Peter Ronson(1934-2007)
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Born in Iceland, Peter began running track at a young age. He excelled
in this sport and in his late teens was on the Icelandic National Team
for the decathlon. He held several national records. While competing in
Europe, he met a runner from the United States who was currently
attending and competing for USC. After talking, the USC track athlete
asked him if he would ever consider coming to the United States to run
for USC. Peter said he would love to and after talking to the coach,
Peter began attending USC on a full scholarship. He came to the United
States with his 3 children (Lisa, Petur Jr., and Kristine). While at
USC (being in the right place at the right time) casting for a movie
was being done [Journey to the Center of the Earth] and the producer
was having a hard time finding someone to play Hans [a tall, strong
Icelandic native]. One of the producer's colleagues had a son who went
to USC. At a social event the son of the producer's colleague learned
about the trouble the producer was having finding someone to play Hans.
You can guess what happens from here. The colleague's son was on the
track team as well and told the producer "I have the perfect person for
the part." An audition was arranged and Peter soon went to try out for
the part. He was immediately cast in the role of Hans. After the movie
was filmed, Peter was offered a long-term acting contract that he
turned down. He felt that after making the movie he had no privacy and
did not want to live a life in the public eye. Later on, Peter competed
in the 1960 Rome Olympics for Iceland in the 110-Meter Hurdles. Since
then he married a Southern California native (of Danish decent) Marie
George (now Marie Ronson) and had two more sons, Brian and Stephen.
Both are currently licensed physicians in Southern California and are
very proud of their father.