Peter Krause

Peter Krause
Name	Peter Krause
Birth date	August 12, 1965
Birth place	Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1993–present
Notable works	Brothers & Sisters, Six Feet Under, 24, Sports Night

Peter Krause is an American actor known for leading roles in television drama and comedy series. He rose to prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s through performances that connected mainstream audiences with critically acclaimed ensembles. Krause's career spans network television, premium cable, and film, and he has been recognized with multiple award nominations for his work.

Early life and education

Krause was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in Glassboro, New Jersey, and Roseville, Minnesota. He attended Roseville Area High School and later matriculated at the University of Minnesota where he studied design and art before transferring to the University of Minnesota Duluth to pursue theater. Influenced by regional theater in the Upper Midwest, Krause worked with companies associated with the Guthrie Theater and participated in productions that connected him to contemporary American playwrights such as Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. He left formal study to pursue professional acting, relocating to Los Angeles to seek roles in television and film.

Career

Krause's early screen work included guest appearances on series produced by networks such as NBC and ABC. He gained attention with recurring and guest roles on shows created by figures like Aaron Sorkin and producers affiliated with MTV-owned labels. His breakthrough came with the critically acclaimed ensemble drama Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball and produced by HBO, where he worked alongside actors from The Sopranos-era talent pools and directors from independent cinema circuits. Following that, he headlined series developed for broadcast networks including NBC and ABC, collaborating with showrunners who had track records on projects with David E. Kelley and Darren Star-style serialized storytelling.

Beyond television, Krause has appeared in feature films alongside performers from the Independent Spirit Awards milieu and worked with filmmakers who premiered at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. He has also engaged in limited series and anthology formats commissioned by cable outlets like FX and streaming services that emerged in the 2010s. Krause's career demonstrates ongoing partnerships with casting directors, producers, and writers connected to long-running franchises and prestige drama.

Major roles and performances

Krause is best known for starring as Nate Fisher in Six Feet Under, a role that positioned him within ensembles featuring talent from The Wire and Deadwood casts, under the creative oversight of Alan Ball. He later portrayed David Walker on Sports Night, a series associated with creator Aaron Sorkin's alumni and producers tied to The West Wing creative teams. Krause also led the ensemble family drama Brothers & Sisters, created by Jon Robin Baitz and produced under banners involving ABC Studios and executives with histories at Warner Bros. Television. On the high-stakes serialized drama 24, he appeared opposite performers linked to the Emmys circuit and production staff with pedigrees from Lost and Alias. Other notable television credits include roles on series developed by showrunners who worked on titles such as Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

In film, Krause has shared screens with actors who emerged from the American independent film movement and appeared in projects released at festivals including Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. His stage work includes regional productions connected to theaters frequented by alumni of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the American Conservatory Theater.

Awards and nominations

Krause's work on Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters earned him nominations from institutions such as the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards. He has been recognized by critics' circles that track television performance, including nominations and wins in categories at ceremonies organized by organizations linked to television journalism and industry guilds. His ensembles have received accolades in ensemble categories at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and series-level recognition at ceremonies honoring cable programming on HBO.

Personal life

Krause has kept aspects of his private life relatively guarded while occasionally appearing at public events hosted by institutions like the Paley Center for Media and film festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. He has connections with peers who have worked on projects produced by companies including ABC Studios and HBO and maintains residences reflecting the bi-coastal nature of television production, with ties to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area production community. He has collaborated with colleagues from ensembles that include alumni of The Juilliard School and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

Philanthropy and advocacy

Krause has participated in charitable and advocacy efforts associated with organizations that focus on health and arts initiatives, appearing at benefit events tied to institutions like The Trevor Project and health-related campaigns affiliated with nonprofits that have worked with TV and film professionals. He has lent his visibility to fundraisers organized by arts organizations including those connected to regional theaters such as the Guthrie Theater and national initiatives supported by entertainment industry guilds like the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:American male television actors