Birthdate: April 10
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Profession: Television, film & stage actor; director; writer
Education: University of Minnesota
---New York University's filmmakers intensive program
Hobbies: playing the bagpipes
Spouse: Marsue Cumming, who runs The Corie Williams
Scholarship Fund, a non-profit organization that provides college
scholarships for inner-city children in Los Angeles. Corie was a
high school honors student who was the victim of a gang-related
shooting that took place on a Los Angeles bus in 1997 on the
same day Bill Cosby's son was killed.
Donate: California Community Foundation
Intro from 1995 AOL chat:
For a guy who originally wanted to become a paleontologist and
study the fossilized remains of bones, it is ironic that Peter
MacNicol eventually chose a career as vibrantly alive as acting.
Nonetheless, MacNicol has demonstrated an exceedingly wide
range of talent in theater, television, and film.
Currently, MacNicol can be seen starring on CBS' "Chicago Hope"
as Alan Birch, the hospital's embattled legal representative. In a
drastic departure from his television role, MacNicol will be seen
this December starring as 'Renfield' in Mel Brooks' satirical film,
"Dracula: Dead and Loving It" for Castle Rock Entertainment.
MacNicol's past work demonstrates the broad dramatic and
comedic spectrum of his talent. On film, he has appeared as the
naive Southern writer who fell in love with Meryl Streep in
"Sophie's Choice;" the villainous museum curator in
"Ghostbusters II;" and the summer camp director in "Addam's
Family Values." Other film credits include "Housesitter" and
"American Blue Note."
On television, he was a series regular as John Forsythe's press
secretary on "The Powers that Be." Guest starring credits include
"Cheers" and "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd." Additionally,
he was featured in such telefilms as "Johnny Bull," "HBO's By the
Dawn's Early Light," Faerie Tale Theatre's "The Boy Who Left
Home" and "Roswell."
MacNicol began his career studying at the University of
Minnesota. While there, he performed in two seasons at the
Guthrie Theater. A New York talent agent spotted him and told
him make a move to Manhattan. Shortly thereafter, he was cast
in the off-Broadway play, "Crimes of the Heart." The production
eventually moved to Broadway, and MacNicol garnered the
Theater World Award. It was also during this production that a
casting agent noticed him and called him in to read for his
eventual role in "Sophie's Choice."
Among his other stage credits is the Broadway production of
"White Liars/Black Comedy." MacNicol also has further extensive
classical repertory theater background, including the New York
Shakespeare Festival in which he played title roles in "Richard II"
and "Romeo and Juliet," and appeared in "Twelfth Night," "Rum
and Coke" and "Found a Peanut."
Born and raised in Texas, MacNicol was the youngest of five
children. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife of eight
years, Marsue Cumming. And true to his tremendously
multi-talented persona, Peter MacNicol spends a great deal of his
free time playing... the bagpipes!
More Credits
Is Peter related to Kristy?
No, Peter spells his name MacNicol;
Kristy spells her name McNichol and
has a brother named Jimmy.
Was Peter in Porky's?
No, Dan Monahan was in the movie.
What was the nickname for Peter's
character on Ally McBeal?
John Cage was called the Biscuit.
Where can I write to Peter?
Write to him at the show:
"Numb3rs"
Scott Free Productions in assoc. w/
Paramount Network Television
c/o L.A. Center Studios
1201 West 5th St. #M180
Los Angeles, CA 90017
