie Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy. In 1973, he portrayed Stephen Linder, Mary Richards' younger boyfriend, in The Mary Tyler Moore Show fourth-season episode Angels in the Snow.
Strauss starred in the films Soldier Blue (1970) and Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983), and has appeared in several others. He portrayed Justin, the Rats of NIMH's captain of the guard, in 1982's The Secret of NIMH. Strauss starred as an abused husband in the television movie Men Don't Tell, alongside Judith Light. In 2005, he played the U.S. President in the thriller XXX: State of the Union alongside Ice Cube, Samuel L. Jackson, Scott Speedman and Willem Dafoe.
He was the voice of Moses in the animated series K10C: Kids' Ten Commandments. He provided the voice for Stoker Van Rotten in both the 1990s and 2006 versions of Biker Mice from Mars.
Personal life Strauss married Beverly Baker Paulding in Croton-On-Hudson, New York, on January 21, 1973. He and his ex-wife, Nicole, have two sons. He runs a successful citrus production business and is on the advisory board of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. He sold a ranch property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The ranch has since been acquired by the National Park Service as the Peter Strauss Ranch.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1970The Young LawyersStuartEpisode: "The Two Dollar Thing"1971–1975Medical CenterLloyd Halloran, Tom Desmond2 episodes1972–1975The Streets of San FranciscoBobby Jepsen, Lou Kovic, Martin Novac3 episodes1972Young Dr. KildareReverend TellerEpisode: "By This Sign"1973The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStephenEpisode: "Angels in the Snow"1973The Man Without a CountryArthur DanforthTelevision film1974Barnaby JonesClay WakefieldEpisode: "The Last Contract"1974CannonDave Nordorff, Reverend Will2 episodes1974Judgement: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya – General YamashitaLawyerTelevision film1974Hawaii Five-OTom MorganEpisode: "Death with Father"1975Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux KlanBen JacobsTelevision film1976Rich Man, Poor ManRudy JordacheMiniseries; 13 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie1976–1977Rich Man, Poor Man Book IIRudy Jordache26 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film1977Young Joe, the Forgotten KennedyJoseph P. Kennedy Jr.Television film1979The Jericho MileLarry 'Rain' MurphyTelevision film Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie1980Angel on My ShoulderEddie KagelTelevision film1981MasadaEleazar Ben YairMiniseries; 4 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie1981A Whale for the KillingCharles LandonTelevision film1983Heart of SteelEmoryTelevision film Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film1985Kane & AbelAbel RosnovskiMiniseries Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film1985Tender Is the NightDick DiverMiniseries1986Penalty PhaseJudge Kenneth HoffmanTelevision film1986Under SiegeJohn GarryTelevision film1987Proud MenCharley MacLeod, Jr.Television film1989Peter GunnPeter GunnTelevision film1989Brotherhood of the RoseSaul GrismanMiniseries199083 Hours 'Til DawnWayne StractonTelevision film1991Flight of Black AngelCol. Matt Ryan, Callsign RingleaderTelevision film1992Trial: The Price of PassionWarren BlackburnTelevision film1992Fugitive Among UsMax ColeTelevision film1993Men Don't TellEd MacAffreyTelevision film Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film1994ReunionSam YatesTelevision film1994Batman: The Animated SeriesSteven Carlyle (voice)Episode: "House and Garden" A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1994The YearlingEzra 'Penny' BaxterTelevision film1994Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden StoryLarry McLindenTelevision film1995Texas JusticeT. Cullen DavisTelevision film1995Santo BugitoGreenbeard McMelville (voice)Episode: "My Name Is Revenge"1996–1997MoloneyNicholas Moloney26 episodes1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestLab Guard (voice)Episode: "Nemesis"1996The Incredible HulkWalter Langkowski (voice)Episode: "Man to Man, Beast to Beast"1996Aaahh!!! Real MonstersDr. Evil, Sumo (voice)Episode: "You Only Scare Twice"1996Adventures from the Book of VirtuesDionysius (voice)Episode: "Friendship"1996DuckmanNarrator (voice)Episode: "Pig Amok"1996In the Lake of the WoodsJohn WaylanTelevision film1996Biker Mice from MarsStoker (voice)4 episodes1998My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard StorySam SheppardTelevision film1999Joan of ArcLa HireMiniseries1999Seasons of LoveThomas LinthorneMiniseries2000A Father's ChoiceCharlie "Mac" McClainTelevision film2001Strange FrequencyBen StantonEpisode: "Don't Stop Believing"2001Murder on the Orient ExpressMr. Samuel RatchettTelevision film2002Body & SoulDr. Isaac Braun14 episodes2003111 Gramercy ParkTurk KarnegianTelevision film2004Law & OrderDr. Paul CedarsEpisode: "Coming Down Hard"2005Killer InstinctRobert HaleEpisode: "Who's Your Daddy"2006Biker Mice from MarsStoker, Night Shift, High Commander (voice)5 episodes2006The WayHutchTelevision film2007Dirty Sexy MoneyDutch GeorgeEpisode: "The Watch"2008–2010Tracey Ullman's State of the UnionNarrator13 episodes2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitKevin BurtonEpisode: "Locum"2010Royal PainsGraham BarnesEpisode: "Comfort's Overrated"2010Jack's Family AdventureWild Bill CohenTelevision film2014Sugar DaddiesGrant ZagerTelevision film2020Grey's AnatomyDaniel SchwartzEpisode: "The Last Supper"2026HacksFrank VanceEpisode: "Who's Making Dinner?" Film YearTitleRoleNotes1969Hail, Hero!Frank Dixon1970Soldier BlueHonus Gent1971Sergeant KlemsOtto Flems1972The Trial of the Catonsville NineThomas Lewis1976The Last TycoonWylie1982The Secret of NIMHJustin (voice)1983Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden ZoneWolff1995Nick of TimeBrendan Grant1996Keys to TulsaChip Carlson2003Kids' Ten Commandments: Toying with the TruthMoses (voice)Video short2003Kids' Ten Commandments: The Rest Is Yet to ComeMoses (voice)Video short2003Kids' Ten Commandments: The Not So Golden CalfMoses (voice)Video short2003Kids' Ten Commandments: Stolen Jewels, Stolen HeartsMoses (voice)Video short2003Kids' Ten Commandments: A Life and Seth SituationMoses (voice)Video short2005XXX: State of the UnionPresident James Sanford2007License to WedMr. Jones2016Drawing HomeRussell Robb Sr.2018Operation FinaleLotar Hermann
References
Demetria Fulton; preview of Peter Strauss in Barnaby Jones; episode “The Last Contract” (12/31/1974).
External links