Peter Rowley (sometimes credited as Harrison Rowley during his early career) (born April 29, 1952) is a New Zealand comic actor and writer. He is best known for his television roles, where he has played in numerous popular television series as

comic foil A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases f ...

and

straight man The straight man is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically, the straight man is expected to maintain composure. The direct contribution to the ...

to comedians such as Billy T. James,

David McPhail David Alexander McPhail (11 April 1945 – 14 May 2021) was a New Zealand comedic actor and writer whose television career spanned four decades. McPhail first won fame on sketch comedy show ''A Week of It'', partly thanks to his impressions of ...

and

Jon Gadsby Jonathan Ernest Gadsby (1 November 1953 – 12 December 2015) was a New Zealand television comedian and writer, most well known for his role in the comedy series ''McPhail and Gadsby'' co-starring alongside David McPhail. He died of canc ...

. Rowley started his comedy career in New Zealand. He made his New Zealand television debut as an actor and writer in the satirical sketch show ''

A Week of It ''A Week of It'' is a New Zealand television series screened from 1977 to 1979. A comedy sketch show, the series relied heavily on political satire, and as such was often written very shortly before it screened. Although it only ran for three yea ...

'', following which he continued to work with that show's stars David McPhail and Jon Gadsby in ''

McPhail and Gadsby McPhail is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Addie McPhail (1905–2003), American film actress *Alastair McPhail, British diplomat, the first British ambassador to South Sudan * Andy McPhail, Scottish rugby league footballer w ...

'' and '' Letter to Blanchy''. He also worked with Billy T. James in '' The Billy T James Show'', for which he also wrote material. He received title billing in the series '' Pete and Pio'' (1994) alongside fellow comedian

Pio Terei Pio Keith Terei (born 1958) is a Māori actor, singer and comedian on New Zealand television. Early career Early in his working life he sold light commercial trucks for 14 years. In 1995 Terei headlined his own TV3 show ''Pete and Pio'' wi ...

. In 2010, Rowley wrote and presented a tribute to the late Billy T. James, entitled '' Billy T. and Me''.Billy T. and Me with Peter Rowley
" ''thebigidea.co.nz,'' 12 May 2011. Rowley has also worked in feature films, most notably as the voice actor for the titular Dog in '' Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale''. His voice acting credentials also include work on the television series ''

Power Rangers Ninja Storm ''Power Rangers Ninja Storm'' is a television series and the eleventh season of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, based on the 26th Super Sentai series ''Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger''. The season marked a series of firsts in the franchise, being t ...

'', voicing the character Zurgane.

Filmography

*'' The Stranger'' (1964) as Jeffrey Mason *''

Fatty Finn ''Fatty Finn'' was a popular long-run Australian comic strip series, created in 1923 by Syd Nicholls. It ran in syndication until the creator's death in 1977. History In 1923 Syd Nicholls, a senior artist at Sydney's ''Evening News'', was aske ...

'' (1980) as Chauffeur *''

Prisoners A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

'' (1981) as Hapstood *''

A Dangerous Summer ''A Dangerous Summer'' (aka ''Flash Fire'') is a 1982 Australian crime film drama film directed by Quentin Masters and starring Tom Skerritt, Ian Gilmour, Guy Doleman and James Mason. Production The film was inspired by the Sydney bush fire ...

'' (1982) as Immigration Officer *''

Savage Islands The Savage Islands or Selvagens Islands ( pt, Ilhas Selvagens ; also known as the Salvage Islands) are a small Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Madeira, and north of the Canary Islands.

'' (1983) as Louis Beck *''Trespasses'' (1984) as Andy McIntire *''

Second Time Lucky ''Second Time Lucky'' is a 1984 New Zealand erotic comedy film directed by Michael Anderson and starring Diane Franklin and Roger Wilson.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p137 The story cent ...

'' (1984) as Technician 2 *''Pallet on the Floor'' (1984) as Henderson *''

Came a Hot Friday ''Came a Hot Friday'' is a 1985 New Zealand comedy film, based on the 1964 novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson. Directed and co-written by Ian Mune, it became one of the most successful local films released in New Zealand in the 1980s. The film's ca ...

'' (1985) as Bar Man *'' Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale'' (1986) as Dog (voice) *''

Those Dear Departed ''Those Dear Departed'', also known as ''Ghosts Can Do It!'', is a 1987 Australian black comedy film directed by Ted Robinson and starring Garry McDonald, Pamela Stephenson and Su Cruickshank.David Stratton, ''The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bu ...

'' (1987) as Prophet *'' Never Say Die'' (1988) as Armed Police Leader *'' The Climb'' (1997) as Rules Rhodes *''Cupid's Prey'' (2003) as Policeman *''

'' (2003, TV Series) as Zurgane (voice) *''

Power Rangers Dino Thunder ''Power Rangers Dino Thunder'' is the twelfth season of the television series, ''Power Rangers''. This in ...

'' (2004, TV Series) as Zurgane (voice) *''

Perfect Creature ''Perfect Creature'' is a 2007 New Zealand horror/thriller film from 2007, written and directed by Glenn Standring and starring Saffron Burrows and Dougray Scott, set in an alternate universe New Zealand. The New Zealand release date was 18 Oc ...

'' (2006) as Man In The Street *''Ozzie'' (2006) as Buzz Maroni *''

Russian Snark ''Russian Snark'' is a 2010 New Zealand film directed and written by Stephen Sinclair and produced by Liz DiFiore. The film features Stephen Papps, Elena Stejko, Stephanie Tauevihi and Te Waimarie Kessell. It is the story of Misha, a Russian f ...

'' (2010) as Neville *''Netherwood'' (2011) as Carl *''I Am Evangeline'' (2015) as The Weeping Man *''

Mortal Engines ''Mortal Engines'' is a young-adult science fantasy novel by Philip Reeve, published by Scholastic UK in 2001. The book focuses on a futuristic, steampunk version of London, now a giant machine striving to survive on a world that is runni ...

'' (2017) as Orme Wreyland

References

* New Zealand male comedians New Zealand male voice actors Living people 1952 births {{NewZealand-actor-stub