- Peter Venkman
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Peter Venkman 
First appearance Ghostbusters (1984) Created by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis Portrayed by Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters: The Video Game)
Lorenzo Music (Real Ghostbusters (1986–87))
Dave Coulier (Real Ghostbusters (1988–91), Extreme Ghostbusters guest star)Information Occupation Scientist
GhostbusterFamily Charlie Venkman (father) Nationality American Peter Venkman, Ph.D. is a fictional character from the Ghostbusters franchise. He is a parapsychologist and member of the Ghostbusters, appearing in the films Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II and in the animated television series The Real Ghostbusters. In both the live action films, he was portrayed by Bill Murray, and was voiced in the animated series first by Lorenzo Music and then by Dave Coulier.
In 2008, Peter Venkman was selected by the magazine Empire as one of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time,[1] described by Empire's Nick de Semlyen as "the ultimate New York hero: cynical, sarcastic, secretly sweet-natured",[1] "a man possessed by manic spontaneity, with a wont to twirl in circles around a public concourse or declare undying love for a woman he's just met", and the "most popular" character played by Murray.[2]
Contents
Character
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Peter is one of three doctors of parapsychology on the Ghostbusters team. He holds PhDs in both parapsychology and psychology. In the movies, he is characterized by his flippant persona, his approach to his profession as a scientific charlatan, and his womanizing demeanor.[3] Fred Pfeil sees in him a postmodern hero, whose level of "crass self-interest" safeguards him from being ensnared by a stereotypical role.[4]
Despite Venkman's lackadaisical attitude, from time to time he has created inventions that help the Ghostbusters save the day, and he is shrewd and more street-smart than either Ray Stantz or Egon Spengler. Venkman serves as the front man for the group and possesses more social ability than the more academically inclined Ray and Egon.
The Real Ghostbusters
In The Real Ghostbusters series, Peter's womanizing is toned down somewhat (though he is still quick to approach attractive women), but he retains his dry wit and sarcastic demeanor, and his vanity is played up more. While not the official leader of the group, Venkman is the closest thing they have to one, and often makes the decision whether the Ghostbusters will take a case or not. He is originally opposed to the idea of Slimer living in the firehouse, but quickly develops a love–hate relationship with the ghost; mostly hate whenever he is "slimed" on an episodic basis. The episodes "Venkman's Ghost Repellers", "Cold Cash and Hot Water", and "Treasure of the Sierra Tamale" feature Peter's father, a con artist/businessman who could not make an honest dollar and was often away on business during Peter's childhood, as mentioned in "X-mas Marks The Spot". He is depicted as a negligent, even manipulative father; his relationship with Peter often tumultuous. Peter has claimed to be a Scorpio, as mentioned in "Mean Green Teen Machine". In "Last Train to Oblivion", one of Peter's favorite hobbies is trains, and he used to dream about driving a big locomotive when he was a child (Peter even studied engineering in college for two years before discovering it had nothing to do with trains).
Extreme Ghostbusters
Venkman appears in the two part series finale. After the closing down of the Ghostbusters, Peter moved out to California, with the intention of getting another Ghostbusters movie made, although he said he was holding out for Brad Pitt to play him.
Comparison
Bruce G. Hallenbeck, author of Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914–2008, compares Peter Venkman to Groucho Marx, who hosted the 1950s quiz show You Bet Your Life. Hallenback said, "With a quip for every situation, a put-down for everyone who deserves it and an ability to rise above it all, Venkman is a lot like Groucho."[5]
References
- ^ a b "Empire's The 100 Greatest Movie Characters". Empire. http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=44. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ Nick de Semlyen (August 1, 2009). "Ghostbusters – Too cool for Zuul". Empire. p. 142. http://www.allbusiness.com/16082472-1.html. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- ^ Elizabeth Hirschman (2000). Heroes, Monsters, and Messiahs. Andrews McMeel. p. 187. ISBN 0-7407-0485-0.
- ^ Fred Pfeil (1990). Another Tale to Tell: Politics and Narrative in Postmodern Culture. Verso. p. 111. ISBN 0-86091-992-7.
- ^ Hallenback, Bruce G.. Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914–2008. McFarland. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-7864-3332-2.
Ghostbusters franchise Films Ghostbusters (1984) • Ghostbusters II (1989)Television The Real Ghostbusters (episodes) • Extreme Ghostbusters • Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (cameo appearance)Other media ComicsSongsOtherVideo games Ghostbusters (1984) • The Real Ghostbusters (1987) • Ghostbusters II (1989) • Ghostbusters
(1990) • Ghostbusters II (NES) (1990) • New Ghostbusters 2 (1990) • The Real Ghostbusters (Game Boy) (1993) • Extreme Ghostbusters (2001) • Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 (2002) • Extreme Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Invasion (2004) • Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009) • Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime (2011)Universe Peter Venkman • Ray Stantz • Egon Spengler • Winston Zeddemore • Janine Melnitz • Stay Puft Marshmallow Man • 55 Central Park West • Proton pack • Slime Blower • EctomobileCategories:- Ghostbusters characters
- Fictional characters from New York City
- Fictional scientists
- Fictional psychologists
- Fictional parapsychologists
- Fictional characters introduced in 1984
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