How Much Was Peter Scolari Worth When He Died?
Actor Peter Scolari, most well-known for his role opposite Tom Hanks on the early '80s sitcom "Bossom Buddies," has died, his rep announced on October 22. The television and Broadway actor died from cancer at age 66 after dealing with the illness for two years, according to Variety. Scolari leaves behind four children and wife Tracy Shayne, whom he married in 2013, per Us Weekly.
Tributes from Hollywood writers and celebrities came pouring in after his death was announced. Bob Newhart, Scolari's "Newhart" co-star, called the actor a "fantastic person" who lamented that his "passing at 66 is much too early." Showrunner Robert King called Scolari "one of the funniest actors [he's] worked with," whereas star political analyst Steve Kornacki admired Scolari's performance on "Newhart" and credited him for making the show "great." Harvey Fierstein tweeted: "Sad to see the news that Peter Scolari lost his battle with cancer. There wasn't a sweeter man on the planet. We performed together in 'Hairspray' for a time and he was always a total delight."
With such versatile talent, Scolari surely earned a comfortable living in his lifetime. How much was he worth when he died?
Peter Scolari was a millionaire at the time of his death
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Peter Scolari was worth $2 million when he died. That number may seem small for the decades he's been in the industry — he had 100 acting credits to his name — so it's important to note that Scolari nor his representatives have ever confirmed that figure.
Per IMDb, Scolari began acting in the 1970s and got his first acting role in 1978's "Take Off." He also starred in "Goodtime Girls," "The Love Boat," the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" TV series, and "Girls," for which he won a 2016 Emmy for his role as Lena Dunham character's dad. Scolari was best known, though, for starring alongside Tom Hanks in "Bosom Buddies," which ran from 1980-1982. The show starred Hanks and Scolari as two friends who worked in an advertising agency in New York, adopting drag personas so they can move into a women-only residence, according to Variety.
Scolari then went on to star in the sitcom "Newhart" two years later, where he achieved even more widespread recognition. However, he experienced financial hardships after the sitcom ended in 1990, telling the Toronto Star in 2008, "I got enough work at first to keep it all rolling. But then in the '90s, it got tight. The lifestyle was way up there, but the money was only coming in down here."
Still, Scolari managed to turn his fortune around and give memorable performances — like starring in the show "Evil" — right up until his death.