Peter Billingsley

Peter Billingsley (born April 16, 1971 in New York City) is an American actor and filmmaker best known for his iconic role as Ralphie Parker in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story. He entered the entertainment industry as a toddler, appearing in a Geritol commercial at age two and subsequently starring in roughly 120 television advertisements throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most famously as Messy Marvin for Hershey's chocolate syrup. His early career was supported by a family steeped in show business: his mother Gail was the niece of Stork Club owner Sherman Billingsley, and his siblings Dina, Win, Melissa and Neil all pursued acting jobs as children, giving Peter a network of experience and mentorship. After a series of modest film roles such as The Dirt Bike Kid and Death Valley, Billingsley secured the role that would define his legacy, delivering the memorable line “You’ll shoot your eye out!” and becoming a cultural touchstone for generations of holiday viewers. Over the decades he expanded his talents behind the camera, working as a post‑production supervisor on Arcade (credited as Peter Michaelsen) and serving as an assistant editor on Knights, before moving into producing and directing. He co‑executive‑produced Jon Favreau’s Dinner for Five, executive‑produced the Marvel blockbuster Iron Man, and directed the comedy Couples Retreat (2009) and Term Life (2016). In 2022 he reprised his beloved Ralphie character in the sequel A Christmas Story Christmas for HBO Max, proving that his association with the original film remains a vibrant part of his career. Outside of film, Billingsley married Elizabeth “Buffy” Bains in 2015 and together they have two children, balancing a busy family life with ongoing creative projects.