Peter Donat

Peter Donat, born Pierre Collingwood Donat, was a renowned Canadian-American actor. Born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada on January 20, 1928, Donat's family was deeply ingrained in the arts, with his uncle Robert Donat being an Oscar-winning British actor. Emigrating to the United States in 1950, he studied drama at Yale University. His acting skills caught the attention of the theatre community while playing the lead in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac. His early career saw him playing a leading role in The Canvas Barricade, the first Canadian play performed at the Stratford Festival. Donat's career subsequently extended to the small screen, with his first major role on Moment of Truth, making it the only Canadian serial ever broadcast on a commercial television network in the U.S. He worked extensively across popular television shows such as Mission: Impossible, The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O, and The X-Files. On the big screen, Donat had significant roles in films like The Godfather Part II, The China Syndrome, and The Game. He was also deeply involved with the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco, and local theater productions. He also lent his voice for the biographical film, The Hero's Journey: A Biographical Portrait, a tribute to famed mythologist Joseph Campbell.