Peter Bonerz
Encyclopedia
Peter Bonerz is an American actor
and director
who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show
.
Bonerz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, where he attended Marquette University High School
, gaining his first theatrical experience with the Prep Players under rigid conditions. At Marquette University
he participated in the Marquette University Players under the Rev. John J. Walsh, S.J.
After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1960, he decided to seek a career in theater, beginning with The Premise, an improv group in New York
. After compulsory service as a draftee in the US Army, he joined The Committee
, an improv troupe in San Francisco.
His first network television appearance was in 1965 on The Addams Family
in the Season Two episode "Morticia, The Writer". He had several more TV appearances in the late 1960s and also had a number of roles in several films, including Medium Cool
(1969) and Catch-22
(1970). In 1972, he landed the popular supporting role of Dr. Jerry Robinson, the eccentric orthodontist on The Bob Newhart Show, whose most frequent comic foil was Marcia Wallace
as Carol, the sharp-tongued secretary. He also directed 29 episodes. The show ran for six seasons, with ratings among the top 20 in the first three seasons.
In one of his later acting roles he played a psychiatrist in Serial
(1980). In 1986, Bonerz co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld
and River Phoenix
in the CBS
television movie Circle of Violence
, and would go on to direct a large number of sitcom episodes for series such as My Sister Sam
, Friends
, Murphy Brown
, NewsRadio
, Home Improvement, It's Your Move
, and ALF
. He also directed a few films, such as Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show is an American situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired 142 original episodes on CBS from September 16, , to April 1, . Comedian Bob Newhart portrayed a psychologist having to deal with his patients and fellow office workers...
.
Bonerz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where he attended Marquette University High School
Marquette University High School
Marquette University High School is a private, all-male, Jesuit, Roman Catholic school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of both the National Catholic Educational Association and the Jesuit...
, gaining his first theatrical experience with the Prep Players under rigid conditions. At Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
he participated in the Marquette University Players under the Rev. John J. Walsh, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1960, he decided to seek a career in theater, beginning with The Premise, an improv group in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After compulsory service as a draftee in the US Army, he joined The Committee
The Committee (improv group)
The Committee is a San Francisco based improvisational comedy group founded by Alan Myerson and Jessica Myerson . The Myersons were both alums of The Second City in Chicago. The Committee opened April 10, 1963 at 622 Broadway in a 300 seat Cabaret theater that used to be an indoor bocce ball court...
, an improv troupe in San Francisco.
His first network television appearance was in 1965 on The Addams Family
The Addams Family (TV series)
The Addams Family is an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams' New Yorker cartoons. The 30-minute series was shot in black-and-white and aired for two seasons in 64 installments on ABC from September 18, 1964, to April 8, 1966...
in the Season Two episode "Morticia, The Writer". He had several more TV appearances in the late 1960s and also had a number of roles in several films, including Medium Cool
Medium Cool
Medium Cool is an American film written and directed by Haskell Wexler and starring Robert Forster, Verna Bloom, Peter Bonerz, Marianna Hill and Harold Blankenship. It takes place in Chicago in the summer of 1968...
(1969) and Catch-22
Catch-22 (film)
Catch-22 is a 1970 satirical war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel, it was the work of a talented production team which included director Mike Nichols and...
(1970). In 1972, he landed the popular supporting role of Dr. Jerry Robinson, the eccentric orthodontist on The Bob Newhart Show, whose most frequent comic foil was Marcia Wallace
Marcia Wallace
Marcia Karen Wallace is an American character actress, comedienne and game show panelist, primarily known for her roles in television situation comedies...
as Carol, the sharp-tongued secretary. He also directed 29 episodes. The show ran for six seasons, with ratings among the top 20 in the first three seasons.
In one of his later acting roles he played a psychiatrist in Serial
Serial (1980 film)
Serial is a comedy film from 1980 produced by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay, by Rich Eustis and Michael Elias, is drawn from the novel The Serial: A Year in the Life of Marin County by Cyra McFadden, published in 1977...
(1980). In 1986, Bonerz co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld is an American actress.Weld began her acting career as a child, and progressed to more mature roles during the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960...
and River Phoenix
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television movie Circle of Violence
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama is a 1986 CBS television movie starring Tuesday Weld, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Bonerz and River Phoenix that tells the tragic story of the seldom addressed issue of elder parent abuse.-Synopsis:Georgia Benfield is at a...
, and would go on to direct a large number of sitcom episodes for series such as My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam is an American situation comedy series that aired on CBS from 1986 to 1988. It was created by Stephen Fischer and executive produced by Diane English.-Synopsis:...
, Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television...
, NewsRadio
NewsRadio
NewsRadio is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1995 to 1999. The series was created by executive producer Paul Simms, and was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center and Sunset Gower Studios...
, Home Improvement, It's Your Move
It's Your Move
It's Your Move is an American sitcom starring Jason Bateman, Tricia Cast, Caren Kaye, Ernie Sabella, David Garrison, and Garrett Morris. The show originally aired on NBC from 1984 to 1985.-Premise:...
, and ALF
ALF (TV series)
ALF is an American science fiction sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990, created by Paul Fusco. The title character was Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed ALF , who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.The series starred Max...
. He also directed a few films, such as Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege is a 1989 comedy crime film starring Bubba Smith, David Graf and Michael Winslow. It was directed by Peter Bonerz and written by Neal Israel, Pat Proft and Stephen Curwick. The film was given a PG rating for violence and language.-Plot:The police must investigate...
.