Peter Venkman

Peter Venkman
Bill Murray as Peter Venkman
First appearance	Ghostbusters (1984)
Last appearance	Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009)
Portrayed by	Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters: The Video Game) Lorenzo Music (Real Ghostbusters (1986-1987)) Dave Coulier (Real Ghostbusters (1988-1991), Extreme Ghostbusters guest star)
In-universe information
Occupation	Scientist Ghostbuster
Relatives	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.

Coincidentally, Lorenzo Music and Bill Murray also shared another role. Music provided the voice of the popular cartoon cat Garfield in his animated specials and television series in the 1980s and 1990s. Murray later took over the role in two live-action feature films following Music's death.

Character

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Peter is one of three doctors of parapsychology on the ghostbusters team. He holds PhD's in both parapsychology and psychology. In the movies, he is characterized by his flippant persona, his lackadaisical approach to his profession, and his womanizing demeanor. However, he created from time to time inventions that help save the Ghostbusters, and he possesses more shrewdness and street-smarts than either Ray Stantz or Egon Spengler. Venkman tends to serve as the front man for the group with a greater degree of 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. 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 couldn't 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 finding out 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.