Peter Donat, Agent Mulder's Father on 'The X-Files,' Dies at 90

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Peter Donat, Agent Mulder's Father on 'The X-Files,' Dies at 90

10:31 AM PDT 9/15/2018 by Mike Barnes

The actor, the nephew of Oscar winner Robert Donat and ex-husband of Michael Learned of 'The Waltons,' also was in 'The Godfather: Part II.'

Peter Donat, the prolific character actor of the stage and screen who appeared in two films for Francis Ford Coppola and portrayed the father of Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files, has died. He was 90. ... Donat died Monday of diabetes complications at his home in Point Reyes Station, Calif., his wife, Maria, told The New York Times.

The Canadian-born Donat was inspired to become an actor by his uncle, British star Robert Donat, who was known for his performances in such films as Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps (1935) and, in an Oscar-winning role, Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939).

Peter Donat was married to Michael Learned, the matriarch of CBS' The Waltons, from 1956 until their divorce in 1972. They met when both were in the company of the Connecticut Shakespeare Festival. (Also there at the time: Christopher Plummer, Raymond Massey, Roddy McDowall and Hurd Hatfield.)

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