Peter Donat

Actor, Writer, Soundtrack

Birthdate: Jan 20, 1928

Birthplace: Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Died: Sep 10, 2018

The Canadian-American actor Peter Donat had a 50-year-long career in TV, motion pictures and theater. So respected was Donat, that Francis Ford Coppola considered casting him in the role of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) that went to Robert Duvall.

The nephew of Oscar-winning actor Robert Donat, Peter was born Pierre Collingwood Donat on January 20, 1928 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. His father, landscape gardener Philip Donat, was Anglo-Canadian while his Marie (née Bardet) was French-Canadian.

In 1950, the 22-year-old Donat moved to the United States to study drama at Yale. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Donat frequently returned to Canada for acting work, appearing in the lead in a 1961 production of Donald Jack's play "The Canvas Barricade" at the Stratford Festival. He was also in the Canadian TV serial Moment of Truth (1964), which was broadcast on commercial TV in the States.

Peter Donat was married for 16 years to Emmy-winning actor Michael Learned. The couple, who divorced in 1972, had three children: Caleb, Christopher, and Lucas.

Known For

The Game
The Game

(1997)

The China Syndrome
The China Syndrome

(1979)

The X-Files
The X-Files

(1993)

School Ties
School Ties

(1992)

Peter Donat Movies

actor

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Previous (23)

  • 2015 |

    Unfinished Business

    asFerenzy
  • 2001 |
    Never Die Twice
  • 2001 |
    The Deep Endas Jack Hall
  • 1997 |
    Red Corneras David McAndrews
  • 1997 |
    The Gameas Samuel Sutherland
  • 1997 |

    The Game

    asSamuel Sutherland
  • 1992 |
    School Tiesas Headmaster Dr. Bartram
  • 1992 |
    The Babeas Frazee
  • 1989 |
    The War of the Rosesas Jason Larrabee
  • 1987 |
    The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell
  • 1985 |
    Honeymoonas Novak
  • 1984 |
    The Bay Boyas Will Campbell
  • 1982 |
    Highpointas Maronzella
  • 1982 |
    Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stainsas Harley Dennis
  • 1979 |
    The China Syndromeas Don Jacovich
  • 1978 |
    A Different Storyas Sills
  • 1978 |
    Mirrorsas Dr. Philip Godard
  • 1978 |
    F.I.S.T.as Arthur St. Clair
  • 1977 |
    Billy Jack Goes to Washingtonas Ralph Butler
  • 1975 |
    Russian Rouletteas McDermott
  • 1971 |
    My Old Man's Placeas Car Salesman
  • 1967 |
    Der Revolver des Korporalsas Hilario
  • 1957 |
    Lost Lagoonas David Burnham