Peter Donat, a renowned Canadian-American actor, enjoyed a 50-year-long illustrious career spanning television, motion pictures, and theater. His exceptional talent was so highly regarded that Francis Ford Coppola seriously considered casting him in the pivotal role of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972),ultimately opting for Robert Duvall instead.
Born Pierre Collingwood Donat on January 20, 1928, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Peter was the nephew of the esteemed Oscar-winning actor Robert Donat. His father, Philip Donat, a landscape gardener of Anglo-Canadian descent, and his mother, Marie (née Bardet),a French-Canadian, instilled in Peter a strong cultural heritage.
In 1950, at the age of 22, Peter Donat relocated to the United States to pursue his passion for drama at Yale. Throughout his career, he frequently returned to Canada for acting opportunities, including a 1961 production of Donald Jack's play The Canvas Barricade at the Stratford Festival. His versatility also led him to appear in the Canadian TV serial Moment of Truth (1964),which was broadcast on commercial television in the United States.
Peter Donat was married to Emmy-winning actor Michael Learned for 16 years, until their divorce in 1972. Together, they had three children: Caleb, Christopher, and Lucas.
