Peter Facinelli

Peter Facinelli was born on November 26, 1973, in Queens, New York, the youngest of four children to Italian immigrant parents, Bruna and Pierino Facinelli. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School and initially enrolled at St. John’s University before pursuing his passion for acting at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York, where prominent actors like William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman were among his instructors. Facinelli’s initial screen appearance was in Rebecca Miller’s film “Angela” in 1995. He continued to build his acting portfolio with roles in television and film, including “The Price of Love” (1995) and “An Unfinished Affair” (1996), where he met his future wife, Jennie Garth. This period established his presence in the industry, taking on diverse character types and laying the groundwork for a long-standing career in entertainment.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Facinelli expanded his filmography. Notable roles during this time include co-starring in “Touch Me” (1997) and playing Mike Dexter in the 1998 film “Can’t Hardly Wait.” He also appeared in “The Scorpion King” (2002). His television career saw him in recurring roles on series such as “Fastlane” (2002-2003), “Six Feet Under” (2004-2005), and “Damages” (2007). A significant turning point in his career came in 2008 when he was cast as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the highly popular “Twilight” film series, a role he reprised in its subsequent installments through “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” (2012). Concurrently, from 2009 to 2015, he played Dr. Fitch “Coop” Cooper in the Showtime series “Nurse Jackie,” appearing in 73 episodes.

Beyond acting, Facinelli ventured into directing and producing with his company, Facinelli Films. He wrote and produced the 2011 film “Loosies,” in which he also starred. He also produced and co-wrote the Hallmark Channel telefilm “Accidentally in Love” (2011). His directorial credits include “Breaking & Exiting” (2018), “The Vanished” (2020), and “On Fire” (2023). Facinelli also co-authored the novel “After the Red Rain” in 2015, demonstrating his versatility as a creative professional. His career also includes a recurring role as Maxwell Lord in the TV series “Supergirl” (2015-2016), showcasing his continuous engagement across various platforms in the entertainment industry.