John Gerald O'Hurley (born October 9, 1954, in Kittery, Maine) is an American actor and popular television personality who is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Jacopo Peterman on the 1990s National Broadcasting Company sitcom Seinfeld. On September 11, 2006, John replaced Richard Karn as the fifth host of Family Feud. In March 2007, John took the lead role in the Wynn Las Vegas's production of Spamalot, in which he plays the lead role of King Arthur. O'Hurley financed the re-launch of The J. Peterman Company with the (real) John Peterman and thus became a joint owner of the (reincarnated, real) J. Peterman Company. He also is one of the guest speakers in the Candlelight Processional at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World. O'Hurley has also been the host of the Annual Purina Dog Show every Thanksgiving since 2002 and was a contestant on the first season of the popular television show Dancing with the Stars.
Alumnus of Kingswood-Oxford (private school) in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Was director of public relations for the American Red Cross.
Hobbies: golf, tennis, carpentry and interior design.
Education: Providence College, Providence, RI; BA in theatre.
Refuses to dye his frosted hair black to get younger roles.
Co-owner (with J. Peterman) of the real J. Peterman Catalog. After playing J. Peterman on "Seinfeld" (1990), he was offered the opportunity to buy part of the company and help bring it back from bankruptcy. They turned a profit the very first year that O'Hurley was part of the company.
Collects fine wines.
Older sister Carol passed away in 1970 at the age of 17 due to epileptic seizures. Now John works on behalf of the Epilepsy Foundation to find a cure.
Attended Natick High School
Was runner-up in the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I).
September 2005 - Won "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I) re-match with partner Charlotte Jorgensen, earning $126,000 for Golfers Against Cancer charity.
A financier and investor as well, he is a principal partner for Round One Investments in Los Angeles and Heritage Capital Advisors in Atlanta, two private-equity outfits. He also holds a big chunk of a restaurant chain and is an owner of the Alaskan airline Era Aviation.
A self-taught pianist and classically-trained vocalist who has performed with symphonies, he has recently released a two-album project entitled "Peace of Our Minds," a compilation of his original piano compositions in tandem with famed cellist Marston (Smith). One piece, "For Lisa," was written for John's wife especially for their wedding day in 2004. O'Hurley has been composing since his teen years.
Has a son, William Dylan O'Hurley (born December 6, 2006).
