John Richard Petersen

John Richard Petersen was born and raised in Schiller Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. John knew at an early age he was destined for the stage. Plays in grade school, along with John's dabbling in the art of magic, helped prepare him for his involvement in high school drama where he blossomed on the stage. After graduating from East Leyden High School John headed west and attended college at the University of Arizona where he was offered a full acting scholarship after his first semester. Tucson, Arizona and it's old west movie studio location "Old Tucson" was a favorite with Michael Landon and John soon found himself on the set of "Little House on the Prairie" and "Father Murphy" in addition to Sidney Poitier's films "Stir Crazy" and "Hanky Panky" as extra and stand in. After three years of college John decided to make the move to Hollywood, leaving his studies behind him without graduating, one of his biggest regrets. Hollywood work soon started as an extra a