Peter Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Peter Gallagher has played roles in numerous Hollywood films. His mother, Mary Ann, was a bacteriologist, and his father, Thomas Francis, was an advertising executive. He is of Irish Catholic background and was raised in Armonk, New York where he graduated from Byram Hills High School.

Peter Gallagher graduated from Tufts University, where he had been active in theater, appearing in such shows as Stephen Sondheim`s Company and singing with the all-male a cappella group the Beelzebubs.

His debut film performance was as one of the co-stars in the 1980 film, The Idolmaker. Peter Gallagher appeared on Broadway with Glenn Close in Tom Stoppard`s The Real Thing. He also starred as Sky Masterson in the 1992 Broadway Revival of Guys and Dolls.