Peter Scolari passed away on this day in 2021, leaving a massive dent in the industry after a fruitful career. He was most notably known for his portrayal of Michael Harris on the CBS sitcom Newhart, which earned him three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nods.
Most fans, though, would have forgotten he was also a part of the DC franchise after he voiced the villain Gunther Hardwicke/Shark in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series. Proving his vocal flexibility, he also voiced Gotham Zoo guard John Hamner in the same series.
Peter Scolari’s Legacy Deserves More Praise After Impressive Range of DC Portfolio
Scolari proved to be a household name in the DC franchise after he worked on several projects, mostly voice roles. Apart from Batman: The Animated Series, he also starred in 1994’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Stuart Hofferman in the episode The Source.
Another voice role he did was in 2011’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold, where he played Ray Palmer/Atom in the episode Sword of the Atom!. In 2015, he appeared in five episodes of Gotham as Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb.
While Scolari was famous in the industry, his contributions to the DC franchise deserve more recognition—although it is understandable that many fans remained unaware of his lesser-known roles. The supervillain he played in the 1992 animated series was an underrated one and, over the years, remained a not-so-popular adversary of Batman.
Despite Battle With Leukemia, Scolari Remained Hollywood Productive
Scolari died at age 66 after his two-year battle with leukemia, but that did not stop him from taking more roles in Hollywood. His final movie role was in Kellen Moore’s Looks That Kill (2020), and then he starred in three more television shows: 2019’s Evil, 2020’s Blue Bloods, and 2021’s Lisey’s Story.
Reflecting on his career and the roles he had taken up over the years, he said he did not aspire to be Hollywood’s biggest leading man but to play an interesting character that resonated with him (via Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson on YouTube):
I’m not a leading man actor. No one comes to me to play a lead in a TV show or film or anything else, but to do something interesting and to be a character actor. When I was young, that was the aspiration that we all had. I don’t want to be a star. I want to be a character actor.
His statement basically summed up his career brimming with so many diverse roles and projects. Scolari brought to life every single character he played with so much conviction, and that’s why fans are remembering him and his colorful life today on the fourth anniversary of his passing.
Which Scolari role was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Batman: The Animated Series is currently available to watch on HBO Max.
