Paul Michael Glaser

Paul Michael Glaser
Paul Michael Glaser at F.I.S.T premiere (1978) Born Paul Manfred Glaser
March 25, 1943(1943-03-25) (age 65)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesOther name(s) Paul M. Glaser
Paul Glaser
Michael Glaser
Mike Glaser
P.M. Glaser Years active 1966 - Present Spouse(s) Elizabeth Glaser(1980-1994)
Tracy Barone (1996-2007) Official website

Paul Michael Glaser (born March 25, 1943) is an American actor and director, perhaps best known for his role as Detective David Starsky on the '70s television series Starsky and Hutch; he also appeared as Captain Jack Steeper on the 1999 to 2005 NBC series Third Watch.

1 Biography
2 Filmography
3 Television
4 References
5 External links

Biography

Early life

Glaser, the youngest of three children, was born Paul Manfred Glaser in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of Dorothy and Samuel Glaser, who was an architect.[1] Glaser attended Tulane University, where he was roommates with film director Bruce Paltrow, and earned a Master's degree in English and theater in 1966. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He earned a second master's degree from Boston University in acting and directing in 1967.

Career

After appearing in several Broadway productions, Glaser appeared in his first feature film in 1971, playing Perchik in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof. He first gained notice on television playing Dr. Peter Chernak on the daytime series Love is a Many Splendored Thing, and made guest appearances on shows such as The Rockford Files, but found fame playing Detective David Starsky opposite David Soul in the television show Starsky and Hutch, of which he directed several episodes. It ran for four seasons (1975-1979) on ABC.

After the series, Glaser continued to act on television and in films, and directed the 1987 movie The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the 1992 movie The Cutting Edge. He also directed episodes of several well-known TV series, including Miami Vice, Robbery Homicide Division and Judging Amy. Glaser returned to the big screen in 2003 in Something's Gotta Give, as Diane Keaton's ex-husband, and with a brief cameo in the 2004 film version of Starsky & Hutch, where his old role was reprised by Ben Stiller. He also directed the children's film Kazaam starring Shaquille O'Neal. On November 30, 2007, Glaser starred as Captain Hook in a pantomime version of Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Kent, England.

Personal life

Glaser has been married twice. He married his first wife, Elizabeth (Meyer) Glaser, in 1980. In August 1981, Elizabeth contracted HIV through a blood transfusion while giving birth to the couple's first child, Ariel. Elizabeth did not find out about the virus until four years later, at which time both Ariel and son Jake (born October 1984) were also found to be HIV positive. Ariel Glaser died in August 1988; Elizabeth Glaser died in 1994, after founding the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. After Elizabeth's death, Glaser served as chairman of the foundation until 2002 and remains Honorary Chairman, roles in which he has testified before the United States Congress and met with national leaders, as well as headlining annual fundraisers for the organization.

Glaser married producer Tracy Barone in 1996; the couple had a daughter, Zoe, in 1997. Glaser filed for divorce in June 2007, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for ending his 10-year marriage. He was seeking joint legal and physical custody of their daughter.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes 1971 Fiddler on the RoofPerchik Actor 1972 Butterflies Are FreeRalph Actor 1974 Aces Up Mover Actor 1974 Trapped Beneath the Sea Jack Beech Actor 1976 The Great Houdini Harry Houdini(Eric Weiss) Actor 1980 PhobiaDr. Peter Ross Actor 1983 Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!Coach Bob Peters Actor 1983 Princess DaisyFred North Actor 1984 Single Bars, Single Women Gabe Actor 1984 Jealousy Daniel Actor 1984 Attack on Fear Dave Mitchell Actor

Television

Years Series Role Notes 1967 - 1973 Love is a Many Splendored ThingDr. Peter Chernak Actor 1975 - 1979 Starsky and HutchDetective David Starsky Actor, Writer, Director