Peter Lazer was a child actor who appeared in several TV shows and movies in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his roles in Hombre, a western film starring Paul Newman, and Pinocchio in Outer Space, an animated film where he voiced the wooden puppet. However, his career faded away as he grew older and he died in 2008 at the age of 62. What was the cause of his death and what happened to him after his fame?
Early Life and Career
Peter Lazer was born on April 12, 1946 in New York City to Max and Hilde Lazer, who were both German immigrants. He had an older sister named Joan. He started acting at a young age and appeared in several TV shows such as Kraft Television Theatre, The Felony Squad, and The Defenders. He also starred in some films such as The Strange One, The Young Savages, and The Young Doctors.
His most notable role was in Hombre, a 1967 film directed by Martin Ritt and based on a novel by Elmore Leonard. He played Billy Lee Blake, a young man who is kidnapped by bandits and rescued by John Russell (Paul Newman), a white man raised by Apache Indians. The film was well received by critics and audiences and is considered one of the best westerns of all time.
Another memorable role was in Pinocchio in Outer Space, a 1965 animated film that was a sequel to the classic Disney version of Pinocchio. He voiced the title character, who goes on a space adventure with a talking turtle named Nurtle. The film was produced by Belvision Studios in Belgium with some American involvement from Filmation and Fred Ladd. The film was not very successful and received mostly negative reviews.
Later Life and Death
After his acting career declined, Peter Lazer pursued other interests and reportedly attended New York University in the 1960s. He also got married to Mary E Donnelly in 1977 in Los Angeles and had a son named Benjamin Lazer, who was born in Woodstock, New York. Benjamin became a professional poker player and participated in the World Series of Poker circuit.
Peter Lazer died on November 14, 2008 in Poughkeepsie, New York at the age of 62, he was buried at a private memorial.
Peter Lazer was one of the many child stars who struggled to maintain their fame and success as adults. He left behind a legacy of some memorable performances and a son who followed his own path. He will always be remembered as the boy who played with Paul Newman and Pinocchio.
