Peter Krause
Peter Krause is an American actor born on August 12, 1965, in Alexandria, Minnesota. He grew up in Roseville and initially pursued track and field before shifting his focus to acting after a pole vaulting injury. Krause graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in English literature and later studied at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His career in television began with small roles in shows like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Seinfeld," but he gained significant recognition for his role as sportscaster Casey McCall in Aaron Sorkin's "Sports Night."
Krause's breakthrough came in the critically acclaimed HBO series "Six Feet Under," where he played Nate Fisher and received multiple Emmy nominations. He continued to showcase his range in various roles, including Nick George in "Dirty Sexy Money" and Adam Braverman in "Parenthood." In addition to his television work, Krause has appeared in films such as "The Truman Show" and "Saint Judy." He has a son named Roman and has been in a relationship with fellow actress Lauren Graham. Krause's performances have earned him acclaim and a loyal fan base, highlighting his versatility as an actor.
Subject Terms
Peter Krause
Actor
- Born: August 12, 1965
- Birthplace: Alexandria, Minnesota
Contribution: Peter Krause is an American actor best known for his roles on the television series Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money, and Parenthood. He also appeared in several films, including We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004).
Background
Peter Krause was born on August 12, 1965, in Alexandria, Minnesota. He spent his early life in Roseville and competed in track and field. After he suffered a back injury while pole vaulting, he was forced to give up the sport.
Krause then set his sights on acting as a way to meet girls. When he discovered that a girl he liked was trying out for a part in the school play, he decided to audition. He did not get the part, but he did get a date with the girl. He also discovered his love for acting. After high school, he was a premed student at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, but he later changed his major to English literature, graduating in 1987.
Krause started acting seriously while in college, appearing in the horror film Blood Harvest (1987). After college he moved to New York City to attend the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, from which he graduated in 1990. While in New York, he performed on the stage and worked as a bartender, meeting producer Aaron Sorkin.
Career
In 1990, the aspiring actor landed a spot on the Carol Burnett sketch comedy series Carol and Company. He then spent the next few years taking small roles on television shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Seinfeld, and Ellen. In 1995, Krause received recurring roles in the short-lived series The Great Defender and IfNot for You.
Shortly after, he was cast as Kevin Blanders, the son-in-law of Cybill Shepherd’s character on her show Cybill. He portrayed the character intermittently until 1997. Also during this time, he appeared in episodes of Party of Five, The Drew Carey Show, and Caroline in the City, and in the films Lovelife (1997), My Engagement Party (1998), and The Truman Show (1998).
Krause finally received his big break in 1998, when he was cast as sportscaster Casey McCall in Sorkin’s series Sports Night. The show earned him and the cast Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, but it had low ratings and was canceled after two seasons. Also during this time, he appeared in shows such as Third Rock from the Sun and Spin City.
Krause did not stay out of work for long. In 2001, he was cast as the lead in the HBO series Six Feet Under. He originally intended to audition for the role of David Fisher, the gay brother of Nate Fisher. He was instead chosen to play Nate Fisher, the black sheep of the Fisher family who takes control of his family’s funeral home after his father’s death.
Krause quickly became a fan favorite and remained on the series until 2005, continuing to appear throughout the show’s final season even after his character’s death. For his Six Feet Under role, Krause was nominated for three Emmy Awards for outstanding lead actor in a drama and two Golden Globes for best actor in a television drama. The cast also received two Screen Actors Guild Awards for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.
On the big screen, Krause appeared in the dark film We Don’t Live Here Anymore. He made his Broadway debut in 2004 in a production of After the Fall. He then appeared in the sci-fi miniseries The Lost Room and the independent film Civic Duty (2006).
Next up was another leading television role in the series Dirty Sexy Money. On the show, Krause played Nick George, a straight-laced lawyer who goes after the Darling family, believing that its members had something to do with the death of his father. His father was a corrupt lawyer working for the Darling family patriarch (Donald Sutherland) before he was killed in a plane crash. The Darling family tries to lure Nick George into the same role, and the lawyer must decide if he wants to stick to his guns or compromise his morals for a large sum of money. The show lasted for two seasons, but it was eventually canceled in 2009.
The following year, Krause was cast in Ron Howard’s second attempt at the television series Parenthood, which was based on the film of the same name. On the show, he played Adam Braverman, the oldest son in the Braverman clan. Adam Braverman is the sibling who is most sought after for his advice when a problem arises within the family, but he has his own life to worry about as well. He and his wife Kristina (Monica Potter), struggle to raise their teenage daughter, a son who has Asperger syndrome, and an infant daughter, while dealing with issues such as unemployment and cancer.
Though Parenthood came to an end with its series finale airing in early 2015, Krause landed a role in the film Night Owls that same year before going on to costar in the ABC series The Catch, which premiered in 2016. Despite the show being canceled following its second season in 2017, Krause won a part in the biographical drama film Saint Judy, which was released to theaters in 2018. Also in 2018, he began portraying firefighter Bobby Nash in the Fox series 9-1-1, which entered its third season in the fall of 2019.
Impact
Krause is a versatile actor who has demonstrated his ability to play a range of characters in several different television series. From a corrupt lawyer on Dirty Sexy Money to the go-to family man on Parenthood, Krause has the ability to transform into likable characters to whom viewers can relate. He has been rewarded for these roles with several awards and nominations through the years.
Personal Life
Krause had a son, Roman, in 2001, with his former girlfriend Christine King. In 2010, he began dating his Parenthood costar Lauren Graham.
Principal Works
Film
Blood Harvest, 1987
Lovelife, 1997
My Engagement Party, 1998
The Truman Show, 1998
We Don’t Live Here Anymore, 2004
Civic Duty, 2006
Beastly, 2011
Night Owls, 2015
Saint Judy, 2018
Television
Carol and Company, 1990
If Not for You, 1995
Cybill, 1995–97
Sports Night, 1998–2000
The Lost Room (miniseries), 2006
Dirty Sexy Money, 2007–9
Parenthood, 2010–15
9-1-1, 2018–
Bibliography
Frey, Jennifer. “Krause Resurfaces after ‘Six Feet Under.’” Washington Post. Washington Post, 16 Sept. 2007. Web. 12 July 2013.
Karger, Dave. “Parenthood.” Entertainment Weekly 17 Sept. 2010: 60–63. Print.
Krause, Peter. “Peter Krause on Parenthood and How Nothing Can Match Six Feet Under.” Interview by Emma Rosenblum. New York Magazine. New York Media, 2 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 July 2013.
Krause, Peter. “‘Parenthood’: Behind Adam And Kristina’s Season 4 Cancer Battle With Peter Krause.” Interview by Jaimie Etkin. Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Dec. 2012. Web. 29 Aug. 2013.
Sternbergh, Adam. “Back from the Dead.” New York Magazine. New York Media, 24 Sept. 2007. Web. 12 July 2013.