What is Peter Billingsley’s net worth and salary?
Peter Billingsley, an American actor, director, and producer, has a net worth of $12 million, primarily earned from his role as Ralphie in the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story”.
Billingsley has since pursued a successful career as a film and television producer.
Peter Billingsley’s Early Life and Education
Peter Billingsley was born in New York City in 1971 to a father who worked in finance and a mother who helped her children with their show business careers. Peter’s older sister Melissa Michaelsen and older brother Neil Billingsley had some success on TV and in commercials.
As an infant, Peter began appearing in television commercials and eventually starred in hundreds of them. He received his early education from a mix of tutors and attended public and private schools such as Phoenix Country Day School in Arizona and the Professional Children’s School in New York City. He was also taught by studio teacher Wesley Staples.
Peter Billingsley’s Early Acting Career
Peter Billingsley’s first major acting role was in a Geritol commercial with Betty Buckley when he was two years old. He went on to star in over 120 television ads in the 1970s and early 1980s. He is most remembered for playing “Messy Marvin” in a series of Hershey’s chocolate syrup commercials.
Peter Billingsley’s Rise to Fame with “A Christmas Story”
Peter Billingsley’s earliest film role was in 1978’s “If Ever I See You Again”. He appeared in a few films and television shows between 1978 and 1983.
In 1983, he landed the role of “Ralphie” in the film that would make him famous forever: “A Christmas Story”. While the movie didn’t initially do well, it gained a cult following over the years and is now frequently played 24-hours a day on several channels during the holidays.
Decades after the movie’s release, Peter admitted that he can’t avoid watching it at Christmas and enjoys catching bits and pieces of it when it’s on in the background.
Royalties from “A Christmas Story”
In a 2018 interview with PageSix, Peter Billingsley declined to disclose how much he earns in royalties today from “A Christmas Story”. However, he did express his hope that the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is working towards fair compensation for actors whose movies are aired on television frequently. He believes that the scale has tipped for movies like “A Christmas Story” to air so many times without any compensation for the actors.
According to Peter’s co-star Zack Ward, who played Scut Farkus, he still receives royalty checks from the movie, but they are not substantial. He revealed that he makes about $1,800 every two years, and the checks come in Canadian currency since the movie was shot in Canada.
Child Ambassador to NASA’s Space Program
In the early 1980s, Peter was appointed by Nancy Reagan to be a child ambassador to NASA’s space program. Around this time Christa McAuliffe was chosen from thousands of candidates to fly on the Challenger space shuttle as part of NASA’s fateful “Teacher in Space Project”.
Tragically, this program ended in disaster on January 28, 1986 when Challenger experienced a fatal catastrophic explosion. The explosion was caused by flawed “O-Rings” that were damaged due to cold temperatures on the morning of the launch. The O-Rings had been causing damage even without cold temperatures. In tests conducted by manufacturer Morton-Thiokol, engineers were convinced that the O-Rings would cause a fatal disaster eventually even without cold temperatures.
Peter has indicated, somewhat ominously, that he was told by NASA officials that he would be the first child in space upon the successful return of Christa McAuliffe’s Challenger mission.
Peter Billingsley’s Career in the 1990s and Beyond
After a successful career in the 1980s, Peter Billingsley’s acting career slowed down in the 1990s. He made guest appearances and took on small parts, but remained in the entertainment industry. In 1994, he earned an Emmy nomination for his appearance in “The Writing on the Wall.” He later earned another Emmy nomination in 2001 as a producer for the series “Dinner for Five,” which starred his friend Jon Favreau.
Through his friendship with Vince Vaughn, Peter became friends with Jon Favreau, and their connections would prove valuable in his career. He produced several movies directed by Favreau, including “Zathura: A Space Adventure” and the first installment of “Iron Man.” He also had a small acting role in “Elf” and later reprised his role in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” In 2009, he made his directing debut with “Couples Retreat,” which starred both Vaughn and Favreau. He also served as an executive producer for several TV shows, including “Sullivan & Son” and “F Is for Family.”
Peter Billingsley’s Manhattan Beach Mansion
Peter Billingsley purchased a luxurious, 6-bedroom mansion located in Manhattan Beach, California for $3.175 million in September 2018. The impressive property spans 5,200 square feet and offers ample space for comfortable living and entertaining guests.
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