Peter Evans (actor)

Peter Evans
Born(1950-05-27)May 27, 1950
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 1989(1989-05-20) (aged 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1975–1988

Peter Evans (May 27, 1950 – May 20, 1989) was an American actor. He won the 1976 Clarence Derwent Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of Richie in David Rabe's Streamers.[1] However, he was best known for his role as Russ Merman in the 1980s sitcom 9 to 5.[1][2]

Early life and education

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Evans was born in 1950 in Englewood, New Jersey, to Dudley and Caroline Evans.[3] He had a brother, John Randall, and a sister, Elizabeth Temple.[3] He attended Phillips Academy, Andover.[3] In 1972, he graduated from Yale University.[3] For three years, Evans attended the Central School of Speech and Drama.[1][3][4]

Career

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Theatre

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In 1975, Evans made his debut in the New York theater with David Storey's Life Class.[2][3][4][5] In 1976, Mike Nichols directed him in David Rabe's Streamers, in which he portrayed Richie.[3] His performance as Richie won him the Clarence Derwent Award and garnered him a Drama Desk Award nomination.[2][3][4][5] In 1977, he appeared opposite Ellis Rabb in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre.[1][2][3] In 1979, he appeared opposite Maggie Smith in Tom Stoppard's Night and Day.[2][3][4][5] In 1982, Evans played James Leeds in a Broadway production of Mark Medoff's Children of a Lesser God.[1][3]

Television

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In 1977, he appeared in the PBS miniseries Best of Families.[2][3][4][5] In 1979, Evans reprised his role in a television film adaptation of A Life in the Theatre.[3][6] He also portrayed Russ Merman in the 1980s sitcom 9 to 5.[3][4][5] He was in an episode of St. Elsewhere in 1984.

Film

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Evans appeared in the films Impostors (1979) and Arthur (1981).[2][3][4][5]

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Impostors Peter
1981 Arthur Preston

Personal life and death

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Evans resided in Los Angeles for the last several years of his life.[2][3] He died on May 20, 1989, from complications of AIDS at the age of 38 in Century City Hospital in Los Angeles.[2][3][4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Peter Evans; Actor in TV Series '9 to 5'". Los Angeles Times. 23 May 1989. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Actor Peter Evans dies". United Press International. 23 May 1989. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Holden, Stephen (22 May 1989). "Peter Evans, an Actor in Theater, Films and Television, Dies at 38". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "ACTOR PETER EVANS DIES OF AIDS AT 38". Deseret News. 25 May 1989. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Broadway, TV and stage actor Peter Evans, 38". Chicago Tribune. 23 May 1989. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  6. ^ Leydon, Joe (16 September 1993). "Review: 'A Life in the Theatre'". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2017. At best, pic is a slight improvement over the play's previous TV adaptation, an unfortunately literal-minded videotaping (produced in the late 1970s for PBS) that's memorable only for recording the brilliant performances of Ellis Rabb and the late Peter Evans, stars of the original 1977 off-Broadway production.
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