Eric Petersen

American actor

This article is about the American Broadway and television actor. For others with a similar name, see Erik Petersen (disambiguation).

Eric Petersen

Born|

Carol Stream, Illinois, U.S.

Alma mater| Bradley University
Occupation| Actor
Years active| 2006–present
Spouse|

Lisa Marie Morabito

(m. 2007)​

Children| 2

Eric Petersen is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as the titular character in the AMC dark comedy series Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022), and for playing the title character in the first US national tour of Shrek The Musical (2010).

## Early life[edit]

Petersen was born in Carol Stream, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and attended Glenbard North High School. He began acting during his freshman year of high school, after quitting the football team and subsequently missing soccer tryouts. His friend suggested that he audition for a role in the school production of The Hobbit, and the experience of playing that role inspired him to continue acting.[1] Afterwards, he attended Bradley University, where he graduated in 2003 with a degree in theater.[2]

## Career[edit]

After graduating from Bradley, Petersen took a role on the US national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He played William Barfee, one of the contestants in the eponymous spelling bee.[3] He followed this effort with Shrek the Musical, serving at first as an understudy for the title character. Six months after the show opened in 2008, Petersen became part of the first round of replacements, and played Shrek on Broadway for another six months.[4] When Shrek The Musical began its first national tour in 2010, Petersen once again served in the titular role.[5]

Living in New York City at the time, Petersen made the transition into TV with a two-episode arc in the long-running soap opera As the World Turns. He played a "Bad Santa"-type criminal who held one of the main characters hostage as part of an attempted robbery.[6] He followed this with a series of bit parts in shows such as The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[7] In 2012, Petersen was cast as a series lead in Giant Baby, later renamed Kirstie, where he starred as Arlo, the long-lost son of Madison Banks (Kirstie Alley).[8][9]

In 2021, Petersen starred opposite Annie Murphy as the titular character in the AMC dark comedy series Kevin Can F**k Himself. Petersen's character was meant to channel the stereotypical "sitcom husband", in the style of The King of Queens, The Honeymooners, and Family Guy, while revealing the dissatisfaction of Murphy's character, Allison.[10]

Eric, and producer Danny Jordan, host two podcasts; Christmas Countdown Show and Parenting Countdown Podcast. Both podcasts share a similar format, in which the hosts countdown show related topics such as movies, TV, music, and special experiences. [11][12]

## Personal life[edit]

Petersen married his wife, fellow musical theater actress Lisa Marie Morabito, in 2007. They have two children together: Sophia and Miles.[13]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2009  | Evan and Gareth Are Trying to Get Laid | Hank  | TV film
2013  | Life with Maddie | Arlo Barth  | Short film
2014  | The Brittany Murphy Story | Simon Monjack | TV film
Naughty & Nice | Jonah  | TV film
2018  | Groomzilla | Scoot  | TV film
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | Boarder  |
2019  | Detective Pikachu | Lead Cop  |
2021  | Raunch and Roll | Nia's father  |

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2007  | As the World Turns | Santa #1  | 2 episodes
2010  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jake  | Episode: "Quickie"
Law & Order | Anderson Leavitt  | Episode: "Brazil"
Outlaw | Stan Zaret  | Episode: "Pilot"
2011  | Modern Family | Tree Salesman  | Episode: "Express Christmas"
2012  | GCB | Angus Horvath  | Episode: "Turn the Other Cheek"
Jessie | Dr. Cyrus Van Adams  | Episode: "We Are So Grounded"
2013–14  | Kirstie | Arlo Barth  | Series regular
2014  | The Big Bang Theory | Eric  | Episode: "The Locomotive Manipulation"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Todd Burris  | Episode: "Consumed"
2015  | F'd | Ronnie  | Episode: "Trapped in the Closet"
Kirby Buckets | Mr. Gibonson  | Episode: "Balloonacy!" (voice role)
2016  | NCIS | 'Pale' Dale Matteson  | Episode: "Shell Game"
2019  | Sydney to the Max | Don  | 3 episodes
2020–21  | Madagascar: A Little Wild | Ant'ney, various voice roles  | 19 episodes
2021–22  | Kevin Can F**k Himself | Kevin McRoberts  | Main role
2022  | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty | Stan  | Episode: "Memento Mori"
2023  | The Curse | Dennis (mistakenly credited as "Eric Peterson")  | Episode: "It's a Good Day"

### Theatre[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2006–08  | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | William Barfee  | US national tour
2008–10  | Shrek the Musical | Shrek  | Understudy, replacement
2010–11  | Shrek the Musical | Shrek  | US national tour
2012–13  | Peter and the Starcatcher | Ted  | Replacement
2015  | Elf | Buddy  | North American tour
2015–19  | School of Rock | Dewey  | Replacement (2016–17)
2017  | Escape to Margaritaville | Brick  | North American tour
2018  | Escape to Margaritaville | Brick  |

## Awards and nominations[edit]

Year  | Association  | Category  | Work  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2021

| Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program  | Madagascar: A Little Wild | Nominated  | [14]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Gire, Dann (December 3, 2013). "Comical Carol Stream kid hits Broadway, and now TV Land". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
2. ^ Renken, Leslie (November 17, 2018). "Performing artist Eric Petersen returns to his alma mater BU". Journal Star. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
3. ^ Hodgins, Paul (December 21, 2006). "Theater: 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'". The Orange County Register. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
4. ^ Brackett, Kevin (September 10, 2010). "Interview with 'Shrek,' Actor Eric Petersen – 'Shrek The Musical' is Coming to St. Louis From September 11–26!". ReviewSTL.com. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
5. ^ Vitello, Barbara (July 8, 2010). "Carol Stream native steps into title role in 'Shrek the Musical'". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
6. ^ Smith, Katlyn (November 30, 2017). "Broadway actor to Glenbard North theater students: 'Remember where you're from'". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
7. ^ "School of Rock's Eric Petersen on Getting Big Laughs as a Second Grader, His Green Day Obsession & More". Broadway.com. December 15, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 6, 2012). "Eric Petersen Lands Co-Lead Opposite Kirstie Alley In TV Land Pilot 'Giant Baby'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
9. ^ Purcell, Casey (December 23, 2013). "PLAYBILL.COM'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER With Eric Petersen, Co-Starring With Kirstie Alley in TV Land's "Kirstie"". Playbill. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
10. ^ Han, Angie (June 17, 2021). "How 'Kevin Can F—k Himself' created the best worst sitcom husband". Mashable. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
11. ^ "Christmas Countdown • A podcast on Anchor". Anchor. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
12. ^ "Parenting Countdown • A podcast on Anchor". Anchor. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
13. ^ "Alumni Spotlight: Lisa Morabito Petersen". The First Academy. February 8, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
14. ^ "Children's & Lifestyle Nominations". Emmy Awards. Retrieved July 1, 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Eric Petersen at IMDb
* Eric Petersen at the Internet Broadway Database

*[m.]: married
*[Ref.]: References