Melinda Peterson is a renowned American actress with a remarkable career spanning over four decades, effortlessly transitioning between stage, screen, and radio. As an ensemble member of The Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, California, since its inception in 1991, she has consistently showcased her remarkable talent.
Aside from her impressive theatrical work, Peterson has lent her voice to numerous radio plays for Firesign Theatre and the now-defunct NPR (National Public Radio) Playhouse. Her notable roles include Lucretia Borgia in Norman Corwin's The Plot to Overthrow Christmas and Agatha Christie, hosting and narrating The BBC Murders, a series of four radio plays staged at the Parker Playhouse in Florida.
Peterson's most acclaimed theatrical portrayal is arguably her rendition of the Italian stage diva Eleonora Duse in Lillian Garrett Groag's play The Lady of the Camellias. A reviewer praised her performance, stating that Peterson's Duse is "a marvel of melancholia," with a "pure Italian accent" and a demeanor reminiscent of Garbo's Slavic reserve. Whether executing a subtle gesture or delivering a period-perfect movement, Peterson is as captivating as the woman she emulates.
Peterson's screen credits include soap operas such as As the World Turns (1956) and Santa Barbara (1984),as well as guest appearances on popular TV series like MacGyver (1985),The Twilight Zone (1985),Cagney & Lacey (1981),and JAG (1995). Later in her career, she became involved in producing and directing several early American plays.
A resident of Los Angeles, Peterson was married to Phil Proctor, a prominent writer, performer, and celebrity voice impersonator with the Firesign Theatre comedy troupe.
