Peter Scolari of ‘Newhart,’ ‘Bosom Buddies,’ dies at 66
LOS ANGELES >> Peter Scolari, a versatile character actor whose television roles included a yuppie producer on “Newhart” and a closeted dad on “Girls” and who was on Broadway with longtime friend Tom Hanks in “Lucky Guy,” has died. He was 66.
Scolari died Friday morning in New York after fighting cancer for two years, according to Ellen Lubin Sanitsky, his manager.
He first gained attention as the then-unknown Hanks’ co-star in the 198082 sitcom “Bosom Buddies,” in which their characters disguised themselves as women to live in affordable, females-only housing.
The two actors went on to work together in projects including Hanks’ 1996 movie directorial debut “That Thing You Do!” and in 2013’s “Lucky Guy,” Nora Ephron’s play about newspaper columnist
Mike McAlary.
Scolari also performed on Broadway in “Wicked.” “Hairspray” and 2014’s “Bronx Bombers,” in which he played baseball’s Yogi Berra.
“We were friends and colleagues for over 40 years,” Newhart said in a statement to The Associated Press. He said the contributions of onscreen couple Scolari and Julia Duffy in “Newhart” were an “essential part” of the show’s success.
“In life, he was a fantastic person, and it was a joy to work together. He will be sorely missed and his passing at 66 is much too early,” Newhart said.
Scolari’s recent roles included Bishop Thomas Marx on the supernatural series “Evil.” Series co-creator Robert King remembered him Tuesday as “just wonderful.”
A New York native whose previous marriages ended in divorce, he’s survived by his wife, actor Tracy Shayne, who played opposite him as Berra’s wife in “Bronx Bombers.” Other survivors include his children Nicholas, Joseph, Keaton, and Cali.