obituaries news

R.I.P. Peter Donat, who played both Mannix villain and Agent Mulder's father

The former husband of Michael Learned was 90 years old.

September 17, 2018, 9:59AM By MeTV Staff

The Everett Collection

Peter Donat came from an acting family. His uncle, British actor Robert Donat, won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1939 for his starring role in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. His younger brother, Richard, currently has a recurring role in the series Haven and has narrated some Nova documentaries.

Born in Canada and later emigrating to America, Peter Donat is perhaps best known for playing the father of Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files. Though appearing in just a handful of episodes, Bill Mulder played a major part in the mythos of the series. He was the former partner of the Cigarette Smoking Man and worked on Operation Paper Clip, involving human-alien breeding and a DNA database. Deep X-Files stuff.

Donat's career stretched back decades. He first appeared on television in the early 1950s, on anthology series such as Kraft Theatre and The United States Steel Hour.

MeTV viewers might recognize him from his few small roles on Mannix, especially "Catspaw," in which he hypnotizes Peggy (Gail Fisher), and "Cry Danger," an episode set in San Francisco. Donat also appeared on detective shows like Hawaii Five-O ("Murder with a Golden Touch") and Harry O. He also turned up in the Charlie's Angels episode "Haunted Angels." In 1976-77, Donat landed a supporting role in Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, the sequel miniseries to one of the true ratings sensations of the decade.

In his private life, Donat had a connection to 1970s television, too. From 1956–72, he was married to Michael Learned, who played matriarch Olivia Walton on The Waltons.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Donat passed away last Monday. He was 90 years old.

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