Peter Farrelly

Peter Farrelly
Farrelly in 2009
Born	Peter John Farrelly (1956-12-17) December 17, 1956 (age 68) Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Providence College Columbia University
Occupation(s)	Filmmaker, novelist
Years active	1988–present
Spouse	Melinda Kocsis ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	2
Relatives	Bobby Farrelly (brother)
Website	www.peterfarrelly.com

Peter John Farrelly (born December 17, 1956) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and producing quirky comedy and romantic comedy films[1] such as Dumb and Dumber; Shallow Hal; Me, Myself and Irene; There's Something About Mary; and the 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid.

Farrelly solo-directed and co-wrote the comedy-drama Green Book (2018), which won the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018,[2] the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, and the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Early life and education

Farrelly was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, to Mariann (née Neary), a nurse practitioner, and Robert Leo Farrelly, a doctor.[3][4] His grandparents were Irish immigrants, and he also has Polish ancestry.[5][6] He was raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island.[7] He graduated from Kent School in 1975 and from Providence College where he studied accounting.[8] In 1986 he earned a master's in fine arts from Columbia University.[9]

Career

Writer

Farrelly decided to pursue writing full-time, which prompted him to quit his sales job and relocate to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he got a job as a waiter. On one of the tables he was waiting, Farrelly struck up a conversation with a writing professor from UMass Amherst, who encouraged Farrelly to apply to graduate school. Farrelly said he did not think his chances were good, considering he did poorly in college but the professor said not everything is judged by grades. With what would later be Outside Providence, Farrelly submitted the work and was pleasantly surprised that he was accepted. He studied writing for a time at UMass Amherst, but was ultimately dissatisfied with the program, and transferred to Columbia University in New York City, which Farrelly said he found very satisfying. He later became interested in screenwriting, which led him to directing. He made this career decision after many of his screenplays sold but were not produced.

He is a published novelist, with works including Outside Providence (1988)[10] and The Comedy Writer (1998).[11]

Producer and director

Together with his brother, Bobby Farrelly, he has written, directed, and produced several comedy films including There's Something About Mary,[12] Dumb and Dumber,[13] Kingpin,[14] Shallow Hal,[15][16] Me, Myself & Irene,[17] Stuck on You,[18] and Fever Pitch.[19] They also conceived the 1992 Seinfeld episode "The Virgin" (Season 4.Episode:10).[13][20]

In 2006, Farrelly directed the Man Laws series of television commercials for the Miller Lite beer brand, which featured actor Burt Reynolds, American football player Jerome Bettis, climber Aron Ralston, and professional wrestler Triple H.[21]

Peter worked on a film entitled, Movie 43, which was released in 2013 and produced by the siblings' long-time producer Charles B. Wessler. He produced the anthology film and directed two of its segments.[22]

In 2011, the Farrellys produced and directed Hall Pass.[23][24][25]

The brothers produced and directed The Three Stooges in 2012.[26]

In 2012, Peter and his brother announced that the filming of Dumb and Dumber To would begin in 2013.[27][28] The film was released on November 14, 2014.[29][30]

In 2016, Audience announced that Loudermilk, a new half-hour scripted comedy co-created by Farrelly and Bobby Mort, would receive a straight-to-series order.[31] In 2018, the show was renewed for season 2, and in 2021 a third season was aired on Amazon Prime Video.[32][33]

In 2018, Farrelly directed Green Book, which won the Toronto International Film Festival's People Choice Award.[34] At the 91st Academy Awards, he won the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

In 2020, Farrelly directed alongside his brother, and co-wrote the Quibi comedy series The Now, starring Bill Murray,[35][36] Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Daryl Hannah, and Jimmy Tatro.[37][38]

Board member

Farrelly is a board member of Direct Sports Network (formerly DeskSite).[39]

Personal life

Farrelly is married to Melinda Kocsis and has a son, Bob,[40][41][42] and a daughter, Apple.[43] He has two sisters, Beth and Cindy, and a third sister, Kathy, who died in 2017.[44] Peter lives in California, while brother Bobby lives in Massachusetts.[22]

In 1998, Farrelly's colleagues told Newsweek magazine that he and his brother Bobby "liked to use ruses to get people to look at Farrelly's penis" as a joke.[45] Those who had been tricked into seeing Farrelly's genitals include film executive Tom Rothman and actress Cameron Diaz.[46] In 2019 after the story resurfaced, Farrelly stated: "I did this decades ago, and I thought I was being funny, and the truth is I'm embarrassed, and it makes me cringe now. I'm deeply sorry."[47][48]

Philanthropy and honors

Farrelly is a long-time supporter of disability rights. In 2020, he and his brother Bobby received the Morton E. Ruderman Award for Inclusion of People with Disabilities. Past winners include Michael Phelps and Marlee Matlin.[49] He won the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by Media Access Awards.[50]

Filmography

Films

With Bobby Farrelly

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
1994	Dumb and Dumber	Yes	Yes	No
1996	Kingpin	Yes	No	No
1998	There's Something About Mary	Yes	Yes	Yes
1999	Outside Providence	No	Yes	Yes
2000	Me, Myself & Irene	Yes	Yes	Yes
2001	Osmosis Jones	Yes	No	Yes	Live-action scenes
	Shallow Hal	Yes	Yes	Yes
2003	Stuck on You	Yes	Yes	Yes
2005	Fever Pitch	Yes	No	No
2005	The Ringer	No	No	Yes
2007	The Heartbreak Kid	Yes	Yes	No
2011	Hall Pass	Yes	Yes	Yes
2012	The Three Stooges	Yes	Yes	Yes
2014	Dumb and Dumber To	Yes	Yes	Yes
2015	Dodge Law: Speak No Evil	Yes	No	No	Commercial/ short film
2024	Dear Santa	No	Yes	Yes

Solo works

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
2013	Movie 43	Yes	No	Yes	Segments: "The Pitch", "The Catch", "Truth or Dare"; Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture
2018	Green Book	Yes	Yes	Yes	Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Director Nominated—Razzie Redeemer Award
2022	The Greatest Beer Run Ever	Yes	Yes	No
2024	Ricky Stanicky	Yes	Yes	No
TBA	Balls Up	Yes	No	No	Filming

Television

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes
2003	Blitt Happens	Yes	Yes	No	TV pilot
2008	Unhitched	Yes	No	No	Episode: "Pilot"
2015	Cuckoo	Yes	No	No	TV movie
2017–2021	Loudermilk	Yes	Yes	Yes	3 Seasons
2021	The Now	Yes	Yes	No	TV series
2023	Lucky Hank	Yes	No	Yes

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Peter Farrelly

Farrelly won or was nominated for awards for his work in film and television, including winning two Academy Awards[51][52] and winning two Golden Globe Awards out of five nominations for Green Book in 2019.[53] He also won or was nominated for several film festival awards.[54][55]

References

1. "Interview: The Farrelly Brothers". CINEMABLEND. September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
2. "Peter Farrelly's new movie wins People's Choice Award at Toronto film festival". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
3. "Bobby Farrelly Biography (1958?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
4. Dear, Pamela (June 1, 2000). Contemporary Authors New Revision Series: A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers in Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Poetry, Journalism, Drama, M. ISBN 9780787632120.
5. Moon, Aileen (June 15, 2010). "Q&A with Writer/Director Bobby Farrelly". The Irish Film & Television Network.
6. "Peter Farrelly Returns to 'Green Book's Toronto Awards Launch Pad for 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' with Zac Efron, Bill Murray & Russell Crowe: Q&A". September 9, 2022.
7. "Peter Farrelly Thanks All Of Rhode Island Following Oscar Win". Smithfield, RI Patch. February 25, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
8. "The DO Lectures - Peter Farrelly | Be Whoever You Want To Be". The DO Lectures. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
9. "Alumnus Peter Farrelly '86 Discusses Hit New Film 'Green Book'". Columbia - School of the Arts. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
10. Hunter, Stephen (September 1, 1999). "'Providence': R.I. Confidential". Home Index Search Archives. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
11. The Comedy Writer. Kirkus Reviews.
12. "20 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About There's Something About Mary!". Eighties Kids. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
13. "How The Farrelly Brothers Gave The World One Of Seinfeld's Greatest Episodes". Cinemablend. November 11, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
14. Berkowitz, Joe (December 30, 2016). "The Farrelly Brothers' Oral History of "Kingpin," Twenty Years Later". Fast Company. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
15. "Shallow Hal Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly". exclaim.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
16. "Shallow Hal". Time Out Worldwide. September 10, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
17. Ebert, Roger. "Me, Myself & Irene movie review (2000) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
18. "Stuck On You Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly". exclaim.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
19. "Fever Pitch Quotes, Movie quotes – Movie Quotes .com". www.moviequotes.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
20. Domain, Master Of This (May 14, 2013). "The Virgin". Maps About Nothing. A global guide to Seinfeld. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
21. "Burt Reynolds may star in Miller Lite ad". The Business Journal. Accessed on July 2, 2006
22. "Exclusive Interview: Peter Farrelly on Movie 43". ComingSoon.net. January 22, 2013.
23. Hall Pass (2011), retrieved November 15, 2020
24. "Hall Pass". Time Out Worldwide. March 8, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
25. Radish, Christina (February 21, 2011). "Bobby and Peter Farrelly Exclusive Interview – Hall Pass". Collider. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
26. Dargis, Manohla (April 12, 2012). "Wry and Subtle Jesting? Not Here, Knucklehead (Published 2012)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
27. Barubto, Dana, "Peter Farrelly announces 'Dumb and Dumber' sequel" Archived September 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Massachusetts, April 3, 2012
28. Franich, Darren (April 3, 2012). "'Dumb and Dumber 2' filming this year, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels". CNN. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
29. Eby, Margaret (November 19, 2013). "'Dumb and Dumber To' release date set for November 2014". nydailynews.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
30. "'Dumb And Dumber To Hit Theaters In November 2014". Deadline. November 19, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
31. Hipes, Patrick (July 20, 2016). "Peter Farrelly-Bobby Mort Comedy 'Loudermilk' Gets Straight-To-Series Order At Audience Network". Deadline. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
32. "'Loudermilk' Renewed for Season 2 at Audience Network". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
33. Andreeva, Nellie (April 27, 2021). "'Loudermilk' Season 3 Premieres Today On Amazon Prime Video – Update". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
34. Hammond, Pete (September 16, 2018). "'Green Book' Wins 2018 Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award". Deadline Hollywood.
35. Thorne, Will (November 15, 2019). "Bill Murray to Star in Peter Farrelly Comedy Series at Quibi". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
36. Pedersen, Erik (November 15, 2019). "Bill Murray Joins Farrelly Brothers Comedy 'The Now' At Quibi". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
37. Petski, Denise (July 9, 2019). "Peter Farrelly Comedy Series 'The Now' Set At Quibi". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
38. Ray-Ramos, Dino (November 11, 2019). "Quibi Comedy 'The Now' Sets O'Shea Jackson, Daryl Hannah, And Jimmy Tatro In Lead Roles; Alyssa Milano, Rob Yang And Lex Scott Davis To Recur". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
39. "DeskSite... A Video Ad Network". Desksite.com. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
40. Kettmann, Steve (2004). One Day at Fenway: A day in the life of baseball in America. New York: Atria Books. p. 117. ISBN 1-4165-0515-6. Peter Farrelly brought his group through the concourse. His son Bob was playing it cool, but his nephews kept giving him looks...
41. "Peter Farrelly , wife Melinda Farrelly, and son Bob arrive at the AFI..." Getty Images. November 10, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
42. "Ojai Short Festival". Twitter. September 6, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
43. "76th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals". Getty Images. January 6, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
44. "Kathryn Farrelly Obituary (2017) - Boston Globe". www.legacy.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
45. "Peter Farrelly Apologizes for Flashing Cameron Diaz and More Stars". E! Online. January 10, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
46. Newsweek Staff (July 19, 1998). "Sibling Ribaldry". Newsweek. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
47. "'Green Book' Director Peter Farrelly Apologizes for Past Genital-Flashing | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. January 9, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
48. "Peter Farrelly apologizes for exposing genitals to Cameron Diaz Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
49. "Farrelly Brothers Honored with Morton E. Ruderman Award for Inclusion of People with Disabilities". Ruderman Family Foundation. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
50. "Awards". Media Access Awards. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
51. Daniels, Karu F. (June 13, 2020). "'Green Book' writer Peter Farrelly and star Viggo Mortensen may reteam for 'Beer Run' film". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
52. "Oscar Winners and More From the 91st Academy Awards". The New York Times. February 25, 2019.
53. Lewis, Hilary (January 6, 2019). "Golden Globes: Peter Farrelly Praises "Hope" of 'Green Book' in Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical Win". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
54. Kilgannon, Maddie (September 16, 2018). "Peter Farrelly's new movie wins People's Choice Award at Toronto film festival". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
55. Coyle, Jake (September 17, 2018). "Director Peter Farrelly's "Green Book" Wins Audience Award At Toronto Film Fest". shoot on line. Retrieved September 29, 2020.

External links

• Peter Farrelly at IMDb