Peter Patrikios is a first-generation Greek American born and raised in West Philadelphia's Overbrook Park section. He is the second child of Christos and Christina Patrikios, with his father owning a popular family-style restaurant. Christina, a stay-at-home mom, raised their three sons just one block away, instilling in them a strong focus on heritage.
Peter grew up speaking both Greek and English, with a respect for traditional family values, a strong work ethic, and a love for learning. His parents had high expectations for all three boys to be successful and take advantage of the opportunities given to them.
At an early age, Peter showed an affinity for scholastics, especially the sciences. However, he secretly had a passion for the performing arts, often creating parodies of 1970s-style Kung Fu & Martial arts films with his brothers. His mother was fully supportive of his creativity, but his father was not as accepting, preferring Peter to pursue a pre-med curriculum or learn the family business.
Peter reluctantly applied to top-ranked colleges with respected pre-med programs, eventually attending Franklin and Marshall College. By the end of his freshman year, his older brother had dropped out of Drexel University's Engineering program, his younger brother was showing little interest in receiving his high school diploma, and his father was proudly taking advantage of bragging rights, telling customers that Peter had willingly decided on a pre-med curriculum.
The plan was for Peter to become a doctor and take up acting as a hobby, just as his father suggested. However, mid-way through his senior year, Peter received notice that his application for early acceptance to Temple University's School of Medicine was approved. With a spot secured for medical school, he signed up for a class in modern dance and performed in a nationwide competition sponsored by MTV.
Peter was shocked when he received a phone call from producers at MTV inviting him to be one of the five finalists to perform on the show. He and four college friends took the routine to Daytona Beach, where they performed live on stage in front of thousands of spring break party goers and hundreds of thousands watching from home.
Despite the experiences of his senior year, Peter begrudgingly began his first year of medical school. However, he secretly dropped out of Temple's School of Medicine during winter break, deciding to pursue a career in acting. He joined acting workshops with top casting directors, started auditioning for plays and independent films, and eventually landed a role in an original production called Kennedy's Children, directed by Michael Leland.
With a new-found confidence, Peter finally came clean to his family about his decision to leave medical school. His father initially took the news hard, telling his son, "You have blackened my heart." But Peter knew that the only way to be truly successful was to pursue his own dreams and not the dreams his father imposed on him.
For the next ten years, Peter struggled to make ends meet, feeling an obligation to his family and maintaining close ties with them, especially his mother Christina, who was extremely supportive of his decision to follow his dream.
