Peter Segal

Early life and education

Segal grew up in New York City where his father was head of publicity at MGM. In the 1970s, he and his family moved to Los Angeles. He attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he double majored in broadcast journalism and English.

Peter Segal graduated from the USC School of Cinema and Television.

Career

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 directed Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy (1995). Although it received mixed reviews at the time of release and was considered a commercial disappointment, ''Tommy Boy'''s reputation has grown over the years and it is considered in some quarters a "now-iconic cult classic."

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: "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." 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."

Segal next directed the comedy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), starring Eddie Murphy. The film was very successful, grossing $42.5 million in its opening weekend, the then-highest opening weekend for an Eddie Murphy film. The film grossed $166.3 million worldwide. 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 review says, "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." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 38 out of 100, a score which indicates a generally unfavorable response based on reviews from 34 critics.

Segal directed Adam Sandler for the first time in Anger Management (2003), which also starred Jack Nicholson. When asked by the BBC who was the most famous person in his contacts, 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 in 50 First Dates (2004) which starred Drew Barrymore. 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 became the second highest grossing sports comedy in history.

After directing three of Sandler's films, Segal's next film was Get Smart (2008). It is an adaptation of the '60s television series of the same name which was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Segal said 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. Segal also directed Grudge Match (2013), which starred Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, and Jon Bernthal.

Personal life

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."

Filmography

Film

Acting credits

Television

TV movies

TV specials

References

References

1. Nathan Southern. (2015). "Peter Segal". [[The New York Times]].
2. Tinkham, Chris. (24 December 2013). "Peter Segal: Ringside View".
3. Russell, Jamie. (24 September 2014). "No.14: Peter Segal". [[BBC Online]].
4. (18 November 2011). "Comedy@SCA Presents: Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard - An Evening with Steve Carell and Peter Segal". [[USC School of Cinematic Arts]].
5. (12 June 2006). "Veteran Comedy Director Peter Segal Announced as Hershey(R)'s Take 5(R) Film Contest Judge; ''Taste and Believe'' and Win $10,000". [[The Hershey Company]].
6. Miller, Neil. (2 August 2007). "INTERVIEW: GET SMART DIRECTOR PETER SEGAL". [[Film School Rejects]].
7. Douglas, Edward. (28 July 2007). "Comic-Con Exclusive: Peter Segal on Shazam!". [[Superhero Hype!]].
8. Neuman, Clayton. (23 June 2008). "Masters of SciFi – An Interview with Get Smart Director Peter Segal". amc.com.
9. Topel, Fred. (24 December 2013). "Exclusive Interview: Peter Segal on Grudge Match and Shazam". [[CraveOnline]].
10. Lesnick, Silas. (23 December 2013). "Interview: Director Peter Segal Steps Into the Ring for Grudge Match". ComingSoon.net.
11. (24 November 2008). "'Get Smart' Director Peter Segal To Helm 'Captain Marvel' Movie".
12. "Tommy Boy (1995)". [[Fandango Media]].
13. Norton, Damen. (23 January 2014). "HeyUGuys Interview: Grudge Match Director Peter Segal On New Orleans and.. Johnny Quest?".
14. "My Fellow Americans".
15. (2011). "The Garner Files: A Memoir". Simon & Schuster.
16. Linder, Brian. (July 31, 2000). "Weekend Box Office: Nutty II Grosses Out Critics, Out Grosses Competition". IGN.
17. "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)".
18. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)".
19. "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps".
20. Paur, Joey. (22 November 2014). "Disney Hires Peter Segal to Direct GOBLINS".
21. Andreeva, Nellie. (15 September 2014). "Peter Segal To Direct & Executive Produce MTV's Ken Jeong Comedy Pilot".
22. Romano, Nick. (26 December 2013). "'Shazam' Movie No Longer Fits Into the Planned DC Universe, Says Director Peter Segal". [[ScreenCrush]].
23. Khouri, Andy. (23 February 2012). "Warner Bros. Wants the 'Get Smart' Guy to Make a 'Bleach' Movie". [[ComicsAlliance]].
24. Raup, Jordan. (22 February 2012). "Warner Bros. Revives 'Bleach' Adaptation With 'Get Smart' Director Peter Segal".
25. Miller, Rob. (7 August 2013). "Live-Action 'Jetsons' Movie Gets 'Smart' New Director".
26. Grace, Whitney. (24 November 2014). "Peter Segal Tapped by Disney to Direct 'Goblins'".
27. Weintraub, Steve "Frosty". (24 December 2013). "Director Peter Segal Talks GRUDGE MATCH, Casting De Niro and Stallone, and More; Reveals What Happened With SHAZAM and GET SMART 2".
28. Anderson, Derek. (19 November 2014). "'Get Smart' Director Peter Segal to Helm Disney's 'Goblins'".
29. Pearson, Ben. (24 May 2012). "'Get Smart' Director Peter Segal to Build 'The Machine' with Vin Diesel".
30. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (19 November 2014). "Peter Segal To Direct Children's Tale 'Goblins' For Disney".
31. Romano, Paul. (23 December 2013). "Director Peter Segal Looks Back On Scrapped SHAZAM Movie".
32. Larson, Jared. (31 December 2013). "DIRECTOR PETER SEGAL TALKS SHAZAM ON THE BIG SCREEN".
33. Shwayder, Maya. (17 December 2013). "Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro in Fighting Form at 'Grudge Match' Premiere".