Peter Friedman (born April 24, 1949) is an American stage, film, and television actor. He made his Broadway debut in the Eugene O'Neill play The Great God Brown in 1972. His other Broadway credits include roles in The Rules of the Game (1974), Piaf (1981), The Heidi Chronicles (1989), and Twelve Angry Men (2004). He earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination for his role as Tateh in Ragtime (1998).
Friedman gained prominence for his role as Frank Vernon in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023) for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award. His other television credits include The Affair (2015), The Path (2016–2018), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2023). He is also known for his film roles in Safe (1995), The Savages (2007), I'm Not There (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), Side Effects (2013), and She Said (2022).
Early life and education Born in New York City on April 24, 1949. Friedman graduated from Hofstra University."Friedman Biography" The New York Times, accessed January 16, 2014 Friedman is Jewish.
Career 1980–1994: Broadway debut and early roles Friedman has appeared in thirteen Broadway productions, starting in 1972 with The Great God Brown. He appeared in a Broadway revival of The Visit in 1973, as the Carpenter.The Visit ibdb.com, accessed January 15, 2014 He appeared in Piaf in 1981 on Broadway,"Piaf, 1981" ibdb.com, accessed January 17, 2014 and A Soldier's Play Off-Broadway, also in 1981." A Soldier's Play Listing, 1981" lortel.org, accessed January 17, 2014 He played the role of Humphrey Taylor in the Off-Broadway production of The Common Pursuit, from October 1986 to August 1987,The Common Pursuit lortel.org, accessed January 16, 2014 receiving a nomination for the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. In his review for The New York Times, Frank Rich commented "The always impressive Mr. Friedman, as the embittered Wagnerian...allow us to empathize with characters who might otherwise be merely obnoxious or colorless."Rich, Frank. "Stage: Simon Gray Play, 'The Common Pursuit'", The New York Times, October 20, 1986, p. C17
He appeared in both the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of The Heidi Chronicles in 1988 and 1989 in the role of Scoop Rosenbaum. The Heidi Chronicles playbillvault.com, accessed January 15, 2014 He received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play for The Heidi Chronicles.Friedman, see Awards" ibdb.com, accessed January 15, 2014 He appeared Off-Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of the Donald Margulies play The Loman Family Picnic, from October 1993 to January 1994." The Loman Family Picnic Listing" lortel.org, accessed January 18, 2014 The Best Plays of 1993-1994 commented "...Friedman inverting his usual dynamism to play the beleaguered father..."Guernsey, Otis L.The Loman Family Picnic The Best Plays of 1993-1994, Hal Leonard Corporation, 1994 , p. 73
Early in his career he performed in several episodes of The Muppet Show in its first and third seasons, and spent a brief time on Sesame Street."Friedman filmography" The New York Times, accessed January 15, 2014 On television, Friedman starred as George Silver in Brooklyn Bridge (1991–1993)O'Connor, John J. "TV WEEKEND; Family Life in '56 Brooklyn" The New York Times, September 20, 1991 and has made numerous guest appearances in such series as Miami Vice, NYPD Blue, Without a Trace, and Ghost Whisperer. Friedman's many feature film credits include Prince of the City (1981)," Prince of the City Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 17, 2014 Daniel (1983), The Seventh Sign (1988), Single White Female (1992), and Blink (1993).
1995–2015: Character actor In 1995 Friedman earned a prominent role in the Todd Haynes drama film Safe starring Julianne Moore. The All Movie Guide reviewer wrote, "Avid filmgoers and adherents to the indie film movement that swept through America in the early to mid-'90s will invariably remember Peter Friedman as the sneaky, underhanded, New Age-espousing "self-help guru" who supposedly attempts to offer ailing Julianne Moore a hand up—but only succeeds in draining her wallet—in Todd Haynes' harrowing drama Safe (1995). In truth, that role represented just one of many memorable cinematic contributions for the prolific, highly versatile character actor, whose resumé reads like a best-of list of both independent film and Hollywood product." He also acted in I'm Not Rappaport (1996)," I'm Not Rappaport Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 17, 2014 I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)," I Shot Andy Warhol Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 17, 2014 Paycheck (2003)," 'Paycheck' Listing" tcm.com, accessed January 16, 2014 Freedomland (2006)," 'Freedomland' Listing" tcm.com, accessed January 16, 2014 The Savages (2007)," 'The Savages' Listing" tcm.com, accessed January 16, 2014 I'm Not There (2007)," 'I'm Not There' Listing" tcm.com, accessed January 16, 2014 and Breaking Upwards (2009)." 'Breaking Upwards' Listing" tcm.com, accessed January 16, 2014
He played the role of Jewish immigrant "Tateh" in the musical Ragtime in the pre-Broadway tryout (1996) and on Broadway (1998).Hodges, Andrea. "Casting Finalized for 'Ragtime' Leads" playbill.com, July 12, 1996Viagas, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. " 'Ragtime' Opens on Broadway, Jan. 18" playbill.com, January 18, 1998 He was nominated for the 1998 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his role in Ragtime. He acted in the miniseries Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder." 'Perfect Murder, Perfect Town' Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 16, 2014 He appeared in a Law & Order episode titled "Attorney Client" as defense lawyer Harold Jensen, broadcast on May 8, 2002.Gans, Andrew. " Ragtime's Peter Friedman Plus Graff & Carey on May 8 'Law & Order' " playbill.com, May 8, 2002 He appeared on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Twelve Angry Men from October 2004 to March 2005.Hernandez, Ernio. "Sequestered Further: Twelve Angry Men Extends on Broadway Anew to March 27" playbill.com, November 29, 2004 For his role as "Frank" in Body Awareness, which ran Off-Broadway in 2008, Friedman received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.
From October to November 2009, Friedman played James, the husband of the teacher of a community acting class in Annie Baker's play Circle Mirror Transformation in the Peter J. Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons. The show also featured Heidi Schreck, Reed Birney, Deirdre O'Connell, and Tracee Chimo and was directed by Sam Gold. The cast received a 2010 Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble Performance. Friedman appeared in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of Amy Herzog's After the Revolution in July and August 2010 as "Ben", and reprised his role in the Off-Broadway production at Playwrights Horizons from October to November 2010.Jones, Kenneth. " 'After the Revolution', Amy Herzog's Intergenerational Family Portrait, Unveiled Oct. 21" playbill.com, October 21, 2010 The New York Times reviewer wrote: "Mr. Friedman burrows deeply into Ben's anguish at being cut off by the daughter he raised to carry on the family tradition, the wound smarting all the more because he knows his own mistakes have caused the fissure."Isherwood, Charles. "Theater Review. 'After the Revolution' " The New York Times, November 10, 2010
He played the role of "Doug" in the Off-Broadway play The Great God Pan from December 2012 to January 2013, and received a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.Hetrick, Adam and Gans, Andrew. "Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, 'Pippin', 'Matilda', 'Vanya and Sonia' Win Drama Desk Awards" playbill.com, May 19, 2013 The New York Times reviewer commented: "The recollections of his parents, small roles incisively portrayed by the reliable Becky Ann Baker and Peter Friedman..."Isherwood, Charles. " 'The Great God Pan,' by Amy Herzog, at Playwrights Horizons" The New York Times, December 18, 2012 From August 2013 to September 2013 he played the role of "Meckel" in the Off-Broadway production (and New York premiere) of Lauren Yee's The Hatmaker's Wife.Purcell, Carey. " 'The Hatmaker's Wife', Featuring David Margulies, Peter Friedman and Marcia Jean Kurtz, Begins Performances Aug. 27" playbill.com, August 27, 2013 Ben Brantley, in his review for The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Friedman brings unblushing good will and vivacity to assignments that include walking around with a clothespin on his nose..."Brantley, Ben. " 'The Hatmaker's Wife,' a Comedy by Lauren Yee" The New York Times, September 6, 2013 He appeared Off-Broadway in the musical Fly By Night as "Mr McClam" from May to June 2014.
2016–present: Succession and acclaim Friedman took roles in The Affair and Damages. He portrayed Hank Armstrong in the Hulu series The Path from 2016 to 2018 and he acted as Jim in the HBO series High Maintenance also from 2016 to 2018. In 2017 he portrayed Polonius in the Public Theatre's production of Hamlet starring Oscar Isaac and Keegan-Michael Key. That same year he appeared Off-Broadway in the world premiere of The Treasurer at Playwrights Horizons as The Son, for which he was nominated for a 2018 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Actor.
From 2018 to 2023, he played Frank Vernon, long-time confidant of Logan Roy and vice-chairman of Waystar Royco in the series Succession. He won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series along with the cast in 2022 and 2023. In 2022 he played Lanny Davis in the MeToo movement drama She Said (2022) for which he received favorable notices, with Jocelyn Noveck of The Associated Press describing him as "excellent". On March 27, 2023, Friedman reprised his role of "Tateh" in a sold-out 25th Anniversary performance of Ragtime at the Minskoff Theater to benefit the Entertainment Community Fund. In 2023 he took a recurring role as George in the final season of the Amazon Prime Video comedy series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
In 2023 he portrayed a therapist in the Max Wolf Friedlich play Job. Friedman acted opposite Sydney Lemmon at the SoHo Playhouse in New York City. Sara Holden of Vulture praised Friedman writing, "Friedman is especially delightful to watch because he just seems so damn effortless... has a natural ease and appeal, a sense that he’s never pushing too hard". Juan A. Ramirez of The New York Times wrote of Friedman's performance, "[He] imbues Loyd’s counterarguments with a genuine passion". Freidman returned to the play in 2024 with the production transferring to the Connelly Theater in the East Village.
Personal life In 1990, Friedman married Joan Allen. Though they divorced in 2002, they chose to live close to one another in order to share time with their daughter.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1980 Christmas Evil Mr. Grosch1981 Prince of the City D.A. Goldman1983 Daniel Ben Cohen1988 The Seventh Sign Father Lucci1992 Single White Female Graham Knox1993 Blink Dr. Ryan Pierce1995 Safe Peter Dunning 1996 I Shot Andy Warhol Alan Burke1996 I'm Not Rappaport Young Nat's Father2001 Someone like You Stephen2003 Paycheck Attorney General Brown2004 King of the CornerArthur Wexler2006 Freedomland Lt. Gold2007 The Savages Larry2007 Spinning into Butter Jay Salter2007 I'm Not There Morris Bernstein / Barker 2008 Synecdoche, New York Emergency Room Doctor 2009 The Messenger Mr. Cohen 2009 Breaking Upwards Alan2010 Love & Other Drugs California Man 2011 Coming Up Roses Charles2013 Side Effects Gene2022 She Said Lanny Davis
Television