Peter Masterson

Peter Masterson was an American actor, director, producer, and writer.

Masterson started his Hollywood career as an actor, appearing in episodes of Death Valley Days, McMillan & Wife, and Ryan’s Hope, as well as in feature films such as In The Heat of the Night (with Sidney Poitier), The Exorcist (with Linda Blair), The Stepford Wives (with Katharine Ross), and Gardens of Stone (with James Caan).

Masterson co-wrote and co-directed the hit Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The musical, co-directed by Tommy Tune, ran for 1,584 performances and inspired a film version in 1982, starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.

Masterson made his feature film directorial debut with 1985’s The Trip to Bountiful, adapted from the play by his cousin Horton Foote, who wrote the screenplay. Geraldine Page received the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in the movie.

Masterson went on to direct other films, including Full Moon in Blue Water (with Gene Hackman and Teri Garr), Night Game (with Roy Scheider), Convicts (with Robert Duvall), Arctic Blue (with Rutger Hauer), The Only Thrill (with Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard), and Whiskey School (with Olympia Dukakis). He also directed his daughter, actress Mary Stuart Masterson, in the Showtime TV movie Lily Dale.

Masterson died December 18, 2018, in Kinderhook, New York. He was 84.