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==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
−
* Peter Venkman was originally intended to be played by [[Dan Aykroyd]]'s friend, John Belushi, with whom Aykroyd worked on ''The Blues Brothers''. However, Belushi died of a drug overdose before the film's pre-production. [[Slimer]] was described by Aykroyd as "The Ghost of John Belushi".
 +
* Peter Venkman was originally intended to be played by [[Dan Aykroyd]]'s friend, John Belushi, with whom Aykroyd worked on ''The Blues Brothers''. However, Belushi died of a drug overdose before the film's pre-production. [[Slimer]] was described by Aykroyd as "The Ghost of Snorlax".
   
 
* After Belushi's death and before Bill Murray was attached to the role, Michael Keaton and Chevy Chase were linked to the role of Peter.<ref>[http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/30-ghostbusters-facts Shortlist 30 Facts]</ref>
  
* After Belushi's death and before Bill Murray was attached to the role, Michael Keaton and Chevy Chase were linked to the role of Peter.<ref>[http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/30-ghostbusters-facts Shortlist 30 Facts]</ref>

Revision as of 22:11, 26 November 2014

Hot! Hot!
"Hold your fire til we see a moment of weakness"

This article is about content that is either unreleased or only out recently that may be seen as a spoiler. This means that there is no spoiler rule in effect. Read the Spoiler Policy.

Specifics: This is for IDW Ongoing Monthly Series and TMNT Miniseries


"Back off man; I'm a scientist."

- Peter Venkman; Ghostbusters


Dr. Peter Venkman is one of the original Ghostbusters. He has doctorates in both psychology and parapsychology. He appears in all major forms of the Ghostbusters Franchise.

Personality

Peter is portrayed as the "lazy" Ghostbuster. He doesn't usually take his work seriously, has a dry sense of humour, and flirts with women, including clients such as Dana Barrett and Ilyssa Selwyn. While Peter is a scientist, he isn't as technically experienced or academically inclined as Egon and Ray, and also tends to be more aggressive when fighting ghosts. [1]

Peter also slacks off on experiments and usually focuses on the women or other subjects, as in the first movie he is testing sixth senses and shocks the boy in the experiment for getting the answers wrong (even though he was really getting a majority of them right) and refuses to zap the pretty blonde (even though nearly all her answers were wrong). Peter is also a very outspoken person, as he back-talked to EPA representative Walter Peck and provoked him when the discussion shifted to the storage facility. This encounter led the Containment Unit being shut down and all the ghosts escaping over New York. Peter's fast-talking, however, "bargained" the percentage from the broker they consulted in mortgaging Ray's house (in order to lease the firehouse), as well getting their first payday of $5,000 made busting Slimer. His "gift of gab" also won over the mayor's judgment against Walter Peck.

Work at the University

While he was employed by the University, Dr. Venkman was not very interested in the paranormal research with which Dr. Spengler and Dr. Stantz were concerned. He was a scientist by trade, but didn't seem to identify himself as a scientist (unless he was trying to impress someone). His experimental methodology was highly criticized by Dean Yager, who told him in no uncertain terms that he was a "poor scientist." He admitted in the novelization of Ghostbusters II that even his high school grad class voted him "Most Likely to Become A Game Show Host". While at the university, Ray and Pete often shared the same bottle of apricot brandy in private and usually borrowed each other's videocassettes when documenting their findings for research.

History

Ghostbusters

Peter Venkman was a professor working with Egon Spengler and Ray Stantz at Columbia University. The trio were researching the supernatural but, unlike his partners, Peter wasn't as enthusiastic about the topic. Despite having a passing interest in ESP, he appears not to have believed in ghosts until witnessing one personally. The team of three discovered the librarian ghost, but were unable to catch and show her off to the public. Subsequently, their funding was cut and they were fired from their university positions, though Peter seemed happy to look for new opportunities. After being fired, the three of them decided to build some advanced paranormal equipment and go into a career of freelance ghost catching.

Snapshot 2009-03-05 17-30-12

Peter's first encounter with Slimer.

Peter encouraged and prodded Ray to mortgage his house in order to find the capital needed to purchase the firehouse. Whether motivated by the prospect of becoming rich or just the fact that he no longer had to work under the thumb of the board of regents, Dr. Venkman was very motivated to begin a new career. Peter soon became the first to meet the company's first client, Dana Barrett and formed a romantic interest.

Dana had claimed that there were monsters in her fridge even though Peter could not find any such thing. After that incident, Peter, Egon, and Ray were eating dinner at the firehouse when their secretary Janine got a call. Peter and his team came to the Sedgewick Hotel, where Peter came face to face with the ghost that would one day become known as Slimer. Peter was slimed during his first encounter with the ghost, which Ray greatly praised as "actual physical contact." Peter and his team eventually captured the ghost, which soon made them popular and busy around town with other ghosts.

Peter had stopped by at one of her orchestra rehearsals. He happened upon her talking to a colleague whom played in the orchestra with her that was interested her as well. He asked her, "Who's the stiff?" She answers, "The stiff happens to be one of the finest musicians in the world." Peter has found some answers for Dana, but say they can find out more on another night. Peter continues to compliment and flirt in confidence and Dana reluctantly says trying to keep down comotion, "I'll see you Thursday." He says, "We'll eat and read." As she walks away with her male colleague, he addresses her somewhat jealously, "So, who the hell is that?!" and Dana replies, "A friend. An old friend." She counted smile because of Peter constant compliments towards her appearance which now he was stating in front of her male colleague.

Not too long afterwards, Janine is overran with calls and stressed out. She tells Peter there is a man waiting in his office from the EPA and she has been working two weeks without a break and states that he promised he would hire more help. He pretty much praises her experiences in order to let her know the door is open to discover more opportunities if she was unsatisfied with her present one working for him. As the phone is ringing once more, Peter replies to her, "Are you going to Answer that?". Peter soon met an EPA representative named Walter Peck, who got angry that Peter refused to show him the storage facility.

Zuul breaks free

Dana, possessed by Zuul, floats above her bed

As Peter was coming to see Dana and take her out on a date, he noticed that she had undergone a radical change and was now acting very strangely. She barred entrance to her apartment, asking him if he was "The Keymaster". After getting the door slammed in his face he tricked her in order to gain entry. Once inside Dana referred to herself as Zuul, "The Gatekeeper" and told Peter she was awaiting the coming of Gozer, "The Destructor". Peter replied, "Oh..." and noticed slime seeping through the kitchen door and furniture. The possessed Dana quickly led Peter to the bedroom where she tried to seduce him asking him "Do you want this body?" which he rebuked asking if its a trick question. The possessed Dana was unrelenting in her seduction, telling Peter "Take me now subcreature." Peter ignored her and Dana slammed him onto her bed, pouncing on him and pinning him to the bed with supernatural might. She passionately kissed him and rolled him over on top of her telling him "I want you inside me" alas Peter told her she must have two people inside of her already. Peter proceeded to try to talk to the real Dana Barrett, ignoring her seductive advances in the process. While asking for Dana she replied in an inhuman growling voice that "There is no Dana, only Zuul". Peter gave Zuul to the count of three to leave Dana's body to which she responded by turning her eyes white, thrashing her head back and forth on her bed then growling furiously like a beast at him and levitating above her bed.  Peter realizing the seriousness of Dana's condition, sedated her, and called Egon to explain what was going on. He soon learned from Egon that her building was renovated by an evil architect named Ivo Shandor and she was being possessed by Zuul, the Gatekeeper of Gozer. After Peck returned and shut down the Containment Unit, the ghosts all escaped, Peter and the other Ghostbusters were imprisoned for EPA violations. Peter convinced the mayor that an apocalypse of "Biblical proportions," was coming to destroy the city.

GhostbustersdefeatingGozer

Peter and his team making their move to bring down Gozer

The Ghostbusters were released and proceeded to go to the top of Dana's building. They are soon escorted to the building by a police and army motorcade as a dark cloud starts to cover the entire city. The Ghostbusters make it to the top of the building, but are too late to stop Dana and Louis Tully from releasing the evil Gozer and transforming into their possessors Terror Dog forms. The Ghostbusters confront Gozer in the form of the Stay Puft Marshmallow man(which Ray had been thinking of). Peter and his team then cross their streams and force the door to Gozer's dimension to close, destroying the Marshmallow Man in a blaze of flames and saving the city. Peter also wins the Dana's affections for saving her.

Ghostbusters II

Petergb201

Peter as seen in Ghostbusters II

Despite saving the town from Gozer, the Ghostbusters were put out of business due to being sued for all the damage that was done during the battle. Also, Peter and Dana's relationship faltered due to his fear of commitment and taking her for granted. She left for her male colleague in the orchestra, married him and had a child. He unexpectedly "ditched" her for an opportunity leaving her and his son behind.

In the years since, Egon described Peter (even to Dana) as being borderline(manic) until he eventually, "crossed the border." Peter became the host of a psychic reality talk show in the years after the Gozer battle. He and his teammates went to Dana's aid after she claimed her baby stroller rolled away from her by itself, and pinpointed there was "something brewing under the street," of First Avenue. Egon, Peter, and Ray start to dig under the surface of the road where Ray is lowered down into the hole where he discovers a River of Slime. The three Ghostbusters were summoned to court, where they stand trial on the grounds of violating a restraining order and destroying a section of First Avenue. They got back into business after the slime sample in the courtroom absorbed the judge's negative energy while shouting and exploded out two ghosts named the Scoleri Brothers. After the judge rescinded the order and dismissed the case(while under duress from the ghosts), the Ghostbusters were allowed to put on their equipment and bust the ghosts, declaring to the public afterwards that they were open for business once again. While his teammates investigate the river of slime underneath the city, Peter renewed his relationship with Dana, whose baby Oscar was being targeted by the ghost of Vigo the Carpathian. Peter and his team in the end defeated Vigo and saved the city once again.

Even when paralyzed, Peter's tongue was still as sharp as ever and he still managed to provoke Vigo's ire with a variety of pointed insults, including referring to him as a "dumb blonde".

Ghostbusters: The Video Game

PeterTVG

Dr. Peter Venkman as seen in Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Venkman shows some initial distrust when Ray and Egon hire the Rookie, jealous that he gets issued new equipment and gets a 'title'. However, upon Egon and Ray explaining to Peter that the equipment the Rookie is issued is "highly experimental and if not handled properly, could blow the user clear into New Jersey." Peter immediately lost interest in both the Rookie and his gear. Peter eventually warms up to the Rookie and occasionally praises his developing skills, but his interest is soon lost once they encountered Ilyssa Selwyn who, true to himself, he took an instant liking to. Peter flirted with her, but she wasn't interested. At the end, he won her heart and shared a brief kiss with Ilyssa before she was slimed by Slimer.

Peter still maintains the smooth-talking slacker identity from the previous two movies, willing to jump at any chance to get out of doing work or going into a dangerous situation. He offers to take Marine Ecto-8 to avoid going onto Shandor Island. These attempts are transparent at best, prompting the other Ghostbusters to roll their eyes or glare at him.

Peter is still primarily motivated in his own best interests. He can be goaded into expending effort if an attractive female or a lucrative payoff is involved. But in the end he will still come around to doing the right thing when it's really important.

Secondary Canon History

IDW Comic Series

During a bust of Yakuza Ghosts and American mobster ghosts, Peter's soul was forcibly displaced when Fred possessed his body. Since he was no longer anchored to his body, Peter was shunted off to Purgatory. The other Ghostbusters rushed Peter's body back to the Firehouse. Egon found Peter was still breathing but his RK variances were flatlined due to his soul being missing. Fred took over Peter's body and slept with two prostitutes while Peter, himself, wandered Purgatory. Peter eventually allied himself with J. Edgar Hoover, Elliot Ness, and Jelly Bryce. Since Peter was never actually killed back in the real world, he was not constrained by whatever laws of celestial physics that bound everyone else. This cosmic loophole gave Peter super powers such as flight and incredible strength. Peter ripped two demons apart with his bare hands.

Peter managed to take back control of his body but was forced to battle a more powerful demon whom Fred's bosses made a deal with. In exchange for allowing the possessed Peter to enter Purgatory, the demon would have ownership of Peter to torture, dismember, and disembowel for all eternity. However, once the demon learned someone else was in control of Peter's body at the time of the deal, it decided to eat everyone. Peter blasted the demon while Winston trapped it. Without the demon, Peter asphyxiated. The Ghostbusters rushed him back to the real world and thanks to divine intervention from Angels, the Ghostbusters were restored back to normal.

When the Ghostbusters were attacked by Koza'Rai, Peter Venkman found himself a victim of chronological displacement and was now stuck in the Old West era, circa late 19th century. Peter noticed an unusual amount of ghosts and jury rigged a Containment Unit and Traps with what parts were available to him. He was hailed as a hero and his legend spread from town to town; that of his amorous conquests with women and taking on a dozen ghosts with one magic bullet (another says it was his icy stare). In Red River Valley, Peter trapped The Rudely Mallard Gang and bedded Josie Maye Landers. The next morning, he learned an emissary of the Demon Collective announced reinforcements, in the form of 100 demons, were set to arrive at midnight by train from Hell. Peter confronted the emissary at the Grand Palace Hotel & Saloon only to be saved by a stranger named Rachel Unglighter, armed with a modified Proton Pack. Together, they trapped the emissary and dispersed the Black Train.

The duo then set out to find the other Ghostbusters starting with Ray Stantz. Peter overloaded his Proton Pack and feigned loyalty in order to defeat the newly freed Morgan Le Fay during Ray's plan to rescue the kidnapped citizens of Camelot. In 2060, Peter saw through the Great Defender and found Egon. Once back in the present, they set out to stop Koza'Rai from turning Earth into a Netherworld. However, Peter felt betrayed when it was revealed Rachel wasn't a student of Egon's. In a final bid to save the world, Rachel kissed Peter and revealed her true origins. They toppled Stonehenge and caused all demons and ghosts to be pulled into the nether-realm. Rachel was among them. She and Peter said their good-byes.

While on his way to Las Vegas for Christmas, Peter cancelled his trip when he got word the millionaire Woodrow Wainwright Fraser III wanted to hire them. Peter was further intrigued when Fraser offered them a total of $4 million to capture two ghosts. However, greed got the best of Peter when he cut Janine and Winston out of the lucrative deal. Janine was paid time-and-a-half while Winston, not privy of what was going on until later, a $10,000 bonus. Eventually, Peter was all alone and he managed to realize the Ghost of Christmas Present was possessing Fraser the entire time. Upon wrangling him out of Fraser's body, the other two ghosts arrived with the other Ghostbusters.

On a Valentine's Day holiday, slow business prompted Peter to help Winston investigate the apartment room of Tiyah Clarke. By sweeping Tiyah off her feet, Peter discovered the ghost's protective nature. After the ghost of Ballard Wright dispersed, Peter took Anitra Day to a little corner bistro to talk about an interview with Psychology Monthly.

At an Independence Day Con, Peter and Winston were tasked with distracting D'Orka while Egon tried to get some help. Peter was forced to engage in humiliating negotiations with a group of cosplayers in order to borrow their Ghostbusters costumes.

The manifestation of the ghost of Sam Hain during a Halloween holiday prompted Artie Lester to offer the Ghostbusters $50,000. Peter was more than willing to oblige but Ray and Egon were aware of Lester's cutthroat reputation and refused. Sure enough, Lester attempted to record Janine's attempts to bust Hain and later exploit it for a profit. Luckily, the Ghostbusters were called in and Peter threw the recording into a portal straight to the Nether realms.

During a Thanksgiving case, Peter flirted with Stephanie Fairless, daughter of the man who hired them. Peter also managed to coax Mr. Fairless into revealing a clue about the entity they were facing.

When New York City was infested with Zombies, Peter and Janine mistakenly came up with a solution with both their Zombie and Poltergeist problem. The Poltergeist would possess the zombie, both would change on a molecular level. The Zombie could be safely dispersed and the Poltergeist could now be stored in the Containment Unit. Upon dispersing Stay Puft again, Peter was pleased with the prospect of doubling their fees from recapturing the Poltergeists and dealing with another uptick in supernatural activity from the reformation of Gozer's essence.

After cancelling an appointment with a woman named Marlene, who could use her mind to do things with a golf ball, Peter went with Winston to investigate an apartment complex on behalf of Alan Crendall. Peter was none too pleased the client was a child but things got worse when Peter discovered the entity at large was Slimer. An hour or two later, Peter got the jump on Slimer and trapped him.

While on the job at Fantastic Land, Peter forced Ray to tell him about Egon's latest research endeavor - a method of positively stimulating the cortex of the brain. However, once the Ghostbusters confronted the Hungry Manitou, Peter became a target because his soul exuded greed, desire, and want. The Manitou released its host, Scotty and possessed Peter. Peter's complete lack of fear intrigued the Manitou and he arranged for an audience in Peter's mind, at the center of his being which was a mental construct resembling the Paranormal Studies Laboratory at Weaver Hall. Peter realized the Manitou had ulterior motives, it became addicted to devouring souls of hosts were overcome with fear. Rather than stay and wait for Peter to let his guard down, the Manitou left his body to feed on another but was immediately trapped. However, Peter feel 20 feet onto pavement and cracked four ribs. After being admitted to a hospital, Peter also had to have an emergency appendectomy. Thanks to Egon's request for a full work-up to check for post-possession physiological changes, Peter discovered his health was excellent and faxed the records to Peck, rendering the new physical requirements met. A week later, Janine paid Peter a visit and dropped off a gift from Ray - a doll of Bruce the Fantastic Chimp, mascot of Fantastic Land. Peter was not pleased at all.

Among the four Ghostbusters, Peter was the least interested a cross country trip for out of state jobs. As far as he was concerned they had enough to do in New York and the point of hiring Rookies and franchising was to take care of the rest of states. During the Fort Wayne job, Peter drew the Fort Wayne Army ghosts near Ecto-1a by advertising "Ahgotcha Juice." When the time was right, Peter triggered eight Traps and caught the ghosts. He then cut into Winston's moment with Major-General Anthony Wayne. Ray consoled Winston by reminding him of the time Peter trapped Gandhi right before he could tell Ray the meaning of life. In early July, Peter separated from the others in New Mexico and went to Las Vegas to spend a couple days away from Ray. He got lost somewhere in Oregon and followed directions to take Devil's Bend through to Matheson and back on the Interstate but was unaware Devil's Bend was haunted by a Phantom Truck Driver. On the way, Peter gave a ride to a hitchhiker named Laura Parr. Soon enough, they were attacked by the entity but the Proton Pack had no effect on the truck it drove. Peter switched to a Slime Blower but discovered it was set on Slime Tether. Peter tried to dispense with the tether and ended up causing the demon's truck to flip over. Peter confined the ghost and ordered Laura to activate the Super Slammer Muon Trap. With the ghost trapped, Peter drove Laura to her home in Twin Ridges. After they arrived in Twin Ridges, Laura thanked Peter then vanished. Peter learned from Mrs. Parr that Laura died in an accident nearly 20 years ago.

Peter entered Washington state and briefly spoke to Ray when he reached Yakima. However, he was pulled over by Officer Foley for a speeding violation. Dante Barnes manifested near them. To Peter's surprise, when he shot Barnes, the Proton Streams passed through him. Peter tried to speed along his manifestation and insulted it with singing. Instead of the desired result, Barnes lit Peter on fire. Peter survived with a minor first degree burn and switched to an alternate uniform. After being treated by paramedics, Peter rejoined the other Ghostbusters and they eventually trapped Barnes. After learning from the Mayor of Seattle that the Ghostbusters were being charged for damaged trees, Peter threw his glass at a wall. He advised Egon they would price gouge the Mayor on the next trip and was simply happy to finally return to New York.

Months later, in February, Agent Ortiz came to New York partly to call in the dinner Peter owed her. On his day off, they went to dine at the Ritz Cafe in Central Park but a green demon that oddly looked like Peter manifested. Peter was grabbed and forced into the demon's chest. He yelled out to Ortiz to find Egon and warn him. The demon and Peter vanished. Some time later, Peter awoke on another plane with the other three Ghostbusters. After escaping limbo and dealing with the Collectors, Peter went out on a case to Mamaroneck with Kylie. When Kylie tried to leverage more pay, Peter reminded her he was privy to the fact she hired a functional illiterate to watch over Ray's Occult. Peter was nonchalant about the threat posed by the Phantom Train Conductor and retrieved the Proton Bazooka from Ecto-1a. Upon blowing up the ghost's train construct, Peter and Kylie easily trapped him. Peter considered not telling Egon he was the first to use the bazooka but when Kylie asked for 50% of the cut, Peter concluded Egon could use a little heart break.

Later in the summer, Peter got a call on his cell phone from Walter Peck. After some talking, Peter agreed to take the Marine Ecto-8 and deal with the John Milton. Peter returned to the Firehouse but Egon was too busy analyzing himself. Peter called up Ray to check on the Ecto-8 then went to Ray's Occult to recruit Kylie for the bust. After a few hours, the trio boarded the John Milton despite Peter's misgivings. They were surrounded by the Crew of John Milton. Peter was further incensed when Kylie shot the floor under them and they fell below into an ice cavern. Despite being confronted by a giant ghost, Francis Harding, Peter wrote him off as a typical teenager and proceeded to antagonize him. Incidentally, this led Francis to separate himself from the ship construct and allow the three to shoot him. Peter was alarmed trapping him was still a bad idea but luckily, Francis' connection to the Milton was so strong that even being trapped didn't sever it. While Kylie and Ray figured out a way to exit the cavern, Peter went over Kylie's notes and concluded Francis was merely searching for his father. Peter and Ray then took a flight to Vineyard Haven where Captain Harding's body was interred. Francis was released and upon seeing the grave, became content and peacefully dispersed.

While "discussing" the ongoing issue of Blood Rain with Peck, Peter received a phone call from Dana, who was possessed by Tiamat's Female Terror Bird. Peter quickly took the Ecto-5 straight to Dana's apartment but he couldn't gain entry into the building. The others soon caught up to him and they were greeted by a possessed Louis and Dana. Peter proceeded into the building without much of a plan and was flung to the floor after he called down the elevator. He wasn't fazed by the sudden appearance of future versions of himself and the other original Ghostbusters. Annoyed by their cryptic advice for dealing with Tiamat, Peter shoved past them and pressed forward. Upon reaching the roof exit, Peter stopped and gave a pep talk to the others then advised Egon to lay off the Twinkies. Brushing off their mind games with quips, Peter wasn't impressed with the Terror Birds, in possession of Dana and Louis, but was blasted by Dana. After chastising Ron for jinxing the fight, Peter directed everyone to cross the streams on Tiamat.

Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime

Due to the supernatural activity caused by the Relic of Nilhe, Peter is smitten with the Ghostbusters' bank account soaring. But the rest of the team is exhausted. At Ray's suggestion, rookies are brought in. Peter is against it, as he notes they smell, eat all the leftovers, and have to be paid. However, the junior team surprises him and solves the latest threat to New York, Dumazu. During the victory celebration, he trades quips with Bridget Gibbons, whom he shares several personality traits with.

Animated Series

After the fall of Gozer, Peter and the other Ghostbusters fixed up the Firehouse after it was severely damaged by the escaping ghosts. Upon the completion of the Firehouse, the Ghostbusters adopted the green ghost who had slimed Peter (now known as Slimer) as a pet mascot. Though Peter at first wouldn't forgive the little ghost for their encounter at the hotel, he soon grew to love him like the rest of the Ghostbusters.


The following is part of the animated canon universe for this character:

Primary Canon

Secondary Canon


To read more about the Animated counterpart character, please check out "Peter Venkman "Animated".

Trivia

  • Peter Venkman was originally intended to be played by Dan Aykroyd's friend, John Belushi, with whom Aykroyd worked on The Blues Brothers. However, Belushi died of a drug overdose before the film's pre-production. Slimer was described by Aykroyd as "The Ghost of Snorlax".
  • After Belushi's death and before Bill Murray was attached to the role, Michael Keaton and Chevy Chase were linked to the role of Peter.[2]
  • Bill Murray is rumored to have ad-libbed his dialog heavily but they were mostly scripted. [3]
    • Peter's slip about checking out Dana was ad-libbed by Murray. [4]
    • Peter quickly professing his love for Dana was Murray's idea. [5]
  • Peter's lecherous behavior was dialed back after Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver's on-set dynamics were observed. [6] [7]
  • This is also one of the films often cited as Murray's best comedic performance.
  • For a long time, Murray refused to perform in any trilogies of any film
  • Bill Murray played Peter Venkman in the live Ghostbusters films while Lorenzo Music played Peter Venkman in the animated series. Music also played Garfield in the Garfield animated series, while Murray played Garfield in the live action films.
  • According to the novelization, Peter put himself through college working as a hawker at Coney Island, where he honed his skill in fast talking.
  • In Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, Peter entered the study of parapsychology because grant money was readily available and the study of ESP was in its infant stage (and thus, results could be made up).[8] Peter was a carnival barker during his summers away from college.[9] Peter was born on the lot of King City Attractions, in a tent, on a field, in Sedalia, Missouri. He went to school in Iowa City but the family circus toured through the Corn Belt states. He wanted to go to college but couldn't state why to his father.[10]
  • Peter has degrees in parapsychology and psychology. Peter makes more use out of his psychology degree as evidenced by the ease with which he can smooth talk people towards his own ends. If Ray is the heart of the Ghostbusters, Peter is the mouth.
  • Peter seems to regard his status as a doctor and scientist primarily as something to flaunt and impress people with. Some are fairly skeptical about it due to his decidedly unprofessional demeanor. Dana in particular said he was more like a game show host than a scientist. Peter himself regards other scientists as usually being pretty stiff.
  • Peter's line, "Back off, man, I'm a scientist," became a popular slogan after the movie was released. Later it was changed (for children's t-shirts and other memorabilia) to, "I'm a (Real) Ghostbuster."
  • In the role-playing game by West End, Peter's motivation is listed as "Fame"
  • In the 8/5/1983 script, Peter claims 'everyone' hated his grandfather. [14]
  • In the 10/7/1983 script, it was noted Peter was an associate professor.[15]
  • In the 10/7/1983 script, Peter played Dana's cello like a stand-up bass.[16] This was later done in Ghostbusters II.
  • In the Ghostbusters II August 5, 1988 draft, Peter was the first ex-Ghostbuster to be sought out whereas in the actual movie it was Egon. [17]
  • In the Ghostbusters II August 5, 1988 draft, Peter goes out on the window ledge and grabs the baby. [18]
  • In the August 5, 1988 and February 27, 1989 versions of the Ghostbusters II script, during the epilogue scene, Peter reveals he's "a little of everything" - some Irish, German, French and Dutch. He adds the women in his family slept around.[19] [20]
  • Peter Griffin, television patriarch to the animated series "Family Guy" wears Venkman's uniform with "Peter" on the name tag. He gag references Dana Barrett/Zuul in the cut away scene to 2007's "Road to Rupert."
  • His character model in the Ghostbusters: Video Game struts when walking while the other Ghostbusters including the Rookie simply walk.
  • Peter has been slimed by Slimer two times. In the first Ghostbusters movie and in The Video Game.

Quotes

  • "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!"
  • "Suck in the guts, guys, we're the Ghostbusters."
  • "Why do the good ones always play hard to get?"

References

  1. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 9. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Harold Ramis says: "In essence, that translated into one character being hipper and more verbal than the others -- more of a huckster, the salesman of the team -- someone who is weak on the technical side and probably didn't do all that well in school, but is smart enough to have hooked up with guys more intelligent than he is. That, of course, was Bill's character."
  2. ↑ Shortlist 30 Facts
  3. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 27 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Much of Venkman's dialogue sounds so characteristically 'Bill Murray' that many viewers and film critics simply assumed he had written or ad-libbed his own lines. In actuality, most of them were scripted for him."
  4. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 56 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "On the set, Bill Murray ad-libbed a Freudian slip for his obviously smitten character: "I'll take Miss Barrett back to her apartment and check her out." Rolling his eyes in embarrassment, Venkman corrects himself and -- as Dana rises and turns away -- bangs his fist on his forehead."
  5. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 60 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Harold Ramis says: "While much of the dialogue is different, the mechanics of the scene are the same. The same hooks are there. Usually, you have a relationship that grows through a film and, by the end, the characters say, 'I love you.' But Bill came up with the idea of this guy just blowing it all right up front."
  6. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 55 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "Dana's reference to her zodiacal sign, Spengler's matter-of-fact response and Venkman's all-too-obviously motivated interpretation were deleted prior to shooting. In general, Venkman's tendency toward lecherous behavior was toned down from the script as the on-set dynamics between Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver elevated their characters' relationship to a somewhat more refined and caring plane."
  7. ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 55 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Joe Medjuck says: "As the film progressed, it began to take on a different tone so that Venkman wouldn't come off as just a womanizer. His motivations in the script are clearly sexual, and we wanted there to be more between Dana and Venkman than that."
  8. ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, p. 78. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984.
  9. ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, p. 153. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984.
  10. ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, pp. 155-156. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984.
  11. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 15). Peter says: "Yeah, but I introduced you guys. You would've never met if not for me. That's got to be worth something.""
  12. ↑ 10/7/1983 Script, p.14 via Spook Central
  13. ↑ Peter Venkman (1989). Ghostbusters (1984) (DVD ts. 00:12-00:16). Columbia Pictures. Peter says: "Woah! I introduced you! If it weren't for me you would have never met! And that's gotta be worth something!"
  14. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 49). Peter says: "Everybody hated my grandfather.""
  15. ↑ 10/7/1983 Script, p.3 via Spook Central
  16. ↑ 10/7/1983 Script, p.33 via Spook Central
  17. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 10). Lane Walker says: "Anyway, would you possibly consider coming to my house and just looking at my baby and telling me what you think?"
  18. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 68). Paragraph reads: "He makes a quick grab at the baby's outstretched hand and catches it, sweeping the baby into his arms in one swift move."
  19. ↑ 2/27/89 Script, Page 110 via Spook Central
  20. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1988). Ghostbusters II (August 5, 1988 Draft) (Script p. 98). "Peter Venkman says: "A little of everything. Some Irish, some German, some French, Dutch--the women in my family slept around."
  21. ↑ Missy; At start of Welcome to the Hotel Sedgewick, Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 6 of 7 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Missy says: "Peter? Peter, pick up! I know you're there. This is Missy. From the airport last week, and the laundromat, and the roof of the ... Call me back. Peter, are you there?"
  22. ↑ Female Caller; After Panic in Times Square, Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 11 of 13 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Female Caller says: "Dr. Venkman, you know who. I think I somehow left a pair of earrings at your place. And my shoes. Maybe my cat. I had a really great time. Call me."
  23. ↑ Male Caller; After Checking Out the Library, Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 11 of 13 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Male says: "Yeah, Dr. Venkman, about that "sum" you still owe. It is said when your pony doesn't run... believe me I know. Still unlike the horse in question, you have such a wonderful pair of functioning legs. Walk, walk, walk. Beware if anything sudden or blunt were to happen to them. The clock is ticking, Dr. Venkman. And you ain't exactly incognito these days."
  24. ↑ Female Caller; After Lost Island Rising, Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 7 of 8 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Female says: "What's going on, Peter? Whose that girl I saw you with on the news? Little tramp! You told me you don't like brunettes. In face, you told me you actually can't see them. Their eyes don't register on the brunette wavelength spectrum. Is that even possible?"

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