Peter Francis Dante (born December 16, 1968) is an American character actor, comedian and singer. He appeared in sixteen films from Happy Madison Productions, often alongside Adam Sandler, until his controversial arrest led to the pair separating.
Career Dante's roles are usually alongside Jonathan Loughran and/or Allen Covert. He played Peter in Little Nicky. In Grandma's Boy he played Dante. He played a lawyer named Tommy in Adam Sandler's movie Big Daddy. He played the quarterback Gee Grenouille in The Waterboy and Murph "Murphy" in Mr. Deeds. He played a security guard in 50 First Dates.
Dante was an actor and producer for the film Grandma's Boy. In the film, Dante played a zany drug dealer with a pet chimpanzee, lion and elephant. He played a firefighter in the film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and Danny Guiterrez in Strange Wilderness. He also played the role of Steve Spirou's son in Adam Sandler's 2012 film That's My Boy.
Dante also worked in Grown Ups 2 as Officer Peter Dante who was paired up with Shaquille O'Neal's character Officer Fluzoo.
Controversies On November 19, 2013, after the release of Grown Ups 2, Dante got kicked out of a hotel, after saying the n-word to a staffer, who didn't recognize him as an actor. Due to the incident, he has not appeared in any further Happy Madison films since then.
On September 22, 2020, Dante was arrested in Los Angeles with a misdemeanor charge after an altercation with his neighbor. He was booked into Los Angeles County Jail and was released that night after posting a $5,000 bond. According to the reports, Dante was bothered by loud noises from construction work being done at a neighbor's residence and allegedly "threatened to kill" his neighbor and harm his wife and kids.
Music Dante is also a musician and singer/songwriter. He recorded with Adam Sandler and Buck Simmonds. He is a member of the music group Rad Omen along with Dirt Nasty, DJ Troublemaker, Steven Laing and Benji Madden. In 2011 he released his debut album Peace, Love, and Freedom. He also appeared in a music video with Afroman in 2015. As of 2020, his most popular songs are "Dirty Road" and "My Purple Tree And Me" a collaboration with indie artist Shadoe. In 2025, he hosted and performed events with former Saving Abel vocalist Scotty Austin, called the "Live Laugh Love tour."
Education Dante spent a year (1987–1988) at Fork Union Military Academy playing football and lacrosse. He stated in an interview that "it was a good experience going down South".
He is a graduate of Hofstra University, where he played lacrosse. He was an assistant coach for the lacrosse team at Loyola Marymount University for the 2011 season and has coached many club teams, including the Riptide lacrosse team, which made it to the state championships.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1998The Wedding SingerDavid's FriendThe WaterboyGee Grenouille1999Matters of ConsequencePeterBig DaddyTommy Grayton2000Little NickyPeter2002Mr. DeedsMurphEight Crazy NightsFoot Locker Guy (voice)2003Dickie Roberts: Former Child StarHimselfThe SanctuaryStuck on YouOfficer J.J. Hill200450 First DatesSecurity GuardThe Dana & Julia ShowPeteyTelevision film2006Grandma's BoyDanteAlso associate producer2007I Now Pronounce You Chuck & LarryTony Paroni2008Strange WildernessDanny Gutierrez200928 Drinks LaterShort film2010Costa Rican SummerDinger2011Just Go with ItPick-Up Guy #2Bucky Larson: Born to Be a StarDanteJack and JillCarol's Boyfriend2012That's My BoyDante Spirou2013Grown Ups 2Officer Dante2015Lord of the FreaksHimselfDocumentary2017Green is the New GoldHimselfDocumentary2021The Pizza JointBill
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1995–1996The Larry Sanders ShowSteve / Delivery Man3 episodesAlso producer; 14 episodes1995The Jeff Foxworthy ShowHoward's Golf FriendEpisode: "A Non-Affair to Remember"2007The King of QueensJustin RavoEpisode: "Mild Bunch"2011Nick Swardson's Pretend TimeBlazeEpisode: "Legalize Meth"2017Typical RickSlimEpisode: "Glock'n'Roll"2019Sugar and ToysPeter from BakersfieldEpisode: "Burning Scouts"
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