Line #19 Creator/PeterWeller


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5	[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/peterweller.png]]
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7	->"''My career was always full of risks one way or another, and that's the way I like it."''
8
9	Dr. Peter Frederick Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, lecturer and acting heavyweight born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. If you see him in a film or television show, just know that the quality of whatever you're watching has just gone up. He's undoubtedly known best for his role as Alex J. Murphy, better known as ''Franchise/RoboCop'' (who he played in the first - and best - two films of the series) and loved best for his role as Buckaroo Banzai in the CultClassic ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossThe8thDimension''.
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11	Aside from starring in one of the most iconic sci-fi films in all of history, he's also known for roles on stage and television. He often plays {{Ensemble Darkhorse}}s and villains, such as [[FantasticRacism Paxton]] in ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', [[DirtyCop Stan Liddy]] in ''Series/{{Dexter}}'', [[TheSociopath Mr. Yin]] in ''Series/{{Psych}}'' and [[EvilMentor Christopher Henderson]] in ''Series/TwentyFour''. Of course, he's also played sympathetic characters such as [[TheWoobie Alistair Peck]] in Fringe and William Lee, the lead character in Creator/DavidCronenberg's ''Film/NakedLunch''. He's also the voice of Batman in the animated adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''. He also starred in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' as Admiral Marcus. He has worked a lot as a director in television.
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13	In 2019, he reprised the role of [=RoboCop=] as part of UsefulNotes/{{K\|entuckyFriedChicken}}FC's "Colonel Sanders" commercials, then ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' in 2020 , and then ''Videogame/RoboCopRogueCity'' in 2023.
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15	He's also a major history buff, and has contributed to Creator/TheHistoryChannel on several occasions. He also teaches courses in ancient history at Syracuse University in New York. And he has a Master's Degree in Renaissance and Ancient Greek artwork and was recently conferred his Ph.D. in Italian History from UCLA. So yes, you can call him Dr. Peter Weller.
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17	He also has an [[BaritoneOfStrength extremely cool and instantly recognizable voice]]. In fact, reread this entry in his voice and see how much cooler it sounds.
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19	Not to be confused with Paul Weller of Music/TheJam.
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21	!!Filmography (as actor)
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23	!!!Film
24	* ''Film/OfUnknownOrigin'' (1983) as Bart Hughes
25	* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossTheEighthDimension'' (1984) as Buckaroo Banzai
26	* ''Film/{{RoboCop\|1987}}'' (1987) as Alex Murphy / Robocop
27	** ''Film/RoboCop2'' (1990)
28	* ''[[Film/Leviathan1989 Leviathan]]'' (1989) as Steven Beck
29	* ''Film/NakedLunch'' (1991) as Bill Lee
30	* ''Film/{{Screamers}}'' (1995) as Commander Joseph A. Hendrickson
31	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' (2012-2013) as Bruce Wayne / Batman
32	* ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' (2013) as Admiral Alexander Marcus
33	* ''Film/SkinTrade'' (2015) as Captain Costello
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35	!!!Television
36	* ''Series/LouGrant'' (1977) as Donald Stryker
37	* ''Series/OdysseyFive'' (2002-2003) as Chuck Taggart
38	* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' (2005) as John Frederick Paxton
39	* ''Series/TwentyFour'' (2006) as Christopher Henderson
40	* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' (2010) as Alistair Peck
41	* ''Series/{{Psych}}'' (2010) as Mr. Yin
42	* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' (2010) as Stan Liddy
43	* ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy'' (2013-2014) as Charlie Barosky
44	* ''Series/{{Longmire}}'' (2012-2017) as Lucian Connelly
45	* ''Series/TheLastShip'' (2015-2018) as Paul Vellek[[note]]He was also one of the series regular directors throughout its run[[/note]]
46	* ''Series/MacGyver2016'' (2018-2021) as Elliott Mason
47	* ''Series/GuillermoDelTorosCabinetOfCuriosities'' (2022) as Lionel Lassiter
48	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur\|2023}}'' (TBA) as Dr. Stern (voice)
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50	!!Filmography (as director)
51	* ''Film/{{Partners\|1993}}'', short film
52	* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' (two episodes)
53	* ''Series/{{Monk}}'' (1 episode)
54	* ''Series/LasVegas'' (2007)
55	* ''Series/HawaiiFive0'' (15 episodes)
56	* ''Series/TheStrain'' (3 episodes)
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58	----
59	!!Tropes
60	* BadassBookworm: Has a doctorate in Italian Renaissance art history
61	* TheCastShowoff: That really is him singing, blowing a mean cornet and playing piano.
62	** He has a healthy musical background, having played in one of the famous Lab Bands during his time at the University of North Texas. He even had a jazz band with his ''Buckaroo Banzai'' co-star Creator/JeffGoldblum for a while (Jeff is also a big fan of jazz music).
63	* CreatorBacklash: He was not happy with ''Film/RoboCop2''. He criticized the script, saying it lacked the spine and the soul of the original. Weller tried to convince Creator/FrankMiller, Irvin Kershner, and the film's producers that the third act needed a morality angle instead of being just a shoot 'em up, but the producers felt the battle between [=RoboCop=] and Cain was sufficient. Despite this, he did enjoy the experience of making the film and liked working with Irvin Kershner.
64	* DyeingForYourArt: He worked out and trained extensively in mime in preparation for ''Film/RoboCop1987'' in order to know how to best portray a cyborg's movements only for all his work to be thrown out the window when it turned out that the suit was so stiff it was agony to simply walk let alone act. He was also losing three to five pounds a day due to the heat inside the suit and had to consume gallons of water and lemonade (eating was out of the question) to function.
65	* TheEveryman: With his lithe physique and clean cut ideal average BoyNextDoor appearance, he can play these roles outside of his antagonist roles. Even his well-known roles as Buckaroo Banzai and [=RoboCop=]'s human identity Alex Murphy can both qualify, to a point they can be shining examples of MundaneMadeAwesome.
66	* HostilityOnTheSet: As noted below, his MethodActing can result in this. Case in point, his attempt at MethodActing in ''Film/RoboCop1987'', insisting he be called "Murphy" or "Robo" on set, depending on the scene, collectively pissed off director Creator/PaulVerhoeven and co-stars Creator/KurtwoodSmith (Clarence Boddicker) and Creator/MiguelFerrer (Bob Morton). Verhoeven found it silly and told Weller he couldn't bring himself to do it and Smith chose to ignore him for the first few weeks, but the most active in expressing his contempt for the idea was Ferrer, who intentionally ignored it and called Weller by his real name.
67	* MethodActing: His specialty, to a point it makes him prone to HostilityOnTheSet between him and the cast and crew who could not stand it on several productions.
68	* PlayingAgainstType: Most of Weller's roles offered to him are peppered with villainous and HateSink roles, such as ''Shoot the Moon'' and ''Firstborn'' as the DomesticAbuser and most recently ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' and ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. Only his notable roles as Buckaroo Banzai and [=RoboCop=] as well several other obscure roles are upstanding and noble heroes in his acting resume.
69	* ProductionPosse: He had a two-man one of these going with producer Manny Coto, appearing in ''Series/OdysseyFive'', ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', ''Series/TwentyFour'', and ''Series/{{Dexter}}'', all Coto-produced shows.
70	* SmokingIsCool: Weller certainly thinks so, to a point he's a Cuban CigarChomper.
71	* TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse: Thanks to his TheEveryman BoyNextDoor appearance and mundane approach to his acting, most if not all of the villains he plays tends to be this automatically, especially back when he was young.

Context Creator / PeterWeller