Peter Gerety

Peter Gerety is a veteran American actor whose career spans more than six decades, beginning in the early 1960s and continuing to the present day. Born on May 17, 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island, Gerety discovered his passion for performance while studying theater in New York, eventually making his professional debut on stage in the 1960s. He first gained widespread attention on Broadway in 1992 with critically praised performances in Conversations with My Father alongside Judd Hirsch and in Harold Pinter’s Hothouse, establishing himself as a versatile dramatic talent. Over the following years he continued to appear in both on‑ and off‑Broadway productions, including Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic The Lieutenant of Inishmore, proving his stamina and range in contemporary theater. Gerety’s transition to television proved equally fruitful. He is perhaps best remembered for his long‑running role as Officer (later Detective) Stuart Gharty on the acclaimed police drama Homicide: Life on the Street from 1996 to 1999, a performance that earned him a dedicated fan base. He later portrayed Judge Daniel Phelan in HBO’s landmark series The Wire (2002‑2008), contributing gravitas to the show’s complex legal storylines. Additional TV credits include a turn as FBI Agent Franklin Morgan in the short‑lived American adaptation of Life on Mars, a recurring part in Brotherhood, and a guest appearance as Maria Bello’s father in NBC’s Prime Suspect. From 2015 to 2019 he embodied patriarch Otto Bernhardt in Amazon Prime’s Sneaky Pete, demonstrating his continued relevance in modern streaming formats. On the big screen Gerety has built an impressive résumé of supporting roles in films such as K‑Pax, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Wolf, Charlie Wilson’s War, Inside Man, Changeling, and War of the Worlds. His portrayal of gangster lawyer Louis Piquett in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies (2009) and a brief but memorable part in Mel Gibson’s Get the Gringo (2011) illustrate his ability to slide seamlessly between genres. In 2013 he returned to the stage in Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy opposite Tom Hanks, reinforcing his reputation as a dependable character actor who can hold his own alongside Hollywood’s biggest names. Throughout his extensive career, Peter Gerety has remained a steadfast presence in American entertainment, admired for his professionalism, depth of craft, and the subtle intensity he brings to every role.