House Peters Jr. spent over 32 years in Hollywood as a well-respected,
journeyman character actor and occasional star of B-movies. Beginning
his career in 1935's
Hot Tip (1935), he
went on to portray mostly supporting characters and a host of baddies
in a large number of stage roles, films, serials, TV shows and
commercials.
House was born into an acting family, the son of silent screen star
House Peters and actress Mae King Peters.
Affectionately known as "Junior" or "Juny" by friends and relatives, he
grew up in Beverly Hills, attended local schools with many children of
Hollywood's elite and dove into the acting business upon graduation
from Beverly Hills High, with modest success. With his new career put
on hold because of WWII, House served in the U.S. Army Air Corps' Air
Sea Rescue section as a small-boat operator. Meeting and subsequently
marrying Lucy Pickett during his tour in the Phillipines, he returned
home after the war and resumed his career. During the late 1940s, 1950s
and early 1960s, House found a lot of work in both movies and
television, playing such roles as soldiers, police detectives, western
outlaws and even as the original Mr. Clean in a popular string of TV
commercials. Peters had set himself a goal when he began his acting
career that if he didn't achieve star status by age 50, he would leave
show business for good. Being true to his word after remaining typed as
a perennial supporting player, he left the set after finishing a
Lassie (1954) episode in 1965 in which
he played a recurring role as county sheriff Jim Simmons, and ended his
career. From that day forward House went into the real estate business
in the San Fernando Valley and never turned back. When he finally
retired from this profession, he and Lucy toured the entire country
many times over in their van and travel trailer, fishing, gold
prospecting, site seeing and attending every swap meet they could find.
He was the recipient of the coveted Golden Boot Award and penned an
autobiography, "Another Side of Hollywood," House makes occasional
appearances at western film festivals, including the ever-popular
gathering at Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, California. If he had
anything to do over again in his entire life, Peters emphatically
proclaims that it would be to "change my name!"
Lassie(1954)as Sheriff Jim Billings, Sheriff, Sheriff Benson, Sheriff Billings, Sheriff Jim Simmons, Sheriff Tom
The Great Sioux Massacre(1965)as Reporter
The Virginian(1962)as Bartender
Rio Conchos(1964)as Pardee Officer
Perry Mason(1957)as Lt. Jeffers, Plainclothesman
American Masters(1985)as Actor 'Rebel without a Cause'
Kraft Mystery Theater(1961)as Association Man
The Matchmaking Marshal(1955)as Jason
Thunder Over Sangoland(1955)
The Vanishing Outpost(1951)as Henchman
