Peter Facinelli was born in Queens, New York, the youngest of four children to Bruna (Reich) and Pierino Facinelli, a waiter, who are both Italian immigrants from Trentino, Northern Italy. He was educated at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, New York, and later attended St. John's University, but left after a year to pursue his passion for acting at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York.
At the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, Facinelli was fortunate enough to be taught by renowned actors such as Academy Award nominees William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman. He made his screen debut in 1995, appearing in Rebecca Miller's Angela and has since worked consistently in the industry.
Some of his notable projects include The Price of Love, An Unfinished Affair, where he met his future wife Jennie Garth, Touch Me, and The Scorpion King. Facinelli has also had recurring roles in TV shows such as Fastlane, Six Feet Under, Damages, and Nurse Jackie.
In 2008, he landed the iconic role of Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the highly successful Twilight and its sequels, cementing his status as a household name.
