Peter Bogdanovich.

Born 30 Jul 1939 Kingston, United States

Died 6 Jan 2022 Los Angeles, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 87 yr If Living

12 min read

Reading time

2,206

Words

Oct 24, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Peter Bogdanovich directed The Last Picture Show 1971, earning eight Academy Award nominations including Best Director. He followed with hits What’s Up, Doc? 1972 and Paper Moon 1973, which won Tatum O’Neal an Oscar. After creative and personal setbacks, he became a noted film historian and actor on The Sopranos.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of Peter Bogdanovich — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases Peter Bogdonovich, Derek Thomas

Spouses: Louise Stratten Polly Platt
Children: Antonia Bogdanovich Sashy Bogdanovich

At a glance.

STATS

Peter Bogdanovich by the numbers — life, work, and family.

82 Years lived

4 Awards

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was Peter Bogdanovich?

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Bogdanovich — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Peter Bogdanovich was conceived in Europe but born in Kingston, New York in 1939 to immigrant parents fleeing the Nazis. His father Borislav was a Serbian Orthodox painter and pianist; his mother Herma came from a wealthy Austrian Jewish family. He studied acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and appeared on television and summer stock in the 1950s. An obsessive cinema-goer, he sometimes saw up to 400 movies a year, and programmed films at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in the early 1960s, showcasing directors like John Ford and Howard Hawks.

Career

Bogdanovich began directing with Targets 1968 for Roger Corman. His breakthrough came with The Last Picture Show 1971, which received eight Oscar nominations and won supporting Oscars for Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman. He followed with the screwball comedy What’s Up, Doc? 1972 and the Depression-era comedy Paper Moon 1973, which won Tatum O’Neal an Oscar. He formed the Directors Company with Francis Ford Coppola and William Friedkin, but his next films Daisy Miller 1974 and At Long Last Love 1975 were critical and commercial failures. After a hiatus, he made Saint Jack 1979 and They All Laughed 1981, the latter plagued by the murder of his lover Dorothy Stratten. Later films include Mask 1985 and The Cat’s Meow 2001. He also wrote books on cinema and acted in The Sopranos as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg.

Personal life

Bogdanovich married production designer Polly Platt in 1962; they had two daughters, Antonia and Sashy, before divorcing in 1972 after his affair with Cybill Shepherd, whom he cast in The Last Picture Show. Shepherd and Bogdanovich were partners from 1971 to 1978. In 1980, while filming They All Laughed, he fell in love with Dorothy Stratten, who was murdered by her estranged husband. He later married Stratten’s sister Louise Stratten in 1988; they divorced in 2001.

Legacy

The Last Picture Show 1971 was added to the National Film Registry in 1998 as culturally significant. Bogdanovich’s interview books, including Who the Devil Made It, are essential resources for film history. His early success with The Last Picture Show 1971 and Paper Moon 1973 defined the New Hollywood era, and his later work as an actor and historian kept him in the public eye. He is most remembered for The Last Picture Show, a landmark of American cinema.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 4

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Peter Bogdanovich — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay
Grammy Awards
Commander of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
Silver Shell for Best Director

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 12

A wall of memorable lines from Peter Bogdanovich — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

They’re All so Jealous in Hollywood. It’s Not Enough to Have a Hit. Your Best Friend Should Also Have a Failure.
I’ve Always Been a Self-confessed Opportunist.
I Always Thought That the Goal in Movies Was to Extinguish Disbelief.
The End of the Studio System Signaled the End of the Great Screen Stars. They Were the Sort of Actors Who Brought Their Own Charismatic Personas to Each Role They Played. Audiences Felt as If They Knew Them Immediately Every Time They Watched One of Their Movies.
Marlon Brando Changed Everything for Actors. After Him, Everyone Wanted to Be Marlon. No One Wanted to Be a Type: They All Wanted to Display Versatility in Every Role. but the Brilliance That Marlon Had Was That He Had Star Personality That Shone Through in Every Role.
It’s a Misconception About Acting That It’s a Practice in Pretending to Be Someone Else. It’s Actually a Practice in Finding the Character Within Yourself.
They Don’t Have Personalities, so They Can’t Be Stars. Do Me a Tom Cruise Impression, Do Me a Tom Hanks Impression.
I Made a Lot of Mistakes When I Was Successful in the ’70S. You Know, There’s No Handbook for Success so I Couldn’t Make Out What Vibe I Was Picking Up. but It’s Called Jealousy, Envy and Loathing, Though They Come at You with Smiles Because They Want Something from You. so You Put on a Front of Arrogance to Cover Insecurity.
Filmmakers Have a Responsibility to the Audience and to the Work, I Wish They Felt That Responsibility More, Especially to What’s True in Life.
I Think One of the Reasons Younger People Don’t Like Older Films, Films Made Say Before the ’60S, Is That They’ve Never Seen Them on a Big Screen, Ever. If You Don’t See a Film on a Big Screen, You Haven’t Really Seen It. You’ve Seen a Version of It, but You Haven’t Seen It. That’s My Feeling, but I’m Old-fashioned.
The Only Formal Training I Ever Did Was Four Years as an Actor. When I Direct, I Think Like One of the Actors.
Directing Is Really Creating an Atmosphere, a Particular Kind of Atmosphere and Usually One That Is Very Peculiar to the Director. It Doesn’t Necessarily Have to Be. Some Directors Have No Personality and It Shows. but One Way or Another, What the Actors Are Doing or the Crews Are Doing, They’re Trying to Please the Director.

Did you know?

FACTS · 28

Little-known facts about Peter Bogdanovich — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Bogdanovich favored slow moving dolly shots and long takes with actors speaking back-and-forth or monologuing without cuts, a technique his mentor Orson Welles praised.
A dedicated film historian, he interviewed many Golden Age directors and stars, compiling them into books. He formed long-lasting friendships with Orson Welles, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, and others.
He turned down the chance to direct The Godfather 1972, which later went to Francis Ford Coppola.
His falling out with John Ford may have been due to Ben Johnson’s Oscar win or his treatment of ex-wife Polly Platt, who remained close to Ford.
He declined an offer to direct Chinatown 1974.
He was originally set to direct Duck, You Sucker! 1971 but backed out; Sergio Leone directed it instead.
His film The Last Picture Show 1971 was added to the National Film Registry in 1998 as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
He was the boyfriend of Playboy Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten in 1980, who was murdered by her jealous husband. He wrote a book about her.
He directed six actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Ben Johnson, Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Tatum O’Neal, and Madeline Kahn. Johnson, Leachman, and O’Neal won.
After At Long Last Love 1975 was pulled from theaters, he wrote an open letter to newspapers apologizing for the film’s quality.
He died on the same day January 6, 2022 in the same city Los Angeles as Sidney Poitier, whom he directed in To Sir, with Love II 1996.
He kept a signed photograph from Cybill Shepherd in his New York apartment inscribed ‘Dear Sven, I wouldn’t be here without you, referring to the Svengali character.
An extensive interview with Fritz Lang resulted in the book Fritz Lang in America 1967.
Although Saint Jack 1979 was not a box office success, it was considered an artistic comeback for him after his big-budget flops.
He married Louise Stratten, Dorothy Stratten’s younger sister, in 1988; they divorced in 2001.
He had a relationship with Cybill Shepherd from 1971 to 1978.
He was an alumnus of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
His mother Herma was from an Austrian Jewish family, and his father Borislav was of Serbian Orthodox descent. His father was a prominent painter who obtained visas for the family to flee the Nazis.
Five of his first eight pictures were period pieces; he directed seven period films in total.
He was the father of Antonia and Sashy Bogdanovich from his marriage to Polly Platt.
He directed one film that was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Last Picture Show 1971.
He served as a jury member at the Venice Film Festival in 1981.
In 1973 it was announced he would direct Cybill Shepherd and Cloris Leachman in Roman Fever, likely the same as Daisy Miller 1974.
He served as a jury member at the Venice Film Festival in 1992.
He was set to work on a Natalie Wood project in Australia’s Fox Studios.
His biography appears in John Wakeman’s World Film Directors, Volume Two 1988.
He was interviewed in The Director’s Event by Eric Sherman and Martin Rubin.
He had three grandchildren.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Peter Bogdanovich.

When was Peter Bogdanovich born?

Peter Bogdanovich was born on July 30, 1939 in Kingston, New York. He was the son of immigrants fleeing the Nazis.
Where was Peter Bogdanovich born?

Bogdanovich was born in Kingston, New York, a small city in the Hudson Valley. His parents had recently arrived from Europe.
When did Peter Bogdanovich die?

He died on January 6, 2022 in Los Angeles from Parkinson’s disease. He was 82 years old.
How old was Peter Bogdanovich when he died?

Bogdanovich was 82 years old at the time of his death. He passed away on January 6, 2022.
Where did Peter Bogdanovich die?

He died in Los Angeles, California. The cause was complications from Parkinson’s disease.
How did Peter Bogdanovich die?

Bogdanovich died from Parkinson’s disease. He had been battling the illness for some time before his death in Los Angeles.
What does Peter Bogdanovich do for a living?

Bogdanovich was a film director, actor, and writer who directed The Last Picture Show 1971 and Paper Moon 1973.
What nationality is Peter Bogdanovich?

He was an American citizen. He was born in Kingston, New York to immigrant parents from Europe.
What language did Peter Bogdanovich speak?

His native language was English. His parents spoke Serbian and German at home.
Who was Peter Bogdanovich married to?

He was married twice: first to production designer Polly Platt from 1962 to 1972, and later to Louise Stratten from 1988 to 2001.
Did Peter Bogdanovich have children?

Yes, he had two daughters: Antonia and Sashy Bogdanovich. They were born during his marriage to Polly Platt.
Where did Peter Bogdanovich go to school?

He attended the Collegiate School in New York City. He also studied acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
What awards did Peter Bogdanovich win?

Bogdanovich won a BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay for The Last Picture Show, a Grammy Award for his spoken word album, and a Silver Shell for Best Director. He also received the Commander of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword.
How many awards did Peter Bogdanovich win?

Bogdanovich won four major awards: a BAFTA Award, a Grammy Award, the Commander of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, and a Silver Shell for Best Director.
What is Peter Bogdanovich best known for?

He directed The Last Picture Show 1971, Paper Moon 1973, and What’s Up, Doc? 1972. His films earned eight Academy Award nominations for The Last Picture Show.
How tall was Peter Bogdanovich?

He was 5 feet 10 inches 1.78 meters tall. This was recorded in his biography.
Did Peter Bogdanovich have siblings?

Yes, he had one sibling, a sister named Anna Bogdanovich.
Who were Peter Bogdanovich's parents?

His parents were Herma Bogdanovich and Borislav Bogdanovich. His mother was from an Austrian Jewish family, and his father was a Serbian Orthodox painter and pianist.
How many award nominations did Peter Bogdanovich receive?

He received 37 award nominations throughout his career, including eight Oscar nominations for The Last Picture Show.
Did Peter Bogdanovich use any aliases?

Yes, his name was sometimes misspelled as Peter Bogdonovich. He also used the pseudonym Derek Thomas for some writing.
What was Peter Bogdanovich's first film?

His first film as director was Targets 1968, produced by Roger Corman. It was a critically praised thriller.
What was the Directors Company?

The Directors Company was a production deal with Paramount Pictures formed by Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola, and William Friedkin. It gave them creative freedom if they stayed within budget.
How did Peter Bogdanovich's relationship with Cybill Shepherd affect his career?

His affair with Shepherd led to his divorce from Polly Platt, who had been his key collaborator. After casting Shepherd in Daisy Miller 1974 and At Long Last Love 1975, both films were critical and commercial failures, damaging his reputation.
Who was Orson Welles to Peter Bogdanovich?

Orson Welles was a mentor and close friend. Bogdanovich interviewed him and later wrote the book This is Orson Welles 1992.
What happened to Peter Bogdanovich after the murder of Dorothy Stratten?

After Stratten’s murder in 1980, Bogdanovich bought the rights to They All Laughed to ensure its release, but it flopped and drove him into bankruptcy. He wrote a memoir, The Killing of the Unicorn, in 1984.
What books did Peter Bogdanovich write?

He wrote This is Orson Welles 1992, Who the Devil Made It, and The Killing of the Unicorn about Dorothy Stratten. He also interviewed Fritz Lang for a book.
Did Peter Bogdanovich ever act in television?

Yes, he had a recurring role as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg on The Sopranos and appeared on How I Met Your Mother and The Good Wife.
Why did Peter Bogdanovich's career decline?

After the success of Paper Moon 1973, a series of flops including Daisy Miller 1974 and At Long Last Love 1975 hurt his reputation. His divorce from Polly Platt, who had been his artistic partner, also contributed to the decline.
How many Oscar nominations did The Last Picture Show receive?

The Last Picture Show 1971 received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It won two Oscars for supporting actors.
What is the significance of The Last Picture Show in film history?

The Last Picture Show is considered a landmark of New Hollywood cinema. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1998 for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

View all 30 questions View fewer questions

Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on October 24, 2026

Report an issue

If something on this page looks off, we genuinely want to know about it. Send us a quick email with the celebrity's name, the detail that seems incorrect, and any sources you're referencing. We review every report and update the page as soon as we can.

Report an issue