Peter Simon (actor)
Encyclopedia
Peter Simon is an American
actor
.
. He attended Williams College
in Williamstown, MA. Simon subsequently became a member of the professional repertory theater company at Purdue University
, and also spent a season at the Barn Theater in Michigan http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/theactors/simon.php
(1969 to 1979). He left Search For Tomorrow, after he was replaced by actor Peter Ratray & around 1980 the character Scott was killed off. He appeared as Ian MacFarland on As The World Turns
in 1979. In 1982, he began playing his most high-profile daytime role as Ed Bauer
on the long-running soap Guiding Light
. He played the role from 1981 to 1984, then returned for a second run from 1986 to 1996. His portrayal of Ed included a storyline that remains one of the most controversial ones on the show - the decision to kill off Ed's wife Maureen (played by Ellen Parker
) in a car accident after learning of Ed's extramarital affair.
After several attempts to woo Simon back, GL convinced Simon to return to the show for a third run in 2002. http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2002/0318-simon.php However, Simon publicly expressed disapproval during another controversial storyline that unfolded in 2003 and 2004. The storyline (regarding mysterious characters Maryanne and Carrie Carruthers) received criticism for revising past show history, and drew disdain from Simon in the press regarding a particular scene where it was scripted that Ed had to strike his daughter. Simon left the show again in 2004. http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2004/0329-simon.php
Peter Simon is finally returning to Guiding Light along with Michelle Bauer Santos (Nancy St. Alban
) and Danny Santos (Paul Anthony Stewart
), in June of 2009.
off-Broadway, as well as a New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Twelfth Night".
co-star Courtney Simon
in 1975, and the couple share five children (some from prior marriages, as well as one born to the couple).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early career
Simon began his career studying acting at the Phillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
. He attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Williamstown, MA. Simon subsequently became a member of the professional repertory theater company at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, and also spent a season at the Barn Theater in Michigan http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/theactors/simon.php
Television
Simon's best known work has been as an actor in daytime soap operas. His first role was as Scott Phillips on Search For TomorrowSearch for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
(1969 to 1979). He left Search For Tomorrow, after he was replaced by actor Peter Ratray & around 1980 the character Scott was killed off. He appeared as Ian MacFarland on As The World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
in 1979. In 1982, he began playing his most high-profile daytime role as Ed Bauer
Ed Bauer
William Edward "Ed" Bauer Jr. is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. While having been portrayed by five different actors, Ed has been portrayed by a number of actors, including Robert Gentry, Mart Hulswit and Peter Simon....
on the long-running soap Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
. He played the role from 1981 to 1984, then returned for a second run from 1986 to 1996. His portrayal of Ed included a storyline that remains one of the most controversial ones on the show - the decision to kill off Ed's wife Maureen (played by Ellen Parker
Ellen Parker (actress)
Ellen Parker is an American actress.-Stage work:Parker is a well regarded New York stage actress; among her credits was the original production of the Wendy Wasserstein play The Heidi Chronicles, as well as Equus, David Hare's Plenty, and the play "Strangers". She also had a role in the film...
) in a car accident after learning of Ed's extramarital affair.
After several attempts to woo Simon back, GL convinced Simon to return to the show for a third run in 2002. http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2002/0318-simon.php However, Simon publicly expressed disapproval during another controversial storyline that unfolded in 2003 and 2004. The storyline (regarding mysterious characters Maryanne and Carrie Carruthers) received criticism for revising past show history, and drew disdain from Simon in the press regarding a particular scene where it was scripted that Ed had to strike his daughter. Simon left the show again in 2004. http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/news/2004/0329-simon.php
Peter Simon is finally returning to Guiding Light along with Michelle Bauer Santos (Nancy St. Alban
Nancy St. Alban
Nancy St. Alban is an American actress.Born as Nancy Worrell Franklin, she grew up in Baltimore as one of eight siblings. A ballet dancer since the age of seven, St. Alban attended the Baltimore Actors' Theatre Conservatory, a small private high school for the arts...
) and Danny Santos (Paul Anthony Stewart
Paul Anthony Stewart
Paul Anthony Stewart is an American actor.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in nearby Wayne, Pennsylvania. Stewart first came into prominence as Casey Bowman, a man with a troubled father, on the soap opera Loving...
), in June of 2009.
Theater
Simon has done theater work as an actor and a playwright. Among his New York theater appearances are roles in productions of P.S. Your Cat Is DeadP.S. Your Cat Is Dead
P.S. Your Cat Is Dead is a novel by James Kirkwood, Jr., original published in 1972, adapted from his play. The book and play were later adapted to film.-Synopsis:...
off-Broadway, as well as a New York Shakespeare Festival production of "Twelfth Night".
Personal life
Simon's first marriage to Merle Louise, with whom he had three children, ended in divorce. He married Search For TomorrowSearch for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
co-star Courtney Simon
Courtney Simon
Courtney Simon is an American writer and actress. Simon is sometimes credited as "Courtney Sherman" or "Courtney Sherman Simon".- Acting roles :...
in 1975, and the couple share five children (some from prior marriages, as well as one born to the couple).