Peter Spears

Peter Spears (born November 29, 1965) is an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Overland Park, Kansas.[1] Spears is best known for being a producer on the critically acclaimed 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film, Call Me by Your Name, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.[1][5] Spears also directed the controversial parodic short film, Ernest and Bertram, which portrayed Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie as gay lovers; Spears received a cease-and-desist order from Sesame Workshop for copyright violations as a result.[6][7] Spears helped to develop the television series Nightmare Café and John from Cincinnati.[8]

Peter Spears
Born (1965-11-29) November 29, 1965[1][2]
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materNorthwestern University[3]
Occupation
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • film producer
Years active1991–present
Spouse(s)Brian Swardstrom[4]

Before becoming a film director and producer, Spears was an actor, appearing in films such as Father of the Bride Part II, The Opposite of Sex and Something's Gotta Give, as well as several television series.

Personal life

Spears was raised in a Jewish family.[9][10] Spears lives with his husband, Brian Swardstrom, a talent agent and film producer in Athens, New York. The couple have homes in Rancho Mirage, California and New York City.[4][11] Spears and Swardstrom own the historic William Henry Ludlow House in Claverack, New York, but no longer reside there.[11]

Filmography
Spears at the screening of Call Me by Your Name at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival

As actor

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995Father of the Bride Part IIDr. WagnerN/A
1998The Opposite of SexDr. AllenN/A
2003Something's Gotta GiveDanny BenjaminN/A
2017Call Me by Your NameIsaac[12][13][14]Also producer

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1991Pink LightningGregTV movie
1992Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry StoryStudent ProctorTV movie
1992Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz StoryPeterTV movie
1993Quantum LeapDoug Bridges / ReiserEpisode: "Dr. Ruth"
1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesRobert BenchleyEpisode: "Young Indiana Jones and the Scandal of 1920"
1993Café AmericainMark DurginEpisode: "Pilot"
1994MatlockBarry FeldmanTwo episodes
1994Cries from the HeartJeffTV movie
1996ERN/AEpisode: "Baby Shower"
1996FriendsJoelEpisode: "The One with Barry and Mindy's Wedding"
1997The Love BugYoung Dr. StumpfelTV movie
1999Love Boat: The Next WaveJeff BlessingEpisode: "Blind Love"
2001Some of My Best FriendsTerryTwo episodes
2004CSI: MiamiJosh DaltonEpisode: "Deadline"

As writer
Year Title Notes
2002Ernest and BertramShort film
also director[15]

As director
Year Title Notes
2002Ernest and BertramShort film
directorial debut
2007CluelessN/A

As producer

Film
Year Title Notes
1996Scream, Teen, Scream!Short film
2014Until We CouldShort film
2017Call Me by Your NameNominated–Academy Award for Best Picture (Producer)
TBANomadlandPost-production

Television
Year Title Notes
1992Nightmare CaféCo-developer
Creative consultant
Executive producer
2007John from CincinnatiCo-developer
Creative consultant
Executive producer

References
  1. "Movie generating Oscar buzz was produced by Shawnee Mission South grad". The Kansas City Star. January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  2. "Brian Swardstrom post". November 29, 2015. [brianswardstrom "Happy birthday to my hubby, @pjspears. Peter, You have added so much depth, humor, fulfillment and joy to my life, I can't imagine it without you. Here's to your 50th birthday and to many more. I love you."]
  3. "American Music Theatre Project Premiers Hilarious Rock Musical". Northwestern University. Retrieved 15 August 2016
  4. Vivarelli, Nick (February 13, 2017). "Berlinale: Luca Guadagnino on Why 'Call Me by Your Name' Strikes Such Deep Chords". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  5. "These are the Oscar best-picture nominees that got the biggest bump at the box office". Business Insider. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  6. "Sesame Street legal: Furore over Bert and Ernie gay flick". Guardian.co.uk. Apr 10, 2002. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  7. Goodridge, Michael (July 23, 2002). "The best films you can't see: Ernest & Bertram is the latest in a series of acclaimed queer films banned from public view because their makers stepped on some famous toes". The Advocate.
  8. "Produced By: New York". Producers Guild of America. October 28, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  9. Does Hollywood give Jewish?. Jewish Journal. July 27, 2007. ["And then there are those who pick and choose their causes specific to their own personal development. Peter Spears, as just one example, came to Hollywood for his work, but recently found himself on a mission to Israel's film industry, which helped him to rediscover his Jewish self in the process."]
    Retrieved 15 August 2016
  10. "Scriptnotes, Ep 336: Call Me by Your Name — Transcript". JohnAugust.com. January 30, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  11. HOUSE TOUR: A HISTORICAL HOME WITH CHARM TO SPARE: A Hollywood couple discover a neglected Georgian mansion in Upstate New York and lovingly restore it with an eye to both historical accuracy and everyday comforts. Elle Decor. December 1, 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2016
  12. Smith, Bonne. "Mongrel Presents: Call Me by Your Name" (PDF) (Press release). Toronto, Ontario: Mongrel Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  13. "'Call Me by Your Name' Author Opens Up About the Film Adaptation". Graduate Center. City University of New York. November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  14. Ford, Rebecca (November 10, 2017). "Oscars: Best Picture Contenders on Staging Car Chases and How to Pivot When Plans Go Awry". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  15. "20 Banned Movies: Ernest and Bertram (2002)". Complex. 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2018.


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