Eric Peterson

Eric Neal Peterson (born October 2, 1946) is a Canadian stage, television, and film actor, known for his roles in three major Canadian television series – Street Legal (1987–1994), Corner Gas (live-action 2004–2009 and film 2014, animated 2018–2021), and This is Wonderland (2004–2006).

Career

Stage In 1971, Peterson began his acting career when he helped found the collective theatre company Tamahnous Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. There he received major roles in versions of The Bacchae and Nijinsky, both directed by John Gray.

In 1974, he moved to Toronto, Ontario, and joined Theatre Passe Muraille, a leading collective ensemble in Canada. He had main roles in productions of The Farm Show, The West Show, Them Donnelly’s, and 1837: The Farmers' Revolt. It was in this latter Rick Salutin production that he gained the greatest recognition, playing William Lyon Mackenzie and Lady Backwash. In the same year, he played Wiff Roach in Soulpepper's revival of David French's 1973 play Of the Fields, Lately.

In the early to mid 2010s he played the role of Percy Schmeiser in the docu-drama play Seeds.

Television Until Corner Gas, his best known role on television was his award-winning turn as Leon Robinovitch, a left-wing lawyer, on Street Legal. He also appeared in the Goosebumps episode "Shocker on Shock Street" as Mr. Wright

Peterson's most famous television role was that of Oscar Leroy on the Canadian television program Corner Gas. Peterson played the father of Brent Leroy (played by Brent Butt), who inherited the gas station after his father decided to retire. Much to the dismay of his son and his wife Emma (played by Janet Wright), he uses his new-found free time to unwittingly annoy his family and the town at large. Following the end of that show's run, Peterson made a guest appearance on the show Dan for Mayor, a show starring his former Corner Gas co-star Fred Ewanuick. As of 2014 he appears in The Best Laid Plans as Jerry Stockton.

Since January 2007, he has been performing in Half Life, a play by John Mighton, at the Canadian Stage. Peterson and his wife live in Toronto, Ontario, with their two daughters, although he still frequents his home province of Saskatchewan, where he owns a cottage on Katepwa Lake in the Qu'Appelle Valley near his hometown.

Awards Peterson has won numerous awards over his career. For his portrayal of Leon Robinovitch on Street Legal, he was nominated for the Gemini Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role six times: in 1987, 1989, and every year from 1992 through 1995. He tied for the win with Winston Rekert (for Adderly) the first year, and won the next two outright. He has also been nominated twice under Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series with Corner Gas at the Gemini Awards, and once for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series for Episode 4 of This is Wonderland for his portrayal of Judge Malone. His fourth Gemini Award came in 2001 for Best Performance in a Pre-School Program. In 2007, he was nominated for "Best Male Performance."

In 1996, Peterson received an honorary Doctor of Letters in drama from the University of Saskatchewan; the head of the drama department, Henry Woolf, For his lifelong contributions to the arts he received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Regina (2019).

Filmography Film Film Year Title Role Notes 1974 The Visitor Michael Tyler 1983 The Kid Who Couldn't Miss Billy Bishop / Walter Bourne Writer 1984 The Painted Door Steven Short 1985 The King of Friday Night 1986 The Last Season Father Schula 1987 Docudrama: Fact and Fiction Billy Bishop / Walter Bourne Archive footage 1991 Thick as Thieves Judge Head 1994 Henry & Verlin Lovejoy 1995 Bach's Fight for Freedom Duke Wilhelm Ernst 1996 Spill Eric Black 1998 The Sleep Room Sal Rothenberg Earth Mr. Rogers Sleeping Dogs Lie Jack Doughty 2001 Franklin's Magic Christmas Grandfather Turtle Voice Direct-to-video 2002 Fairytales and Pornography Kyle2013 Cas & Dylan Jack Canadian Famous Himself Documentary short 2014 Corner Gas: The Movie Oscar Leroy2015 Canadian Star Himself Documentary short Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven A.Y. Jackson Voice 2016 Where the Universe Sings A.Y. Jackson Voice 2018 His Master's Voice Hogarth 2020 You Will Still Be Here Tomorrow Frank Short film The Death of Father Christmas Father Riley2021 Defining Moments Edward Sprite Fright Elder Sprite Voice Short film 2022 Junior's Giant Junior Short film 2023 Jerry Rigged Gerald Slate Short film Cut the Painter Pre-production

Television

Awards and nominations + Eric Peterson awards and nominations Awards and nominations Award Wins Nominations TotalsACTRA AwardsCanadian Comedy AwardsCanadian Film FestClarence Derwent AwardsDora Mavor Moore AwardsGemini AwardsGovernor General's Performing Arts AwardNSI Online Short Film FestivalVancouver Badass Film Festival