Peter Coyote
Known for: Acting
Peter Coyote (born Rachmil Pinchus Ben Mosha Cohon; October 10, 1941) is an American actor, author, director, screenwriter and narrator of films, theatre, television and audio books. His voice work includes narrating the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics and Apple's iPad campaign. He has also served as on-camera co-host of the 2000 Oscar telecasts. Coyote was one of the founders of the Diggers, an anarchist improv group active in Haight-Ashbury during the mid-1960s. Coyote was also an actor, writer and director with the San Francisco Mime Troupe; his prominence in the San Francisco counter-culture scene led to his being interviewed for the noted book, Voices from the Love Generation. He acted in and directed the first cross-country tour of the Minstrel Show, and his play Olive Pits, co-authored with Mime Troupe member Peter Berg, won the Troupe an Obie Award from the Village Voice. Coyote became a member, and later chairman, of the California Arts Council from 1975 to 1983. In the late 1970s, he shifted from acting on stage to acting in films. In the 1990s and 2000s, he acted in several television shows. He speaks fluent Spanish and French.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Peter Coyote (voice)
1989
Series
NCIS
Ned Quinn
2003
Series
Blue Bloods
Senator Ted McCreary
2010
Series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Lionel Shill
2001
Series
Nature
Narrator (voice)
1982
Series
Brothers and Sisters
Mark August
2006
Series
American Experience
Narrator (voice)
1988
Series
Independent Lens
1999
Series
American Playhouse
Young David
1982
Series
The Twilight Zone
(segment "Shadow Play")
1985
Series
The Division
Ross
2001
Series
Perception
James Alan Pierce
2012
Series
Deadwood
General George Crook
2004
Series
The 4400
Dennis Ryland
2004
Series
Cybill
Roger
1995
Series
The Hitchhiker
Alex Nolan
1983
Series
FlashForward
Dave Segovia
2009
Film
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Keys
1982
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
Commander in Chief
Warren Keaton
2005
Series
Law & Order: LA
Jerry Hardin
2010
Series
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Mike LaSalle
2005
Series
Fallen Angels
Herman Charn
1993
Series
The Vietnam War
Self - Narrator (voice)
2017
Film
Erin Brockovich
Kurt Potter
2000
Series
National Geographic Explorer
1985
Series
National Geographic Explorer
Self - Narrator
1985
Series
National Geographic Explorer
Himself - Narrator (voice)
1985
Series
Intelligence
Leland Strand
2014
Film
A Walk to Remember
Reverend Sullivan
2002
Film
Bitter Moon
Oscar
1992
Series
The Inside
Special Agent Virgil "Web" Webster
2005
Series
The American Revolution
Narrator (voice)
2025
Series
Benjamin Franklin
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
Patch Adams
Bill Davis
1998
Series
The Spoils Before Dying
Dizzy the Cat
2015
Film
Femme Fatale
Watts
2002
Series
The Real History of Science Fiction
Himself
2014
Series
Prohibition
Self - Narrator (voice)
2011
Series
The Disappearance
Henry Sullivan
2017
Film
Sphere
Captain Harold C. Barnes
1998
Series
The West
Self - Narrator
1996
Series
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Narrator
2009
Series
Country Music
Narrator
2019
Series
The Comey Rule
Robert Mueller
2020
Series
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
Narrator (voice)
2014
Series
The American Buffalo
Narrator (voice)
2023
Series
The U.S. and the Holocaust
Self - Narrator (voice)
2022
Series
Helter Skelter: An American Myth
Self - Actor, Diggers Early Core Member
2020
Series
Echoes in the Darkness
William Bradfield Jr.
1987
Series
Hemingway
Narrator (voice)
2021
Film
Random Hearts
Cullen Chandler
1999
Series
Great Migrations
2010
Film
Jagged Edge
Thomas Krasny
1985
Series
The Color of War
Narrator
2001
Film
The Legend of Billie Jean
Ringwald
1985
Film
The Girl Who Believes in Miracles
Sam Donovan
2021
Film
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Maxwell Perkins
2012
Series
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Courtney Taylor
1980
Film
Hippies
Self
2007
Series
Seduced by Madness
Ruben Borchardt
1996
Film
Spielberg
Self
2017
Film
Southern Comfort
Poole
1981
Film
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann
Porter Reese
1982
Film
Kika
Nicholas Pierce
1993
Film
Good Kill
Langley
2015
Series
Rome: Power & Glory
Narrator
1998
Film
Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief
President Sterling
2008
Series
Founding Fathers
John Hancock (voice) / Thomas Jefferson (voice)
2000
Film
Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis
Uncle Charles
2005
Film
Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil
President Adair T. Manning
2006
Film
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Self - Narrator (voice)
2005
Film
Resurrecting the Champ
Ike Epstein
2007
The Pacific Century
Narrator (voice)
1992
Film
DiDi Hollywood
Michael McLean
2010
Film
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
Uncle Charles
2005
Series
La Californie !
Self - Actor / Activist
2023
Series
On the Trail of Easy Rider: 40 Years On... Still Searching for America
Self
2011
Film
The Mayo Clinic
Self - Narrator (voice)
2018
Film
Unconquered
Richmond Flowers Sr.
1989
Series
Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League
Himself - Narrator
2009
Series
The History of Sex
Himself - Narrator
1999
Collision Course: Labor Management Relations in America
Narrator
1988
Series
The Dust Bowl
Peter Coyote
2012
Series
San Francisco Sounds: A Place in Time
Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
Film
Unforgettable
Don Bresler
1996
Film
Endangered Species
Steele
1982
Film
Fog City Mavericks
Self - Narrator (voice)
2007
Series
Kennedy
Narrator (voice)
2023
Film
All Roads Lead Home
Hock
2008
Film
Outrageous Fortune
Michael Sanders
1987
Film
Top of the World
Doc 'The Butcher'
1997
Film
A Little Trip to Heaven
Frank
2005
Film
The Etruscan Smile
Professor
2018
Film
Shadow of Fear
Congressman Henderson
2004
Film
High Art
Peter Mandrake
1991
Film
Moment of Contact
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
Route 9
Sheriff Dwayne Hogan
1998
Film
1 Mile To You
Principal Umber
2017
Film
National Geographic: Surviving Everest
Narrator
2003
Series
Founding Brothers
2002
Series
Guns Germs & Steel
Narrator (voice)
2005
Film
Dalva
Michael
1996
Film
Earth and the American Dream
Reader (voice)
1992
Film
Here
Storyteller
2011
Film
Moonlight and Valentino
Paul
1995
Film
These Amazing Shadows
Self
2011
Film
Girl on the Edge
Hank Taylor
2015
Series
Dangerous Waters
Self
2012
Film
The Hebrew Hammer
JJL Chief Bloomenbergensteinenthal
2003
Film
Northfork
Eddie
2003
Film
A Man in Love
Steve Elliott
1987
Film
Olompali: A Hippie Odyssey
narrator
2019
Film
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
Self
1996
Series
21st Century Jet: The Building of the 777
Self - Narrator (voice)
1996
Film
People vs. Jean Harris
George Bolen
1981
Film
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Narrator
1995
Film
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Courtney Taylor
1980
Film
The Gundown
Thomas Morgan
2011
Film
The Reality of Truth
Self
2016
Film
Crooked Hearts
Edward Warren
1991
Film
The Price of Fame
Crooker
2015
Film
Deepwater
Herman Finch
2005
Film
Phenomenon II
John Ringold
2003
Film
Robert Bly: A Thousand Years of Joy
Self
2015
Film
The Basket
Martin Conlon
2000
Film
Titanic: Breaking New Ground
Narrator
1998
Film
Road Ends
Gene Gere
1997
Film
A Time for Dancing
Wyn Michaels
2002
Film
Bon Voyage
Alex Winckler
2003
Film
In the Light of Reverence
Narrator (voice)
2001
Film
Angel Azul
Narrator
2014
Film
Terminal Justice
Deacon Vivyan
1996
Film
Lightworkers
Self-Interviewee
2026
Film
The Phenomenon
Narrator (voice)
2020
Film
Eva & Leon
Le Père
2015
Film
Slayground
Stone
1984
Film
Murder on Shadow Mountain
Dennis 'Denny' Traynor
1999
Film
Buffalo Girls
Buffalo Bill Cody
1995
Film
Keeper of the City
Frank Nordhall
1991
Film
Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey
Narrator (voice)
1990
Film
What If Cannabis Cured Cancer
Narration
2010
Film
Cross Creek
Norton Baskin
1983
Series
The Tent Mender
as Narrator
2021
Film
Out
Rex
1982
Film
Heart of Midnight
Sharpe/Larry
1988
Film
More Dogs Than Bones
Detective Darren Cody
2000
Film
No Deposit
Police Chief Williams
2015
Film
Echoes in the Darkness
William Bradfield Jr.
1987
Film
The Gospel of Judas
2006
Film
The Gospel of Judas
Narrator
2006
Film
Out of the Blue
Narrator (voice)
2003
Film
Moment of Contact: New Revelations of Alien Encounters
Narrator (voice)
2025
Film
That Eye, the Sky
Henry Warburton
1995
Film
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election
Narrator
2002
Film
Indiscreet
Detective Roos
1998
Film
The Secrets of 007
Narrator (voice)
1997
Film
A Seduction in Travis County
Frank Maguire
1991
Film
Good Men
Self
2024
Darryl Henriques Is in Show Business
Self
2006
Film
$5 a Day
Burt Kruger
2008
Film
Adopt a Sailor
Richard
2008
Film
Tell Me a Riddle
Young David
1980
Film
The Great Role
Rudolph Grichenberg
2004
Film
Bangkok, We Have A Problem!
Burt Lowell
2014
Film
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 20th Anniversary Special
Self
2002
Film
Alaska's Great Wilderness Denali: The Living Edens
Narrator
1997
Film
Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology
Narrator (voice)
2011
Film
Wandering...But Not Lost
Narrator
2021
Film
Illicit: The Dark Trade
Self - Narrator (voice)
2008
Film
Woody Guthrie: Ain't Got No Home
Narrator (voice)
2006
Film
Murder in My Mind
Arthur Lefcourt
1997
Film
Heartbreakers
Blue
1984
Film
Hollywood's Magical Island: Catalina
Narrator (voice)
2003
Film
Die Laughing
Davis
1980
Film
Red Letters
Dennis Burke
2000
Film
Last Call
Xuave
1999
Film
This Is Not a Movie
2011
Film
Baja Oklahoma
Slick Henderson
1988
Film
A Cloud Never Dies
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
Jack the Dog
Alfred
2001
Film
Sworn to Silence
Sam Fischetti
1987
Film
The Ghost Army
Narrator (Voice)
2013
Film
Antonio's Road
Breaking News Reporter (voice)
2026
Film
Child's Cry
Matt Townsend
1986
Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of a Sorcerer
2004
Film
I Know What I Saw
Narrator (voice)
2009
Film
Jack Kerouac: King of the Beats
Narrator
1985
Film
A Coup in Camelot
Narrator (voice)
2015
Film
Grizzly Diaries
Narrator (voice)
2003
Film
Midwives
Stephen Hastings
2001
Film
Green Fire
Aldo Leopold (voice)
2011
Film
Strangers Kiss
Stanley, the Director
1983
Film
The Beatles, Hippies & Hells Angels: Inside the Crazy World of Apple
Himself - Narrator
2017
Film
Written In Blood
John Traveller
2003
Film
Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story
Elliot Arthur
2008
Film
24 Hours After: Asteroid Impact
Narrator
2009
Film
Summer of Love
Himself
2018
Film
A Single Woman
Maury Maverick
2008
Film
Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal
Self
2013
Film
The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero -- And Nuclear Peril Today
Narrator
2025
Film
Americana
Ben
2016
Film
Best Kept Secrets
Frank Mitchell
1984
Film
Cold War on Ice: Summit Series '72
Narrator
2012
Film
Last Will
Judge Garner
2011
Film
Jerry Brown: The Disrupter
Self
2022
Film
The Wednesday Woman
Don Wigulow
2000
Film
The Remarkable Life of John Weld
Narrator
2018
Film
Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
2017
Film
The Blue Yonder
Max Knickerbocker
1985
Film
Purpose
Bernard Elias
2002
Film
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - The Fillmore
Voice of Urban Renewal (Voice)
2001
Film
The Program
Narrator (voice)
2024
A Daring Journey: From Immigration to Education
Narrator
2015
Film
Avalanche: The White Death
Narrator
1998
Film
Finding Anastasia
Narrator
2008
Film
Troubled Waters: A Turtle's Tale
Self - Narrator (voice)
2019
Film
Breach of Conduct
Col. Andrew Case
1994
Film
Suddenly Naked
Lionel Heathcote
2001
Huichols and Pesticides
Narrator (voice)
Film
The Tribe
Voice
2005
Film
National Geographic Explorer: The Battle For Midway
Himself - Narrator
1999
Film
AKA Tommy Chong
Himself
2006
Film
Two for Texas
Jim Bowie
1998
Film
The Four Corners: A National Sacrifice Area?
Narrator (voice)
1983
Film
Strange Culture
Self
2007
Film
Soldiers Of Conscience
Self
2007
Film
As If They Were Angels
Narrator
2018
Film
The Co-op Wars
Narrator (voice)
2021
Film
The Brain Fitness Program
2008
Film
The Weight of a Feather: The Liberty Wildlife Story
Narrator
2022
Film
Against All Enemies
Narrator
2023
Texas Gold
Narrator
2008
Film
Scorned and Swindled
Anthony Ristelli
1984
Film
One Man, One Cow, One Planet
Narrator
2007
Film
Nepal Beyond
Narrator
2021
Film
Cornellskop: Freedom From Fear
Narrator
2026
Film
Stacking
The Photographer
1987
Film
Karmapa - Two Ways of Divinity
Narrator, English version (voice)
1998
Film
Downwinders and the Radioactive West
Narrator (voice)
2021
Film
Realm of the Ancient Redwoods
Narrator
2014
Film
National Geographic's Storm of the Century
Self - Narrator (voice)
1998
Film
O Mother Gaia: The World of Gary Snyder
Self
2025
Film
Bag It
Self
2011
Film
Marriner Eccles: Father of the Modern Federal Reserve
Narrator
2021
Film
Paolo Soleri: Beyond Form
Narrator
2013
Film
About Face: Jewish Refugees in the Allied Forces
Narrator (voice)
2020
Film
National Geographic Special: Secret Cities of the Amazon
Film
Commune
self, Black Bear resident
2005
Film
Saving Atlantis
2018
Film
Execution of Justice
Harvey Milk
1999
Film
Pretty Slick - The Deep Water Horizon Environmental Coverup - Extended Directors Cut
Narrator
Film
Emperor of Hemp
Narrator
1999
San Francisco Diggers
1998
Film
The Atomic Tree
Narrator
2019
Film
Bad Faith
Narrator (voice)
2024
Film
Who Wants to Live Forever? The Wisdom of Aging.
Himself
2016
Polanski y los ojos del mal
Himself
2002
Film
Breach of Contract
1982
Rise Above the Mark
Narrator
2012
Film
Seeds of Doubt
1998
Film
Torturing Democracy
Narrator
2009
Film
Poison in the Rockies
Narrator (voice)
1990
Film
Polanski, le travail à l'oeuvre
Self
2019
Film
What The Tourist Should See
Narrator (voice)
2009
For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska
Self - Narrator (voice)
2009
Film
With One Voice
Narrator
2009
Film
The Hippie Temptation
Digger
1967
Huxley on Huxley
Self
2009
Film
Spirit of Golf
Self
2023
Film
Contrary Warriors: A Film of the Crow Tribe
Narrator (voice)
1985
Film
The Last Stand
Narrator (voice)
2022
Film
Valparaiso
Edward G. Drexler
2012
Film
The Man Inside
Henry Tobel
1990
Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction
Narrator
2010
Film
Fields of Gold
Narrator
2023
Film
Alaska Far Away
Narrator
2008
Bare Knuckle Filming: The Construction of Northfork
Narrator
2003
Right to Play
Narrator
2012
Film
Living a Lie
Matt
1991
Film
San Francisco Stories
Narrator/SInger
2021
Film
Isabel's Choice
Wynn Thomas
1981
Film
Oil on Ice
Narrator
2004
Film
Nazi Mystery - Twins From Brazil
Narrstor (voice)
2009
A Dreamer and the Dreamtribe
Narrator
1998
Film
Hayden's Corner
Narrator (voice)
Chattahoochee: From Water War to Water Vision
Narrator
2010
Film
Empty Oceans, Empty Nets
Narrator (voice)
2002
Film
The Sunday Man
The Voice
2007
Film
I am Fishead
narrator
2011
Film
Black Mountain Blues
2025
The War Prayer
Narrator
2005
Film
Reconstructing T-Rex
Narrator
2010
Film
Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder
Narrator
2009
Roots of Roe
James Morris (voice)
1993
Film
The Peyote Road
Narrator
1994
Film
Oceans in Glass
Narrator
2011
Film
Climbing Redwood Giants
Self - Narrator (voice)
2009
Missing in Tibet
Narrator
1999
Sunseed: The Journey
Narrator (voice)
2020
Film
The Sacramento River of Life
Narrator
2005
The UFO Experience
1982
Film
Almost Thirteen
Narrator
2020
Film
Search for the Submarine I-52
Narrator
2000