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Peter Donat

Biography

Peter Donat was a Canadian actor who worked widely in theater, television and film, and was a co-founding member of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, he graduated from Acadia University and went on to the Yale School of Drama, where he first drew notice playing the lead in Cyrano de Bergerac. He performed many Shakespearean roles at the Stratford Festival and won a 1957 Theatre World Award for The First Gentleman. Television audiences knew him as Elmo Tyson on Flamingo Road and as Fox Mulder's father, William Mulder, on The X-Files. His film work included The Hindenburg (1975), F.I.S.T. (1978), The China Syndrome (1979), The War of the Roses (1989), Skin Deep (1989) and The Game (1997), and he was nominated for a Genie Award for The Bay Boy.

90years old at death

  • Born Kentville
  • Died Point Reyes Station
  • Star sign: AquariusFirst day of the sign, on the Capricorn cusp
  • Pierre Collingwood Donat (birth name)

Movie Career

Films
14
Career span
26 years1975 to 2001

Genres

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  1. Big break

    After a chance meeting with Tyrone Guthrie, Donat was cast in The First Gentleman, his first Broadway production, and received a 1957 Theatre World Award for it.

  2. Early training

    Donat graduated from Acadia University before studying at the Yale School of Drama. There he gained his first notice as a stage actor, playing the lead in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

  3. A first

    Donat took a leading part in 1961 in The Canvas Barricade, a stage play by Donald Jack. It was the first Canadian play to be staged at the Stratford Festival.

  4. Beyond film

    Donat was active in local theater, and his most notable part there was Professor Higgins in the 1988 Cabrillo Stage production of My Fair Lady, which was his first singing role.

Peter Donat movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. The Game1997 Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Samuel Sutherland

    IMDb rating 7.7478K votes

  2. The China Syndrome1979 Drama, Thrilleras Don Jacovich

    IMDb rating 7.436K votes

  3. The War of the Roses1989as Jason Larrabee

    IMDb rating 6.963K votes

  4. Red Corner1997as David McAndrews

    IMDb rating 6.320K votes

  5. The Deep End2001as Jack Hall

    IMDb rating 6.513K votes

  6. School Ties1992as Headmaster Dr. Bartram

    IMDb rating 6.930K votes

  7. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains1982as Harley Dennis

    IMDb rating 6.73.5K votes

  8. Tucker: The Man and His Dream1988as Otto Kerner

    IMDb rating 6.923K votes

Most often with

Michael Douglas appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Films together

Box office

What Peter Donat's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$471 million

10 of the 14 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 14 films: 10 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 1 figure not found.

  • 10Worldwide figure
  • 1US gross only
  • 2Never in cinemas
  • 1Figure not found

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 95% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    The War of the Roses1989as Jason Larrabee
    $160M34.0% of the total
  2. 2
    The Game1997as Samuel Sutherland
    $109M23.2% of the total
  3. 3
    The China Syndrome1979as Don Jacovich
    $52M11.0% of the total
  4. 4
    Skin Deep1989as Sparky
    $45M9.6% of the total
  5. 5
    Red Corner1997as David McAndrews
    $22M4.8% of the total
  6. 6
    F.I.S.T.1978as Arthur St. Clair
    $20M4.3% of the total
  7. 7
    $20M4.2% of the total
  8. 8
    The Babe1992as Harry Frazee
    $18M3.7% of the total
School Ties (1992), $14.7 millionThe Deep End (2001), $10.0 million

$24.7 millionfrom the other 2 films with a worldwide figure, 5% of the total

Awards

One award and honor.

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Peter Donat's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
1957Theatre World AwardWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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