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Peter Masterson (bornCarlos Bee Masterson Jr.; June 1, 1934 – December 18, 2018) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. He made hisBroadway debut in November 1967 inThe Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald, playing the title character.^[1] Although he got good notices, the play closed after nine performances.^[2]

Masterson often worked with his cousin, writerHorton Foote. Acting from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, including 1975'sThe Stepford Wives as Walter Eberhart, since then he concentrated mostly on directing and producing. ActressMary Stuart Masterson is his daughter; she appeared with her father inThe Stepford Wives, playing one of his daughters. His other acting credits include roles inAmbush Bay (1966),In the Heat of the Night (1967),Counterpoint (1968),Von Richthofen and Brown (1971),Tomorrow (1972),The Exorcist (1973),Man on a Swing (1974), andGardens of Stone (1987).^[3][4]

Masterson co-wrote (withLarry L. King) the books for the hit musicalThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978)^[5] and its short-lived sequelThe Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994).^[6] In 1980, he produced the ABC television movie,City in Fear based on an idea by screenwriter William Goldman, an idea that became the well-reviewed 1979 novelPanic on Page One by Linda Stewart, and the television script by Albert Ruben. The cast was led byRobert Vaughn andDavid Janssen in his final role before his death. In 1985, he directedThe Trip to Bountiful, for whichGeraldine Page won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film also featured his wife, Carlin Glynn, who had previously won a Tony Award for her role inWhorehouse. His directing credits additionally includeFull Moon in Blue Water (1988),Night Game (1989),Blood Red (1989),Convicts (1991),Arctic Blue (1993),The Only Thrill (1997),Lost Junction (2003), andWhiskey School (2005).^[4]

Masterson died at the age of 84 on December 18, 2018, after suffering a fall at his home. He had received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease 14 years earlier.^[3][4]

Writer

• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

Director

• The Trip to Bountiful (1985)
• Full Moon in Blue Water (1988)
• Blood Red (1989)
• Night Game (1989)
• Convicts (1991)
• Arctic Blue (1993)
• The Only Thrill (1997) (Also executive producer)
• Terra Nova (1998) (Also producer)
• Lost Junction (2003)
• Whiskey School (2005)

Acting roles

TV movies

Acting roles

• Peter Masterson and Carlin Glynn Papers at theHarry Ransom Center
• Peter Masterson atIMDb
• Peter Masterson at theInternet Broadway Database
• Peter Masterson at theInternet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
• Pete Masterson at theUniversity of Wisconsin'sActors Studio audio collection

• 1934 births
• 2018 deaths
• American male film actors
• Drama Desk Award winners
• Rice University alumni
• Male actors from Houston
• Writers from Houston
• Film directors from Texas
• Film producers from Texas
• Accidental deaths from falls in the United States
• Foote-Masterson family
• Accidental deaths in New York (state)

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