Date of Birth: 23rd September 1945, in Glendale, California. Paul Petersen isn't the kind of artist who needs a very comprehensive retrospective collection, as in his brief career he scored one hit and only recorded a couple of albums. During his career, he recorded for Colpix Records, and Motown. He is is an American movie actor, singer, novelist, and activist. Primarily known for his character-type roles in the 1960s and 1970s, as an adult Petersen established the organization A Minor Consideration to support child stars and other child laborers through legislation, family education, and personal intervention and counseling for those in crisis. Petersen achieved fame in the 1960s, at an early age, by playing Donna Reed's son, Jeff Stone, on The Donna Reed Show. In the early 1980s, he also had a recurring role as a police officer on Matt Houston, and in the late 1990s, he played the author Paul Conway in the film Mommy's Day. Petersen's fame brought recording offers and although his singing voice was limited, he had hit record singles with songs "She Can't Find Her Keys", "Amy", and "Lollipops and Roses", as well as "My Dad" that made #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also recorded during the 1960s for Motown, including the singles "Chained" (later a hit for Marvin Gaye) and "A Little Bit For Sandy."
He has one daughter born in 1987 from a brief affair.
Was allegedly fired from "The Mickey Mouse Club" by Walt Disney himself for "conduct unbecoming"--for bad behavior. One incident included punching the casting director in the stomach for being called a "mouse" one too many times.
Mickey Rooney was the main influence on Paul to get him to leave Hollywood after his career crashed and burned and getting an education. He eventually earned college degrees in English and history.
Served the United Nations as a delegate for the World Safety Organization, and represented 300,000 film workers as Vice President of the Hollywood Entertainment Labor Council.
He, Shelley Fabares and James Darren recorded a "Bye Bye Birdie" album in the 1960s.
In addition to playing siblings "Jeff" and "Trisha" on "The Donna Reed Show" , he is the real-life big brother of Patty Petersen.
Board Member for the Donna Reed Foundation, and works at the Donna Reed Festival in Denison, Iowa the third week in June every year.
(December 2001) Paul is still heading up the growing advocacy group, A Minor Consideration, protecting young professionals.
(March 2011) Williamsburg, VA, USA: Attended the annual film festival.
They say children in [the Hollywood acting] industry are protected.
Bullshit. Hollywood would save Bosnia before the life of a single child,actor.
I became a child actor because my mom was bigger than I was.
[on his work with A Minor Consideration] People on the "utside", people,who have not lived the life . . . "civilians", as we call them . . .
Particularly people on the soap operas. And they themselves are so,poisoned by false values that they cannot, even with a co-worker, see,the pain and lonliness [sic] and suffering. .
