Peter-Henry Schroeder, the veteran character actor best known for portraying the Klingon Chancellor in “Star Trek: Enterprise,” died peacefully on June 7 at Lake City VA Medical Center in Florida. He was 90 years old.
According to Deadline, Schroeder passed away surrounded by his family. During his final days at the medical facility, he frequently asked staff when he could return to Los Angeles to work, demonstrating his lifelong dedication to his craft.
Born on January 2, 1935, in Syracuse, New York, Schroeder lived in Los Angeles for 60 years before his death. His journey to Hollywood began after military service during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955, where he was assigned to a unit that participated in USO shows. During his service, he witnessed a performance by Marilyn Monroe, an encounter that would later inspire his 1964 recording “Memories of Marilyn.”
Following his military service, Schroeder studied acting with Paula Strasberg, who had also mentored Monroe. He pursued multiple creative endeavors, becoming a recording artist for Capital Records and Ascot. His first single, “Where’s the Girl for Me,” was released in 1960, followed by “Memories of Marilyn” four years later.
Schroeder made his film debut in 1979 with “The Seduction of Joe Tynan,” working alongside Meryl Streep and Alan Alda. The political drama marked the beginning of a steady career in character roles across film and television. He appeared in productions including “Fire in the Night,” “Hotshot,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” and “Hider in the House.”
Television work included guest appearances on “B.J. and the Bear” and “Thirtysomething.” He played a maître d’ in an episode of “Cheers” in 1989. His most recognizable role came in 2001 when he portrayed the Klingon Chancellor in a two-episode arc on “Star Trek: Enterprise.” The series, which served as a prequel to the original “Star Trek,” ran from 2001 to 2005.
Later in his career, Schroeder appeared in Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning 2012 film “Argo,” where he played a movie producer. His final screen role was in the 2020 political satire “Sammy-Gate,” in which he portrayed Santo Trafficante in a fictional story about Sammy Davis Jr. causing the Watergate scandal.
Beyond acting, Schroeder established himself as an educator and mentor in the entertainment industry. He formed his own production company, PHS Productions, and served as a guest teacher at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1979, he founded the Actor/Artist Group Workshop, where he trained and mentored hundreds of actors throughout his career.
His theatrical work included producing and starring in an award-winning production of Thomas Babe’s “A Prayer for My Daughter,” which ran seven nights a week for nine months in 1978 at the Richmond Shepard Studio Theatre in Hollywood.
Schroeder’s distinctive appearance often led to cases of mistaken identity with Jack Nicholson, which his family affectionately referred to as “Jack Attacks.” His obituary described him as “a quintessential Hollywood figure” whose charisma made him a recognizable presence in the industry.
Schroeder is survived by his daughter Valerie Lynn Schroeder, his son Peter Henry Schroeder II, daughter-in-law Felicia Cristiani Bass, and grandsons Peter Henry Schroeder III and Jarrid Michael Schroeder. His memorial page noted that he lived doing what he loved and expressed gratitude for “a long and rich life.”