Peter Facinelli

{{Infobox person

| name = Peter Facinelli

| image = Peter Facinelli Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2025 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Facinelli at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2025

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|11|26}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| citizenship = {{hlist|American|Italian}}

| alma_mater = Tisch School of Arts

| occupation = Actor, film producer

| years_active = 1995–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Jennie Garth|2001|2013|reason=divorced}}

| partner = Lily Anne Harrison (2016–present; engaged)

| children = 4

| relatives = Letizia Paternoster (niece)

}}

Peter Facinelli ({{IPAc-en|f|æ|tʃ|ə|ˈ|n|ɛ|l|i}} {{respell|fa|chə|NELI}}; born November 26, 1973){{cite news|title=UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/11/26/UPI-Almanac-for-Tuesday-Nov-26-2019/1691574619125/|date=November 26, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2021|work=United Press International|quote=actor Peter Facinelli in 1973 (age 46)}} is an Italian-American actor. He starred as Donovan "Van" Ray on the Fox series Fastlane from 2002 to 2003. He played Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the film adaptations of the Twilight novel series, and is also known for his role as Mike Dexter in the 1998 film Can't Hardly Wait. Facinelli was a regular on the Showtime comedy-drama series Nurse Jackie, portraying the role of Dr. Fitch "Coop" Cooper. He portrayed Maxwell Lord on the first season of the TV series Supergirl.

Early life

Facinelli grew up in Ozone Park, Queens, the son of Italian immigrants Bruna (née Reich), a homemaker, and Pierino Facinelli, a waiter.{{cite web|last=Tauber|first=Michelle|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20138444,00.html|title=Vroom, Vroom!|work=People|quote=Given Facinelli's Catholic upbringing, ...|date=November 11, 2002|access-date=August 4, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610091901/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20138444,00.html|archive-date=June 10, 2009}}{{cite web | url= http://www.mondotrentino.net/primo_piano/pagina20.html | title= PETER FACINELLI: Un vampiro dalla val di Non | publisher= Mondotrentino.net | language= it | access-date= December 29, 2014 | url-status= live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150112102112/http://www.mondotrentino.net/primo_piano/pagina20.html | archive-date= January 12, 2015 }} His parents are from the Val di Non valley in Trentino, northern Italy. His father is from Revò, while his mother is from Spormaggiore.{{cite web|url=http://www.intrentino.to/interne/articoli.aspx?ID=3851&IDA=2054|title=Dalla Val di Non a Hollywood|editor=In Trentino, giornale on-line del Trentino|date=December 19, 2008|access-date=March 17, 2009|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317130446/http://www.intrentino.to/interne/articoli.aspx?ID=3851&IDA=2054|archive-date=March 17, 2012}} He was raised Catholic and attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, New York.{{cite web|last=Roleke|first=John|url=http://queens.about.com/b/2009/12/24/twilight-star-home-for-the-holidays-in-queens.htm|title=Twilight Star Home for the Holidays in Queens|work=About.com|date=December 24, 2009|access-date=June 22, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075153/http://queens.about.com/b/2009/12/24/twilight-star-home-for-the-holidays-in-queens.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}

He studied acting at New York University,{{cite news

|title = Peter Facinelli Talks Producing His First Indie Film, Loosies, Nurse Jackie, & Almost Passing on Twilight.

|first = Allison

|last = Kugel

|author-link = Allison Kugel

|url = http://www.pr.com/article/1194

|publisher = PR.com

|date = December 12, 2011

|access-date = March 12, 2012

|url-status = live

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120315105621/http://www.pr.com/article/1194

|archive-date = March 15, 2012

}} as well as at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York City.

Career

Facinelli made his feature film debut in Rebecca Miller's Angela in 1995 and came to the attention of critics in the TV-movie The Price of Love later that year. In 1996, Facinelli played opposite his then-future wife Jennie Garth in An Unfinished Affair. Other TV roles followed, including a part in After Jimmy (1996) and a college dropout in Calm at Sunset. Facinelli co-starred with Amanda Peet and Michael Vartan in the 1997 AIDS-themed drama Touch Me (1997) and co-starred as a high school student in two 1998 features with Ethan Embry and Breckin Meyer, Dancer, Texas Pop. 81, and Can't Hardly Wait, which also starred Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Facinelli appeared in the sci-fi film Supernova starring James Spader in 2000. He made appearances in Riding in Cars with Boys in 2001 and The Scorpion King in 2002, followed by a leading role in the Fox drama Fastlane. Facinelli had a recurring role in the HBO series Six Feet Under in 2004 and a role in the FX original series Damages beginning in 2007. Facinelli starred in Hollow Man 2 with Christian Slater. It was released direct-to-video in May 2006.

In 2006, he was cast in Touch the Top of the World, a true story of Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mount Everest. The film is based on his best selling autobiography.

File:PeterFacinelliJun10.jpg premiere at Disney California Adventure on June 10, 2010]]

After wrapping up Finding Amanda with Matthew Broderick, Facinelli played Carlisle Cullen in the film adaptation of Twilight, based on the book by Stephenie Meyer.{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Carroll |title='Twilight' Film's First Family Revealed: Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser Lead Cullen Clan |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1581728/20080215/story.jhtml |publisher=MTV |date=February 19, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221204403/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1581728/20080215/story.jhtml |archive-date=February 21, 2008 }} According to an interview, "I almost didn't read for Twilight. My agent said, 'Do you want to do a vampire movie?' And I was like, 'No.' I was totally thinking blood and guts and bats in caves, like some kind of horror movie. They literally talked me into reading the book and I actually enjoyed the book a lot." Facinelli continued his portrayal in the sequels of the film, The Twilight Saga: New Moon,{{cite web |first=Larry |last=Carroll |title=Peter Facinelli Excited To Play Carlisle Cullen Again In 'New Moon' |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1600318/story.jhtml |publisher=MTV |date=November 26, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220140958/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1600318/story.jhtml |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }} The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/news/usmovies.accesshollywood.com/cullen-family-stars-sign-breaking-dawn |title=Cullen Family Stars Sign on For 'Breaking Dawn' – Yahoo! Movies |publisher=Movies.yahoo.com |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524165306/http://movies.yahoo.com/news/usmovies.accesshollywood.com/cullen-family-stars-sign-breaking-dawn |archive-date=May 24, 2010 }}

He played Dr. Fitch Cooper for seven seasons on the Showtime dark comedy series Nurse Jackie.{{cite web |title=Nurse Jackie: Official Site |url=http://www.sho.com/site/nursejackie/home.do |publisher=Sho.com |access-date=March 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100614212036/http://www.sho.com/site/nursejackie/home.do |archive-date=June 14, 2010 }}

He is the founder of the production company Facinelli Films. Their first feature film, Loosies, which was written entirely by Facinelli, was filmed in 2011. He starred in the film, which is a story of a New York pickpocket, directed by Michael Corrente.{{cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Jay A. |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ie8547ace0ecf6e074ff7edcac6785721 |title=Vincent Gallo, Michael Madsen join 'Loosies' |publisher=Hollywoodreporter.com |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620231503/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ie8547ace0ecf6e074ff7edcac6785721 |archive-date=June 20, 2010 }} In 2011 he also wrote and produced the Hallmark Channel telefilm Accidentally in Love which starred his then-wife Jennie Garth.

In 2015, he played Maxwell Lord in Supergirl. The same year, he co-wrote the novel After the Red Rain with Barry Lyga and Robert DeFranco.{{cite book |last1=Lyga |first1=Barry |last2=Facinelli |first2=Peter |last3=DeFranco |first3=Robert |title=After the Red Rain |date=August 2015 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |isbn=978-0-316-40603-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/afterredrain0000lyga }} It is set on a future Earth whose population is grappling with dwindling resources.

Personal life

Facinelli met actress Jennie Garth on the set of An Unfinished Affair in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110037&page=1|title='Jennie Garth Has Red-and-White Wedding'|publisher=ABC News|date=February 1, 2001|access-date=May 16, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129035853/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110037&page=1|archive-date=January 29, 2011}} Facinelli and Garth married on January 20, 2001, in a traditional Catholic ceremony. They have three daughters. In March 2012, Facinelli filed for divorce from Garth,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20582221,00.html|title=Peter Facinelli Files for Divorce from Jennie Garth|magazine=People|date=March 28, 2012|access-date=March 28, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329102156/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20582221,00.html|archive-date=March 29, 2012}} which was finalized in June 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/12/jennie-garth-peter-facinelli-divorce-final/|title=Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli: Divorce Final – Nicest Divorce Ever|work=TMZ|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=June 12, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615014841/http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/12/jennie-garth-peter-facinelli-divorce-final/|archive-date=June 15, 2013}}

Facinelli began dating actress Jaimie Alexander in 2012 after meeting on the set of Loosies.{{cite web|author1=Michelle Ward|title=Peter Facinelli Finds Love with Costar Jaimie Alexander|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20652384,00.html|work=People|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=November 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008065936/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20652384,00.html|archive-date=October 8, 2014}}{{cite news|author1=Cynthia Littleton|title=Inside the Emmy Parties: MPTF's Evening Before, Showtime, NBC, ICM Partners Cap Emmy Eve|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-variety-entertainmemt1vrt1201289532-20140825-story.html#page=1|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=August 25, 2014|quote=Jaimie Alexander has reunited with her "Kyle XY" producer Julie Plec, and the two are animatedly chatting along with Alexander's beau Peter Facinelli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827230537/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-rt-variety-entertainmemt1vrt1201289532-20140825-story.html#page=1|archive-date=August 27, 2014}} They became engaged in March 2015,{{cite web|title=Peter Facinelli was engaged to Jaimie Alexander|url=http://www.people.com/article/peter-facinelli-jaimie-alexander-engaged|work=People|access-date=March 18, 2015|date=March 18, 2015|first=Jacqueline|last=Andriakos|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319180348/http://www.people.com/article/peter-facinelli-jaimie-alexander-engaged|archive-date=March 19, 2015}} and announced they had ended their engagement in February 2016.{{cite web|last1=Chiu|first1=Melody|title=Jaimie Alexander and Peter Facinelli End Their Engagement|url=http://www.people.com/article/jaimie-alexander-peter-facinelli-break-off-engagement?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag|website=People|access-date=February 20, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223032730/http://www.people.com/article/jaimie-alexander-peter-facinelli-break-off-engagement?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag|archive-date=February 23, 2016}}

On January 1, 2020, Facinelli became engaged to Lily Anne Harrison.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Peter Facinelli Is Engaged to Girlfriend Lily Anne Harrison After Mexico Vacation Proposal |url=https://people.com/tv/peter-facinelli-engaged-girlfriend-lily-anne-harrison/ |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=People |language=en}} They have one child.{{cite web |title=Twilight's Peter Facinelli welcomes first son |url=https://mumsgrapevine.com.au/2022/09/peter-facinelli-baby/ |website=Mum's Grapevine |date=September 11, 2022 |access-date=January 7, 2023}}

Facinelli is Catholic.{{cite web|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithgoespop/2012/04/jennie-garths-divorce-is-making-her-an-ex-catholic/|title=Jennie Garth's Divorce Is Making Her an Ex-Catholic|first=Faith Goes|last=Pop|date=April 29, 2012|website=patheos.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929162405/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithgoespop/2012/04/jennie-garths-divorce-is-making-her-an-ex-catholic/|archive-date=September 29, 2015}} In 2009, Facinelli acquired Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis to shoot a film in Europe that required that all actors be European citizens.{{Cite web|last=June 2009|first=Helen Earnshaw {{!}} 5|title=Peter Facinelli Becomes Italian Citizen|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/movie-news/Peter+Facinelli-67804.html|access-date=October 14, 2020|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk|date=June 5, 2009 |language=en}} Cyclist Letizia Paternoster is Facinelli's niece.[https://www.gnewsonline.it/nuovo-biciclette-medaglie-e-la-solitudine-della-montagna/ Un mondo di Letizia: medaglie, pizza e la solitudine della montagna]. gnewsonline.it.

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1995 \| Angela \| Lucifer \|
1996 \| Foxfire \| Ethan Bixby \|
1997 \| Touch Me \| Bail \|
1998 \| Dancer, Texas Pop. 81 \| Terrell Lee Lusk \|
1998 \| Can't Hardly Wait \| Mike Dexter \|
1998 \| Telling You \| Phil Fazzulo \|
1998 \| Welcome to Hollywood \| Actor \|
1999 \| {{sortname\|The\|Big Kahuna\|dab=film}} \| Bob Walker \|
1999 \| Blue Ridge Fall \| Danny Shepherd \|
2000 \| Supernova \| Karl Larson \|
2000 \| Ropewalk \| Charlie \|
2000 \| Honest \| Daniel Wheaton \|
2001 \| Stealing Time \| Alec Nichols \|
2001 \| Tempted \| Jimmy Mulate \|
2001 \| Riding in Cars with Boys \| Tommy Butcher \|
2002 \| {{sortname\|The\|Scorpion King}} \| Takmet \|
2005 \| Chloe \| The boyfriend \| Short film
2005 \| Enfants terribles \| Curtis \|
2006 \| The Lather Effect \| Danny \|
2006 \| Hollow Man 2 \| Detective Frank Turner \|
2006 \| Arc \| Paris Pritchert \|
2007 \| Battle Olympia \| Possessed office high jumper \| Short film
2007 \| That Guy \| Jack \| Short film
2007 \| Lily \| The man \| Short film
2008 \| Finding Amanda \| Greg \|
2008 \| Twilight \| Dr. Carlisle Cullen \|
2008 \| Reaper \| Jesus \| Short film
2009 \| {{sortname\|The\|Twilight Saga: New Moon}} \| Dr. Carlisle Cullen \|
2010 \| {{sortname\|The\|Twilight Saga: Eclipse}} \| Dr. Carlisle Cullen \|
2011 \| {{sortname\|The\|Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1}} \| Dr. Carlisle Cullen \|
2012 \| Loosies \| Bobby Corelli \| Also producer and writer
2012 \| {{sortname\|The\|Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2}} \| Dr. Carlisle Cullen \|
2013 \| The Damned \| David Reynolds \|
2014 \| Freezer \| Detective Sam Gurov \|
2015 \| Walter \| Jim \|
2017 \| Heartthrob \| Mr. Rickett \|
2017 \| The Wilde Wedding \| Ethan Darling \|
2017 \| Gangster Land \| George "Bugs" Moran \|
2018 \| Asher \| Uziel \|
2019 \| Running with the Devil \| Number One \|
2019 \| Countdown \| Dr. Sullivan \|
2019 \| Famous Adjacent \| Flanny \| Short film,completed
2020 \| The Vanished – Hour of Lead \| Deputy Rakes \| Also director, producer, and writer
2020 \| The Fk-It List \| Barry Brooks \|
2021 \| The Ravine \| Danny Turner \|
2021 \| Catch the Bullet \| Sheriff Drew Wilkins \|
2021 \| 13 Minutes \| Brad \|
2023 \| On Fire \| Dave Laughlin \|
2025 \| The Unbreakable Boy \| Preacher Rick \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1995

| Angela

| Lucifer

1996

| Foxfire

| Ethan Bixby

1997

| Touch Me

| Bail

1998

| Dancer, Texas Pop. 81

| Terrell Lee Lusk

1998

| Can't Hardly Wait

| Mike Dexter

1998

| Telling You

| Phil Fazzulo

1998

| Welcome to Hollywood

| Actor

1999

| {{sortname|The|Big Kahuna|dab=film}}

| Bob Walker

1999

| Blue Ridge Fall

| Danny Shepherd

2000

| Supernova

| Karl Larson

2000

| Ropewalk

| Charlie

2000

| Honest

| Daniel Wheaton

2001

| Stealing Time

| Alec Nichols

2001

| Tempted

| Jimmy Mulate

2001

| Riding in Cars with Boys

| Tommy Butcher

2002

| {{sortname|The|Scorpion King}}

| Takmet

2005

| Chloe

| The boyfriend

| Short film

2005

| Enfants terribles

| Curtis

2006

| The Lather Effect

| Danny

2006

| Hollow Man 2

| Detective Frank Turner

2006

| Arc

| Paris Pritchert

2007

| Battle Olympia

| Possessed office high jumper

| Short film

2007

| That Guy

| Jack

| Short film

2007

| Lily

| The man

| Short film

2008

| Finding Amanda

| Greg

2008

| Twilight

| Dr. Carlisle Cullen

2008

| Reaper

| Jesus

| Short film

2009

| {{sortname|The|Twilight Saga: New Moon}}

| Dr. Carlisle Cullen

2010

| {{sortname|The|Twilight Saga: Eclipse}}

| Dr. Carlisle Cullen

2011

| {{sortname|The|Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1}}

| Dr. Carlisle Cullen

2012

| Loosies

| Bobby Corelli

| Also producer and writer

2012

| {{sortname|The|Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2}}

| Dr. Carlisle Cullen

2013

| The Damned

| David Reynolds

2014

| Freezer

| Detective Sam Gurov

2015

| Walter

| Jim

2017

| Heartthrob

| Mr. Rickett

2017

| The Wilde Wedding

| Ethan Darling

2017

| Gangster Land

| George "Bugs" Moran

2018

| Asher

| Uziel

2019

| Running with the Devil

| Number One

2019

| Countdown

| Dr. Sullivan

2019

| Famous Adjacent

| Flanny

| Short film,completed

2020

| The Vanished – Hour of Lead

| Deputy Rakes

| Also director, producer, and writer

2020

| The F**k-It List

| Barry Brooks

2021

| The Ravine

| Danny Turner

2021

| Catch the Bullet

| Sheriff Drew Wilkins

2021

| 13 Minutes

| Brad

2023

| On Fire

| Dave Laughlin

2025

| The Unbreakable Boy

| Preacher Rick

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1995 \| Law & Order \| Shane Sutter \| Episode: "Performance"
1995 \| The Wright Verdicts \| Vincent Costanza \| Episode: "Sins of the Father"
1995 \| The Price of Love \| Brett \| Television film
1996 \| An Unfinished Affair \| Rick Connor \| Television film
1996 \| After Jimmy \| James "Jimmy" Stapp \| Television film
1996 \| Calm at Sunset \| James Pfeiffer \| Television film
2002–2003 \| Fastlane \| Donovan "Van" Ray \| Main role; 22 episodes
2002 \| I Love the '80s \| Himself \| Commentator
2004–2005 \| Six Feet Under \| Jimmy \| Recurring role; 9 episodes
2006 \| American Dad! \| Miles \| Episode: "Roger 'n' Me"; voice role
2006 \| Touch The Top of the World \| Eric Weihenmayer \| Television film
rowspan="2"\|2007 \| Damages \| Gregory Malina \| Recurring role; 10 episodes
Hannah Montana \| Snowball \| Episode: "Get Down Study-udy-udy"; voice role
2009–2015 \| Nurse Jackie \| Dr. Fitch "Coop" Cooper \| Main role (seasons 1–7); 73 episodes
2011 \| Accidentally in Love \| {{TableTBA\|N/A}} \| Television film; producer and writer
2013–2014 \| Glee \| Rupert Campion \| Recurring role; 4 episodes
2015 \| American Odyssey \| Peter Decker \| Main role; 13 episodes
2015–2016 \| Supergirl \| Maxwell Lord \| Recurring role; 14 episodes
2017–2018 \| S.W.A.T. \| Michael Plank \| Recurring role; 7 episodes
2019 \| FBI \| Michael Venutti \| Episode: "Most Wanted"
2019 \| Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter \| Keith Raniere \| Television film
2019 \| Magnum P.I. \| Gene Curtis / Ivan \| Episode: "Day I Met the Devil"
2022 \| Roar \| Second Husband \| Episode: "The Woman Who Returned Her Husband"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1995

| Law & Order

| Shane Sutter

| Episode: "Performance"

1995

| The Wright Verdicts

| Vincent Costanza