Biography
A native of Decorah, Iowa, Mark Pinter attended Iowa State University, where he received a BA in Theatre Arts; and Wayne State University in Detroit, receiving his Master of Fine Arts in acting from the prestigious Hilberry Repertory Theatre.
Pinter has portrayed memorable and long-running characters on daytime television for all of the major networks, including "Roger Smythe" on All My Children (1970) and "Grant Harrison" in Another World (1964), for which he received the coveted Best Villain Award from Soap Opera Digest in 1996. In addition, he has guest-starred on countless primetime television series including NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), Cold Case (2003), Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), Charlie's Angels (1976), The Love Boat (1977), Hart to Hart (1979) and Hunter (1984).
Pinter made his motion picture debut in Norman Jewison's Other People's Money (1991) and starred in the highly controversial picture, The Eden Myth (1999) for Hollywood Films. He had a featured role in Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky (2001), and can be seen in Eric Perlmutter's indy feature, Season of Youth (2003) and the short film, Play (2010).
On stage, Pinter has performed on regional theatre stages throughout the country including "Becky's New Car" for North Coast Rep, "The Price" for Northern Stage, "Book of Days" for ArenaStage, "Hamlet" for the Old Globe, "Charley's Aunt" for Carter CenterStage, "Equus", "Black Comedy" and "The Shadow Box" for Arizona Theatre Company, "Victor/Victoria" for North Shore Music Theatre, "The Sound of Music" for Syracuse Stage, "Hello, Dolly!" for Bucks County Playhouse, "Follies" for Little Theatre on the Square and the world premiere of "Courting the Muse" for the White Barn Theatre, starring opposite Tony Award-winner, Lillias White. Off-Broadway, he starred as "Stanford White" in the New York premiere of Don Nigro's "My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon" for the Hypothetical Theatre Company, as well as the American premiere of Carl Djerassi's "Three on a Couch", at the Soho Playhouse in New York City.
Pinter directed the off-Broadway world premiere of Jonathan Bell's "Portraits", starring Roberta Maxwell and the late Dana Reeve, to much critical acclaim. He also directed Charles Keating and Patrick Horgan in a memorable revival of David Storey's "Home" for the Wilton Playshop.
Pinter was married to actress Colleen Zenk, who portrayed the role of "Barbara Ryan" for 30 years on the long-running CBS daytime series, As the World Turns (1956).
