Peter Sarsgaard Biography: Age, Net Worth, Instagram, Spouse, Height, Wiki, Parents, Siblings, Children, Awards, Movies

Peter Sarsgaard has built a distinguished career with his nuanced portrayals of complex, often morally ambiguous characters.

Known for his versatility across independent films, Hollywood blockbusters, and acclaimed television series, he has earned critical praise and a loyal following for his authentic and captivating performances.

Profile

• Full Name: John Peter Sarsgaard
• Stage Name: Peter Sarsgaard
• Born: March 7, 1971
• Age: 54 years old
• Birthplace: Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Television and Film Actor
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m)
• Parents: Judy Lea Reinhardt, John Dale Sarsgaard
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Maggie Gyllenhaal (m. 2009)
• Children: Ramona Sarsgaard, Gloria Ray Sarsgaard
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: USD 25 million

Early Life and Education

Peter Sarsgaard was born on March 7, 1971, at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois.

The only child of Judy Lea Reinhardt and John Dale Sarsgaard, an Air Force engineer who later worked for Monsanto and IBM, he experienced a nomadic childhood, moving over 12 times due to his father’s job, living in places like St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Memphis.

Raised Catholic and serving as an altar boy, Sarsgaard developed an early interest in acting through school plays and local theater.

Initially aspiring to be a soccer player, he took up ballet at age seven to improve coordination but abandoned the sport after multiple concussions.

He attended Fairfield College Preparatory School in Connecticut, where his passion for films grew. Sarsgaard studied at Bard College in New York for two years before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1993 with a degree in history and literature.

In Washington, he co-founded the improv comedy group Mama’s Pot Roast, marking the start of his serious pursuit of acting.

Career

Peter Sarsgaard launched his career with a debut role as a murder victim in Dead Man Walking (1995).

He gained early recognition for playing Raoul in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) and a homophobic killer in Boys Don’t Cry (1999), showcasing his ability to portray intense, complex characters.

His breakthrough came as Charles Lane in Shattered Glass (2003), earning him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination.

Sarsgaard’s filmography spans diverse genres, including Garden State (2004), Kinsey (2004), where he played a bisexual character with notable frontal nudity, Jarhead (2005), Flightplan (2005), An Education (2009), Blue Jasmine (2013), Black Mass (2015), and Jackie (2016) as Robert F. Kennedy.

He played the villain Hector Hammond in Green Lantern (2011) and District Attorney Gil Colson in The Batman (2022).

His television work includes standout roles in The Killing (2013), The Looming Tower (2018), Dopesick (2021), for which he earned an Emmy nomination, and Presumed Innocent (2024).

Sarsgaard’s stage career includes Broadway’s The Seagull (2008) and an off-Broadway Hamlet (2015). His 2023 role as a man with dementia in Memory won him the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival, cementing his reputation as a versatile character actor. In 2025, he joined the cast of Apple TV+’s Neuromancer.

Awards and Nominations

• Volpi Cup for Best Actor, Venice Film Festival (Memory, 2023)
• National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (Shattered Glass, 2003)
• Golden Globe Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Shattered Glass, 2003)
• Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best Supporting Male (Shattered Glass, 2003)
• Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor (Dopesick, 2021)
• Critics’ Choice Television Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (The Looming Tower, 2018)
• Multiple awards from Toronto, San Francisco, and Boston Film Critics for Shattered Glass (2003)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @petersarsgaard
• Facebook Handle: Peter Sarsgaard
• Twitter Handle: @petersarsgaard

Personal Life

Peter Sarsgaard, 54, lives a grounded life with his wife, actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, whom he married in 2009 in Brindisi, Italy, after dating since 2002.

Standing at 5’11”, he exudes a calm, introspective demeanor. The couple resides in a Brooklyn brownstone and has two daughters, Ramona (born October 3, 2006) and Gloria Ray (born April 19, 2012).

Sarsgaard, a vegan, cooks meat for his children and prioritizes family, often making career sacrifices to maintain a nurturing home environment.

A devout Catholic, he credits his faith with shaping his approach to ethically challenging roles. Before Maggie, he dated burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese, model Shalom Harlow, and photographer Malerie Marder.

Sarsgaard is passionate about environmental issues and supports causes like children’s welfare and disaster relief.

He has a lifelong fear of flying, but remains an avid supporter of social justice, notably appearing in a 2013 video in support of Chelsea Manning.

Filmography

• Dead Man Walking (1995) – Walter Delacroix (Film)
• The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) – Raoul (Film)
• Boys Don’t Cry (1999) – John Lotter (Film)
• The Center of the World (2001) – Lead Role (Film)
• Shattered Glass (2003) – Charles Lane (Film)
• Garden State (2004) – Mark (Film)
• Kinsey (2004) – Clyde Martin (Film)
• Flightplan (2005) – Supporting Role (Film)
• Jarhead (2005) – Supporting Role (Film)
• An Education (2009) – David (Film)
• Orphan (2009) – Supporting Role (Film)
• Green Lantern (2011) – Hector Hammond (Film)
• The Killing (2013) – Recurring Role (TV Series)
• Blue Jasmine (2013) – Supporting Role (Film)
• Black Mass (2015) – Supporting Role (Film)
• Jackie (2016) – Robert F. Kennedy (Film)
• The Looming Tower (2018) – Martin Schmidt (TV Series)
• The Lost Daughter (2021) – Supporting Role (Film)
• Dopesick (2021) – Rick Mountcastle (TV Series)
• The Batman (2022) – Gil Colson (Film)
• Memory (2023) – Lead Role (Film)
• Presumed Innocent (2024) – Tommy Molto (TV Series)
• Neuromancer (2025) – Upcoming Role (TV Series)

Net Worth

Peter Sarsgaard has an estimated net worth of USD 25 million, combined with his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal.

His wealth stems from a prolific career spanning over 60 film and television credits, including high-grossing films like Flightplan and The Batman, as well as critically acclaimed projects like Shattered Glass and Dopesick.