1. Early Life
Peter McRobbie's early life was marked by his birth in Scotland, his family's immigration to the United States, and his subsequent education and military service.
1.1. Birth and Background
Peter McRobbie was born on 31 January 1943, in Hawick, Scottish Borders, Scotland. His mother was Mary Fleming (née Heigh), a writer, and his father was William McRobbie, a storekeeper. In the early 1950s, McRobbie and his parents relocated to the United States, where he later became a naturalized American citizen.
1.2. Education
McRobbie pursued his higher education at Yale Drama School, graduating in 1966. Following this, he undertook graduate studies for one year at the University of Tulsa. He further honed his acting skills through training with the German-American actress Uta Hagen and actor James Saito at HB Studio in New York City.
1.3. Military Service
From 1966 to 1968, Peter McRobbie served in the United States Army. During his service, he attained the rank of Specialist 5 and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
2. Career
Peter McRobbie's acting career spans decades, beginning with early challenges in New York City and evolving into a prolific career with numerous notable roles in both film and television.
2.1. Early Career and Advertising
In 1969, McRobbie moved to New York City with aspirations of pursuing an acting career. However, he initially found it difficult to secure acting roles. To support himself during the early 1970s, he worked in advertising, notably pitching the original concept for the "Jell-O Pudding Cup". By the summer of 1975, he began to find stage work, performing alongside John Astin and Patty Duke in California. After the conclusion of this production, he returned to the East Coast.
2.2. Notable Roles
Throughout his career, McRobbie has appeared in over 60 films and television series. He is widely recognized for his recurring role as Judge Walter Bradley in the Law & Order franchise, including the original series and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. This role is considered one of his most famous to date. In film, he gained significant attention for his portrayal of John C. Twist in the 2005 motion picture Brokeback Mountain. Other prominent film roles include Mike Sheenan in 16 Blocks (2006), Pop Pop Jamison in M. Night Shyamalan's horror film The Visit (2015), and Allen Dulles in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies (2015). He also portrayed George H. Pendleton in Lincoln (2012), depicting Lincoln's outspoken opponent in the House of Representatives regarding the constitutional amendment to outlaw slavery. His television work includes the role of Father Felix in two episodes of the HBO series The Sopranos (2000-2001), FBI Supervisor Frederick Elliot in nine episodes of Boardwalk Empire (2010-2013), and Father Paul Lantom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Daredevil (2015-2018) and The Defenders (2017). Additionally, he appeared in films such as Spider-Man 2 (2004), Find Me Guilty (2006), World Trade Center (2006), Big (1988), Shaft (2000), Sleepers (1996), Bullets over Broadway (1994), and Inherent Vice (2014).
3. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | A Jury of Her Peers | County Attorney | Short film |
| 1983 | Zelig | Workers Rally Speaker | |
| 1985 | The Beniker Gang | Mr. Millhauser | |
| 1985 | The Purple Rose of Cairo | The Communist | |
| 1986 | The Manhattan Project | Electronics | |
| 1988 | Big | Executive #3 | |
| 1991 | Johnny Suede | Flip Doubt | |
| 1991 | Shadows and Fog | Bartender | |
| 1992 | School Ties | Chaplain | |
| 1994 | Bullets Over Broadway | Man At Theater | |
| 1995 | The Neon Bible | Reverend Watkins | |
| 1995 | Mighty Aphrodite | Linda's Ex-Landlord | |
| 1995 | Palookaville | Chief of Police | |
| 1996 | Big Night | Loan Officer | |
| 1996 | Sleepers | Lawyer | |
| 1996 | The Associate | Executive At Strip Club | |
| 1997 | Picture Perfect | Executive #2 | |
| 1997 | Deconstructing Harry | Damned Man | |
| 1998 | Jaded | Dr. Mancuso | |
| 1998 | Snake Eyes | FBI Agent Gordon Pritzker | |
| 1998 | Side Streets | Stelu | |
| 1998 | Celebrity | Father Gladden's Fan On Porch | |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Sebastian Cole | Principal | |
| 1999 | A Fish in the Bathtub | Father Malaccky | |
| 1999 | Kill by Inches | Ballroom Host | |
| 2000 | Small Time Crooks | Frenchy's Lawyer | |
| 2000 | Shaft | Lieutenant Cromartie | |
| 2001 | The American Astronaut | Lee Vilensky | |
| 2001 | Love the Hard Way | Prison Doctor | |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | OsCorp Representative | |
| 2004 | Messengers | Stuart Quinn | |
| 2004 | Corn | Peder Gleck | |
| 2005 | Brokeback Mountain | John Twist | |
| 2005 | The Notorious Bettie Page | Gangel | |
| 2006 | Find Me Guilty | Peter Petraki | |
| 2006 | 16 Blocks | Mike Sheenan | |
| 2006 | World Trade Center | Allison's Father | |
| 2006 | The Hoax | George Gordon Holmes | |
| 2007 | Gracie | Principal Enright | |
| 2007 | Mercy | Tom | Short film |
| 2008 | The Understudy | Edward | |
| 2009 | Split Ends | Nathan Berry | |
| 2010 | Footsteps | Thaddeus | |
| 2011 | I Don't Talk Service No More | Short film | |
| 2011 | Dark Horse | Arnie | |
| 2012 | Lincoln | George H. Pendleton | |
| 2013 | The Immigrant | Dr. Knox | |
| 2013 | Chinese Puzzle | L'Agent Bureau Immigration | |
| 2014 | Aloft | Ike | |
| 2014 | Inherent Vice | Adrian Prussia | |
| 2015 | The Visit | Fredrick Spencer 'Pop-Pop' Jamison | |
| 2015 | Bridge of Spies | Allen Dulles | |
| 2017 | Ambition's Debt | Ciaus Cassius | |
| 2017 | Juggernaut | Leonard Gamble | |
| 2018 | Hold the Dark | Hunter John | |
| 2019 | Daniel Isn't Real | Percy Thigpen |
4. Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Nero Wolfe | Robert Cruidshank | Uncredited |
| 1983 | Matt Houston | David | Episode: "The Beverly Woods Social Club" |
| 1985 | Izzy and Moe | Cop | Television film |
| 1985 | Doubletake | Sex Therapist | Television miniseries |
| 1988 | Crossbow | Anton | Episode: "Masterplan" |
| 1988 | In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders | FBI Special Agent John Hanlon | Television film |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Charlie | Episode: "Intensive Care" |
| 1989 | American Playhouse | Unknown | Episode: "Land of Little Rain" |
| 1990 | H.E.L.P. | Dr. Sanford | Episode: "Are You There, Alpha Centauri?" |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Manager | Episode: "Sonata for Solo Organ" |
| 1991 | Golden Years | Lieutenant McGiver | Television miniseries |
| 1992 | Law & Order | John Ennis | Episode: "Point of View" |
| 1993 | And the Band Played On | Dr. Max Essex | Television film |
| 1993 | Acapulco H.E.A.T. | Housten | Uncredited |
| 1994 | Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics | Dr. Ames | Television film |
| 1995 | Law & Order | Herbert Fowler | Episode: "Guardian" |
| 1996 | Harvest of Fire | Reuben Troyer | Television film |
| 1997 | New York Undercover | Inspector Reznor | Episode: "The Solomon Papers" |
| 1997 | Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing | Male Attorney | Television film |
| 1997 | Witness to the Mob | George Pape | Television film |
| 1998 | Law & Order | Dr. Thomas Neustadt | Episode: "Tabloid" |
| 2000 | Now and Again | Dr. Prescott | Episode: "Fire and Ice" |
| 2000 | Cupid & Cate | Dr. Brimmer | Television film |
| 2000-2001 | The Sopranos | Father Felix | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Hamlet | Priest | Television film |
| 2001 | The Atlantis Conspiracy | Mr. Dombrowski | Television film |
| 2001-2009 | Law & Order | Trial Judge Walter Bradley | 14 episodes |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Father Capanna | Episode: "The Faithful" |
| 2001 | 100 Centre Street | Chairman / Captain Korshok | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | The Education of Max Bickford | Mayor Owens | Episode: "Past, Present, Future" |
| 2003-2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Trial Judge Walter Bradley | 18 episodes |
| 2005 | Sometimes in April | Bushnell's Supervisor | Television film |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Trial Judge Walter Bradley | Episode: "The Line" |
| 2005 | Stella | Mr. Mueller | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2006 | Conviction | Judge Walter Bradley | 2 episodes |
| 2007-2009 | Damages | Judge Sanford Toomey | 4 episodes |
| 2008 | As the World Turns | Judge Harold Rice | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Ugly Betty | Chairman | Episode: "Sugar Daddy" |
| 2009 | Mercy | Dr. Melvoy | Episode: "You Lost Me with the Cinderblock" |
| 2009 | White Collar | Walter | Episode: "The Portrait" |
| 2010-2013 | Boardwalk Empire | FBI Supervisor Frederick Elliot | 9 episodes |
| 2010 | God in America | Thomas Dudley | Episode: "A New Adam/A New Eden" |
| 2011 | Mildred Pierce | Dr. Gale | Television miniseries |
| 2013 | Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight | Erwin Griswold | Television film |
| 2013 | Elementary | Milton Van Kirk | Episode: "We Are Everyone" |
| 2014 | Believe | FBI Director Lofton | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | The Good Wife | Professor George Paley | Episode: "Red Zone" |
| 2014 | Banshee Origins | Carter | Episode: "Birthday" |
| 2015 | The Blacklist | Man On Phone | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2015-2018 | Daredevil | Father Paul Lantom | 11 episodes |
| 2015 | Karl Manhair, Postal Inspector | Deputy Inspector Wayne Mersky | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Confirmation | Senator Allen Simpson | Television film |
| 2017 | The Defenders | Father Paul Lantom | Episode: "The H Word" |
| 2018 | The Alienist | Mayor William Lafayette Strong | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Gotham | Mayor Holden Pritchard | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Clarice | Nils Hagen | Recurring cast |
5. Personal Life
Peter McRobbie has been married to actress Charlotte Bova since 1977. They have two children.