Peter Segal

Segal grew up in New York City, where his father was head of publicity at MGM. In the 1970s, Segal and his family moved to Los Angeles. Segal attended the University of Southern California, where he double majored in Broadcast Journalism and English.{{cite magazine|last=Tinkham|first=Chris|title=Peter Segal: Ringside View|date=24 December 2013|magazine=Under the Radar|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/peter_segal/|access-date=4 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125126/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/peter_segal/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal graduated from the USC School of Cinema and Television.{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Jamie|title=No.14: Peter Segal|date=24 September 2014|work=BBC Online|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/peter_segal.shtml|access-date=4 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051712/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/peter_segal.shtml|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Comedy@SCA Presents: Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard - An Evening with Steve Carell and Peter Segal|date=18 November 2011|publisher=USC School of Cinematic Arts|url=http://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=12182|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090247/http://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=12182|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal began his career writing and directing television. In 2002, he created the NBC sitcom Hidden Hills (2002–2003). In 1995, he formed his production company, Callahan Filmworks, along with long-time producing partner Michael Ewing.

Segal made his feature film directorial debut in 1994 with Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, starring Leslie Nielsen and George Kennedy.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehersheycompany.com/newsroom/news-release.aspx?id=871522|title=Veteran Comedy Director Peter Segal Announced as Hershey(R)'s Take 5(R) Film Contest Judge; Taste and Believe and Win $10,000|date=12 June 2006|publisher=The Hershey Company|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124931/http://www.thehersheycompany.com/newsroom/news-release.aspx?id=871522|archive-date=2 April 2015|access-date=5 March 2015}}{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Neil|title=INTERVIEW: GET SMART DIRECTOR PETER SEGAL|date=2 August 2007|publisher=Film School Rejects|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/features/interview-get-smart-director-peter-segal.php|access-date=5 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301040711/http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/interview-get-smart-director-peter-segal.php|archive-date=1 March 2011}}{{cite web|last=Douglas|first=Edward|title=Comic-Con Exclusive: Peter Segal on Shazam!|date=28 July 2007|publisher=Superhero Hype!|url=http://www.superherohype.com/features/94511-comic-con-exclusive-peter-segal-on-shazam|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162912/http://www.superherohype.com/features/94511-comic-con-exclusive-peter-segal-on-shazam|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Neuman|first=Clayton|title=Masters of SciFi – An Interview with Get Smart Director Peter Segal|work=amc.com |date=23 June 2008|url=http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2008/06/masters-of-scif-4/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131417/http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2008/06/masters-of-scif-4/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Topel|first=Fred|title=Exclusive Interview: Peter Segal on Grudge Match and Shazam|date=24 December 2013|publisher=CraveOnline|url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/621395-exclusive-interview-peter-segal-on-grudge-match-and-shazam|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131636/http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/621395-exclusive-interview-peter-segal-on-grudge-match-and-shazam|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal went on to direct Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy (1995).{{cite web|last=Lesnick|first=Silas|title=Interview: Director Peter Segal Steps Into the Ring for Grudge Match|date=23 December 2013|publisher=ComingSoon.net|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/112833-interview-director-peter-segal-steps-into-the-ring-for-grudge-match#/slide/1|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321132248/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/112833-interview-director-peter-segal-steps-into-the-ring-for-grudge-match#/slide/1|archive-date=21 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title='Get Smart' Director Peter Segal To Helm 'Captain Marvel' Movie|date=24 November 2008|url=http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2008/11/24/get-smart-director-peter-segal-to-helm-captain-marvel-movie|access-date=5 March 2015}} Though it received mixed reviews at the time of release, and was considered a commercial disappointment,{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tommy_boy/ |title=Tommy Boy (1995) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=July 20, 2023}} Tommy Boy's reputation has grown over the years and it is considered in some quarters a "now-iconic cult classic."{{cite web|last=Norton|first=Damen|title=HeyUGuys Interview: Grudge Match Director Peter Segal On New Orleans and.. Johnny Quest?|date=23 January 2014|url=http://www.heyuguys.com/peter-segal-interview-grudge-match/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403024527/http://www.heyuguys.com/peter-segal-interview-grudge-match/|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal directed the comedy film My Fellow Americans (1996), starring Jack Lemmon, James Garner and Lauren Bacall. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It holds a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 60 reviews and with an average rating of 5.3/10 and the critical consensus: "It doesn't commit any impeachable offenses, but My Fellow Americans lacks strong regulatory oversight of its toothless political satire and misuse of comedic talent."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_fellow_americans/|title=My Fellow Americans|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=March 25, 2018}} Co-star Garner was not impressed by Segal, writing in his memoirs that Segal "was a self appointed genius who didn't know his ass from second base and Jack and I both knew it."{{cite book|title=The Garner Files: A Memoir|first1=James|last1=Garner|first2=Jon|last2=Winokur|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2011|page=263}}

Segal next directed the comedy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), starring Eddie Murphy. The film was a substantial commercial success, grossing $42.5 million in its opening weekend, the then-highest opening weekend for an Eddie Murphy film.{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|title=Weekend Box Office: Nutty II Grosses Out Critics, Out Grosses Competition|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/31/weekend-box-office-nutty-ii-grosses-out-critics-out-grosses-competition|publisher=IGN|access-date=April 4, 2023|date=July 31, 2000|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404204615/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/31/weekend-box-office-nutty-ii-grosses-out-critics-out-grosses-competition|url-status=live}} The film went on to generate a total gross of $166.3 million worldwide.{{cite web |url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor2.htm |title= The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) |website= Box Office Mojo |access-date= 2021-01-01 |archive-date= July 11, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190711192337/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nuttyprofessor2.htm |url-status= live }} Critically, however, the film did not fare as well: on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 27% and an average rating of 4.5/10, based on reviews from 89 critics. The site's consensus states that "While Eddie Murphy is still hilarious as the entire Klump family, the movie falls apart because of uneven pacing, a poor script, and skits that rely on being gross rather than funny."{{cite web |title= Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nutty_professor_ii_the_klumps/ |website= Rotten Tomatoes |access-date= April 28, 2020 |archive-date= March 30, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240330023322/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nutty_professor_ii_the_klumps |url-status= live }} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 38 out of 100, a score that indicates generally unfavorable reviews, based on reviews from 34 critics.{{cite web |title= Nutty Professor II: The Klumps |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/nutty-professor-ii-the-klumps |website= Metacritic |access-date= August 28, 2019 |archive-date= March 30, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240330022836/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/nutty-professor-ii-the-klumps/ |url-status= live }}

Segal directed Adam Sandler for the first time in Anger Management (2003), which also starred Jack Nicholson.{{cite web|last=Paur|first=Joey|title=Disney Hires Peter Segal to Direct GOBLINS|date=22 November 2014 |url=http://geektyrant.com/news/disney-hires-peter-segal-to-direct-goblins|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150309115144/http://geektyrant.com/news/disney-hires-peter-segal-to-direct-goblins|archive-date=9 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Peter Segal To Direct & Executive Produce MTV's Ken Jeong Comedy Pilot|date=15 September 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/peter-segal-directing-ken-jeong-made-me-do-it-mtv-834528/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110525/http://deadline.com/2014/09/peter-segal-directing-ken-jeong-made-me-do-it-mtv-834528/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}} When asked by the BBC who was the most famous person in his contacts book, Segal replied, "I have to say, it's very obvious now, it's Jack Nicholson. I've kept his number on my speed dial just so I can show it to friends. I could call him up out of the blue, but I'm worried he might say 'Pete who?'"

Segal collaborated with Sandler again in 50 First Dates (2004), which also starred Drew Barrymore.{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Nick|title='Shazam' Movie No Longer Fits Into the Planned DC Universe, Says Director Peter Segal|date=26 December 2013|publisher=ScreenCrush|url=https://screencrush.com/shazam-movie-peter-segal-canceled/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123542/http://screencrush.com/shazam-movie-peter-segal-canceled/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Khouri |first=Andy |title=Warner Bros. Wants the 'Get Smart' Guy to Make a 'Bleach' Movie |date=23 February 2012 |work=ComicsAlliance |url=http://comicsalliance.com/bleach-manga-live-action-movie-warner-bros-peter-segal/ |access-date=5 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321171035/http://comicsalliance.com/bleach-manga-live-action-movie-warner-bros-peter-segal/ |archive-date=21 March 2015 }}{{cite web|last=Raup|first=Jordan|title=Warner Bros. Revives 'Bleach' Adaptation With 'Get Smart' Director Peter Segal|date=22 February 2012|url=http://thefilmstage.com/news/warner-bros-revives-bleach-adaptation-with-get-smart-director-peter-segal/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403000428/http://thefilmstage.com/news/warner-bros-revives-bleach-adaptation-with-get-smart-director-peter-segal/|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Rob|title=Live-Action 'Jetsons' Movie Gets 'Smart' New Director|website=Screen Rant |date=7 August 2013|url=https://screenrant.com/the-jetsons-movie-director-peter-segal-replacing-robert-rodriguez-ross-32868/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133845/http://screenrant.com/the-jetsons-movie-director-peter-segal-replacing-robert-rodriguez-ross-32868/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Grace|first=Whitney|title=Peter Segal Tapped by Disney to Direct 'Goblins'|date=24 November 2014|url=http://www.rotoscopers.com/2014/11/24/peter-segal-tapped-by-disney-to-direct-goblins/|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100023/http://www.rotoscopers.com/2014/11/24/peter-segal-tapped-by-disney-to-direct-goblins/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal collaborated with Sandler for the third time in The Longest Yard (2005), a remake of the 1974 film of the same name. The film has become the second highest grossing sports comedy in history.

After directing three of Sandler's films, Segal's next film became Get Smart (2008). It is an adaptation of the '60s television series of the same name that was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Segal stated in an interview with AMC that he loved the show so much as a kid. The film starred Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin and Terence Stamp.{{cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Steve "Frosty"|title=Director Peter Segal Talks GRUDGE MATCH, Casting De Niro and Stallone, and More; Reveals What Happened With SHAZAM and GET SMART 2|website=Collider |date=24 December 2013|url=https://collider.com/peter-segal-grudge-match-shazam-get-smart-2-interview/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104195415/http://collider.com/peter-segal-grudge-match-shazam-get-smart-2-interview/|archive-date=4 November 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Derek|title='Get Smart' Director Peter Segal to Helm Disney's 'Goblins'|date=19 November 2014|url=https://dailydead.com/get-smart-director-peter-segal-helm-disneys-goblins/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140217/http://dailydead.com/get-smart-director-peter-segal-helm-disneys-goblins/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Pearson|first=Ben|title='Get Smart' Director Peter Segal to Build 'The Machine' with Vin Diesel|date=24 May 2012|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/get-smart-director-peter-segal-to-build-the-machine-with-vin-diesel/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125246/http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/get-smart-director-peter-segal-to-build-the-machine-with-vin-diesel/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Peter Segal To Direct Children's Tale 'Goblins' For Disney|date=19 November 2014|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2014/11/goblins-disney-peter-segal-get-smart-direct-1201289349/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135433/http://deadline.com/2014/11/goblins-disney-peter-segal-get-smart-direct-1201289349/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Paul|title=Director Peter Segal Looks Back On Scrapped SHAZAM Movie|date=23 December 2013|url=http://watchtowerofbabelnews.blogspot.com/2013/12/director-peter-segal-looks-back-on.html|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402205645/http://watchtowerofbabelnews.blogspot.com/2013/12/director-peter-segal-looks-back-on.html|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

Segal also directed Grudge Match (2013), which starred Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger and Jon Bernthal.{{cite web|last=Larson|first=Jared|title=DIRECTOR PETER SEGAL TALKS SHAZAM ON THE BIG SCREEN|date=31 December 2013|website=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/31/director-peter-segal-talks-shazam-on-the-big-screen|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403150610/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/31/director-peter-segal-talks-shazam-on-the-big-screen|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Shwayder|first=Maya|title=Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro in Fighting Form at 'Grudge Match' Premiere|date=17 December 2013|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2013/scene/news/sylvester-stallone-robert-de-niro-in-fighting-form-at-grudge-match-premiere-1200969394/|access-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403001737/http://variety.com/2013/scene/news/sylvester-stallone-robert-de-niro-in-fighting-form-at-grudge-match-premiere-1200969394/|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}

When asked in a September 2014 interview by the BBC if he believes in God, Segal replied: "I do. I'm very spiritual and I'm Jewish by faith. I'm not a practising Jew, I'm more of a recreational Jew. I celebrate the holidays and I try to inform my kids about their heritage because I think we all at some point have to defend our heritage and if they get picked on I want them to know why."

Acting credits

TV movies

TV specials

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb name|781842}}

{{Peter Segal}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:American male film actors

Category:Film directors from New York City

Category:American film producers

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American comedy film directors

Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)