Peter Coyote Biography (1942-)

Original name, Peter Cohon; born October 10, 1942, in Colver, PA (some sources say New York, NY); son of Morris Cohon (an investment banker); married Marilyn McCann, 1975 (divorced, January 1998); married Stefanie Pleet (a locationmanager), 1998; children: (first marriage) one daughter, one son. Addresses: Agent: Endeavor, 9701 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: Untitled Entertainment, 8436 West Third St., Suite 650, Los Angeles, CA 90048.; Contact: c/o Official International Peter Coyote Fan Club,3425 Knox Place, Bronx, NY 10467-2009.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, director, writer
Birth Details: October 10, 1942; Colver, Pennsylvania, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Universal, 1978
Davis, Die Laughing, Warner Bros., 1980
Young David, Tell Me a Riddle, Filmways, 1980
Staff Sergeant Crawford Poole, Southern Comfort, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981
The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper, Universal, 1981
Breach of Contract, 1982
Porter Reese, Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (also known as Timerider), Sunn Classic, 1982
Steele, Endangered Species, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1982
Rex, Out (also known as Deadly Drifter), Zone Productions,1982
Keys, E. T.: The Extraterrestrial (also known as E. T. andE. T. the Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary), Universal, 1982
Stanley, Stranger's Kiss, Orion, 1983
Parker Stone, Slayground, Universal, 1983
Norton Baskin, Cross Creek, Universal, 1983
Arthur Blue, Heartbreakers, Orion, 1984
Lieutenant Ringwald, The Legend of Billie Jean, TriStar, 1985
Himself, Troupers, Icarus Films, 1985
Narrator, Contrary Warriors: A Film of the Crow Tribe, RattlesnakeProductions, 1985
Thomas Krasny, Jagged Edge, Columbia, 1985
Narrator, Kerouac, the Movie (documentary), October Films, 1985
Narrator, A Question of Power, 1986
Michael Sanders, Outrageous Fortune, Buena Vista, 1987
Photographer, Stacking (also known as Season of Dreams), Spectrafilm, 1987
Steve Elliot, A Man in Love (also known as Un homme amoreuxand Un uomo innamorato), Gaumont, 1987
Lieutenant Sharpe/Larry, Heart of Midnight, Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1989
Narrator, Downwind/Downstream, Bullfrog Films, 1989
Himself, Flashing on the Sixties: A Tribal Document, 1990
Henry Tobel, The Man Inside (also known as L'affaire Walraff), New Line Cinema, 1990
Peter Mandrake, Exposure (also known as High Art, KnifeFighter, and A Grande Arte), Miramax, 1991
Edward Warren, Crooked Hearts, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Pathe, 1991
Nicholas, Kika, CiBy 2000/October Films, 1993
Narrator, The Peyote Road, 1993
Oscar, Bitter Moon (also known as Lunes de fiel), Fine Line, 1994
Henry Warburton, That Eye, the Sky, 1994
(Uncredited) Paul, Moonlight and Valentino, 1995
Police Lieutenant Henry Dexter, Seeds of Doubt, 1996
Don Bresler, Unforgettable, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1996
Himself, The Making of "E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (also known as E. T.: The Extra Terrestrial--A Look Back; documentary), 1996
Bill Davis, Patch Adams, Universal, 1998
Captain Harold C. Barnes, Sphere, Warner Bros., 1998
Narrator, Quartzites Fall, 1998
Xuave, Last Call, 1998
Martin Conlon, The Basket, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1999
Cullen Chandler, Random Hearts, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1999
Narrator, Emperor of Hemp, UFO Central Home Video, 1999
Kurt Potter, Erin Brockovich, Universal, 2000
Dennis Burke, Red Letters, New City Releasing, 2000
Detective Darren Cody, More Dogs than Bones, Dream Entertainment,2000
William, A Time for Dancing, East of Doheny, 2000
Alfred Stieglitz, Jack the Dog, 2001
Narrator, Voices of Sierra Tarahumara (documentary), University ofCalifornia's Center for Media and Independent Learning, 2001
Lionel Heathcote, Suddenly Naked (also known as Mise a nu),Pantheon Entertainment LLC, 2001
Himself, E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial: 20th Anniversary Celebration, Universal Studios Home Video, 2002
Himself, The E. T. Reunion, 2002
Narrator, Hollywood's Magical Island: Catalina, 2003
Reverend Sullivan, A Walk to Remember, Warner Bros., 2002
Bernard Elias, Purpose, Lakeshore Entertainment, 2002
Bruce Watts, Femme Fatale, Warner Bros., 2002
John Traveller, Written in Blood, Buena Vista Home Video, 2002
Eddie, Northfork, Paramount Classics, 2003
Chief Blooomenbergansteinthal, The Hebrew Hammer, Strand Releasing, 2003
Alex Winkler, Bon voyage, Sony Pictures Classics, 2003
Rudolph Grichenberg, Le grand role, 2004
Congressman Henderson, Shadow of Fear, Nu Image, 2004
Herman Finch, Deepwater, 2004
Film Work
Director, Crimes of Opportunity, 1998
Television Appearances
Series
Narrator, National Geographic Explorer, 1985
Narrator, The Pacific Century, PBS, 1992
Narrator, American Cinema, PBS, 1995
Narrator, The Color of War, The History Channel, 2001
Ryland, The 4400, USA Network, 2004
Also appeared in Up and Coming, PBS.
Miniseries
Courtney Taylor, Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (also known asAlcatraz and Clarence Carnes), NBC, 1980
George Bolen, The People vs. Jean Harris, NBC, 1981
William Bradfield, Jr., Echoes in the Darkness, CBS, 1987
Buffalo Bill Cody, Buffalo Girls, CBS, 1995
Ruben Borchardt, Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story (also known as Seduced by Madness), NBC, 1996
Narrator, The West, PBS, 1996
Voice of Thomas Jefferson, Founding Fathers (documentary), The History Channel, 2000
Narrator, The American Frontier: Decisive Battles (documentary), The History Channel, 2000
Movies
Wynn Thomas, Isabel's Choice, CBS, 1981
Frank Mitchell, Best Kept Secrets, ABC, 1984
Anthony Ristelli, Scorned and Swindled, CBS, 1984
Max Knickerbocker, The Blue Yonder (also known as Time Flyer), The Disney Channel, 1985
Matt Townsend, Child's Cry, CBS, 1986
Sam Fischetti, Sworn to Silence, ABC, 1987

Slick Henderson, Baja Oklahoma, HBO, 1988
Richmond Flowers, Sr., Unconquered, CBS, 1989
Miles Sutherland, Act of Will, 1989
Matt, Living a Lie, NBC, 1991
Frank Macguire, A Seduction in Travis County (also known as Blind Judgment), CBS, 1991
Frank Nordhall, Keeper of the City, Showtime, 1992
Colonel Andrew Case, Breach of Conduct (also known as Tour of Duty), USA Network, 1994
Deacon Vivyan, Terminal Justice (also known as Cybertech PD), HBO, 1995
Michael, Dalva, ABC, 1996
Doc "the Butcher," Top of the World (also known as Cold Cash and Showdown), HBO, 1997
Gene Gere, Road Ends (also known as Safe House), Cinemax, 1997
Dr. Arthur Lefcourt, Murder in My Mind, CBS, 1997
Detective Roos, Indiscreet, HBO, 1998
Jim Bowie, Two for Texas, TNT, 1998
Sheriff Dwayne Hogan, Route 9, HBO, 1998
Dennis "Denny" Traynor, A Murder on Shadow Mountain, CBS, 1999
Harvey Milk, Execution of Justice, Showtime, 1999
Don Wigulow, The Wednesday Woman, CBS, 2000
Stephen Hastings, Midwives, Lifetime, 2001
Dr. Ringold, Phenomenon II, ABC, 2003
Also appeared in Golden Gate; In the Child's Best Interest.
Specials
"Bread," The Booth, PBS, 1985
Narrator, "The Grizzlies," National Geographic Special, PBS, 1987
Himself, Sgt. Pepper: It Was Twenty Years Ago Today (documentary),PBS, 1987
Narrator, "African Odyssey," National Geographic Special, PBS, 1988
Narrator, Return of the Wolves (documentary), PBS, 1989
Narrator, Ocean of Wisdom (documentary), PBS, 1990
Host, The New Range Wars (documentary), TBS, 1991
Voice of Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom(documentary), PBS, 1992
Narrator, "Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey," American Masters(documentary), PBS, 1992
Narrator, "Orson Welles: What Went Wrong?," Crazy about the Movies(documentary), Cinemax, 1992
Voice, Earth and the American Dream, HBO, 1993
The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 6 (documentary; also known as My Generation), syndicated, 1995
Narrator, "Cyclone!," National Geographic Specials, NBC, 1995
Narrator, The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (documentary), 1995
Narrator, Edison's Miracle of Light, PBS, 1995
Narrator, 21st Century Jet: The Building of the 777 (documentary),PBS, 1996
Narrator, Cheating Death: Catastrophes Caught on Tape, Fox, 1997
Host, Close Call: Cheating Death II, Fox, 1997
Narrator, The Secrets of 007: The James Bond Files, CBS, 1997
Narrator, The World's Scariest Police Chases, Fox, 1997
Narrator, Video Justice: Crime Caught on Tape, Fox, 1997
Narrator, When Disasters Strike II, Fox, 1997
Narrator, Still Missing (documentary), 1997
Narrator, Frontier: Legends of the Old Northwest (documentary), The History Channel, 1998
Narrator, Titanic: Breaking New Ground (documentary), Fox, 1998
Narrator, "Nature," John Denver: Let This Be a Voice, PBS, 1998
Narrator, National Geographic: The Battle for Midway (documentary), 1998
Interviewee, Roman Polanski: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1998
Narrator, Storm of the Century, NBC, 1998
Narrator, Avalanche: The White Death (documentary), NBC, 1998
Book Tour TV, 1998, Free Preview Weekend, HBO, 1998
Sphere Specials & Interviews, 1998
Narrator, Hoover Dam (documentary), PBS, 1999
Narrator, Rome: Power and Glory, The Learning Channel, 1999
Voice of Urban Renewal, Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco--The Fillmore (documentary; also known as The Fillmore), 1999
Narrator, The Battle of Midway (documentary), TBS, 1999
Narrator, The History of Sex (documentary), The History Channel, 1999
Voice of John Wesley Powell, Lost in the Grand Canyon (documentary), PBS, 1999
Narrator, Search for the Submarine I-52 (documentary), NBC, 1999
Narrator, Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic (documentary), PBS, 1999
Announcer, The 72nd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2000
Narrator, Frontier: The Decisive Battles (documentary), 2000
Interviewee, Roman Polanski: Reflections of Darkness (documentary), 2000
Narrator, In the Light of Reverence (documentary), PBS, 2001
Narrator, Natural Connections (documentary), PBS, 2001
Narrator, Sex in the 20th Century (documentary), The History Channel, 2001
Himself, Polanski y los ojos del mal, 2002
Voice of Thomas Jefferson, Founding Brothers (documentary), The History Channel, 2002
E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial 20th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002
Narrator, Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election, 2002
Himself and narrator, Seth Eastman: Painting the Dakota (documentary), 2002
Narrator, The Shape of Life, PBS, 2002
Narrator, Out of the Blue, Sci-Fi Channel, 2003
Pilots
The 4400, USA Network, 2004
Episodic
"All This and the Old School Tie," The Insiders, ABC, 1985
Alex, "Last Scene," The Hitchhiker (also known as Le voyageur), HBO, 1986
Adam Grant, "Shadow Play," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1986
Romney Penhallow, "Old Quarrels, Old Loves," Road to Avonlea, TheDisney Channel, 1990
Arsenio Hall, 1990
Entertainment Tonight, 1991, 1995
Narrator, "Edison's Miracle of Light," The American Experience, NBC, 1995
Herman Charn, "Professional Man," Fallen Angels, Showtime, 1995
Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, ABC, 1997, 1998
Roger, "The Love of Her Life," Cybill, CBS, 1997
Narrator, "Denali, Alaska's Great Wilderness," The Living Edens, PBS, 1997
Arts & Minds, Bravo, 1998
Narrator, "Kakadu: Australia's Ancient Wilderness," The Living Edens, PBS, 1999
Ross, "Secrets, Lies, and Weddings," The Division, 2002
The Active Opposition, WorldLink TV, 2003
Stage Appearances
The Miser, 1966
Pantalone, L'aimant militaire, 1967
Inacoma, Magic Theatre, San Francisco, CA, 1977
The Red Snake, and True West, Magic Theatre, 1977-1978
Autobiography of a Pearl Diver, Magic Theatre, 1978
Charles the Irrelevant, Magic Theatre, 1979
True West, Magic Theatre, 1980
Jake, Jake's Women, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, 1989-1990
Also appeared in The Abduction of Kari Swenson, Baby Girl Scott, The Minstrel Show, and Olive Pits.
Stage Work
Director of Olive Pits, San Francisco Actors Workshop, San Francisco.
Major Tours
Director, The Minstrel Show, or Civil Rights in a Cracker Barrel,San Francisco Actors Workshop, U.S. cities, 1967
RECORDINGS
Taped Readings
Canyons by Gary Paulsen, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio, 1991
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter, Audio Literature,1992
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shurnryu Suzuki-roshi, Audio Literature, 1992
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Audio Literature, 1992
The Book of Job, Audio Literature, 1992
The River by Gary Paulsen, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio, 1993
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio, 1995
Genesis, Audio Literature, 1997
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps, Audio Literature, 1997
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, Amber-Allen Publishing, 1999
Brian's Return by Gary Paulsen, Doubleday Dell Audio, 1999
Also recorded The Teaching of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda, AudioLiterature; A Separate Reality by Carlos Castaneda, Audio Literature;The Enlightened Heart, Audio Literature, 1992.
WRITINGS
Screenplays
Crimes of Opportunity, 1998
Also wrote the unproduced screenplays Heaven before I Die, On the Eighth Day, and Close Call.
Plays
Co-author, Olive Pits, San Francisco Actors Workshop, San Francisco.
Memoir
Sleeping Where I Fall: A Chronicle, Counterpoint Press, 1998
Contributor
Junker, Howard, ed., Strange Attraction: The Best 10 Years of Zyzzyva, University of Nevada Press, 1985
Hapler, Jan, ed., Dimensions of a Life, Sierra Club Books, 1991
Henderson, Bill, and Sybil Steinberg, eds., The Pushcart Prize XVII 1993-1994, Pushcart Press, 1993
Cregg, Magda, ed., Hey Lew, Clew Press, 1998
Other
(Introduction only) Gach, Gary, What Book?!: Buddha Poems from Beat toHiphop, 1998
Contributor to magazines and periodicals, Mother Jones, Terra Nova, San Francisco Chronicle, Steelhead, and Zyzzyva.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

Tikkun, September, 1999, p. 71

Electronic

Peter Coyote Official Site, http://www.petercoyote.com, April 21,2004

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