Peters, Rollo

(1892-1967)

   Charles Rollo Peters III was born in Paris, but spent his early life in California as the son of painter Charles Rollo Peters. His theatrical career offered a rare combination—actor and scene designer—with successes in each area. Peters acted and designed for the Washington Square Players and provided settings for Minnie Maddern Fiske's production of Madame Sand (1917) before becoming a founding member of the Theatre Guild, acting in and designing their first production, Jacinto Benavente's The Bonds of Interest (1919). He also acted in the Guild's production of St. John Ervine's John Ferguson (1919) and played Romeo opposite Jane Cowl in a production he designed in 1923, partnering Cowl again in Antony and Cleopatra (1924). Peters also played significant roles in Trelawny of the "Wells" (1928), Diplomacy (1928), The Age of Innocence (1928), and The Rivals (1930), and he acted in and designed revivals of The Streets of New York* (1931) and The Pillars of Society (1931).