Peter Masterson (born Carlos Bee Masterson Jr.) started out as a New York and Broadway stage actor in the early '60s, but switched to feature films by mid-decade, making his debut in Ambush Bay (1966). His notable films from this period include Norman Jewison's In the Heat of the Night (1967) and a starring role in The Stepford Wives (1975). After writing the screenplay for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Masterson became a director, making his debut in The Trip to Bountiful (1985) starring Geraldine Page and Masterson's wife, Carlin Glynn. But for an appearance in Gardens of Stone (1987), Masterson became a full-time director. His daughter, Mary Stuart Masterson, is a noted film actress. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide