Peter was born in Houston, TX. He attended college at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he received a B.A. in English. Peter then moved to New York to pursue a career in acting. After two years in New York, he was accepted by The American Repertory Theatre's Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University and the Moscow Art Theatre, where he received an M.F.A in Acting. Shortly after receiving his M.F.A., Peter was cast in the Mark Taper Forum's production of The Cherry Orchard starring Annette Bening and Alfred Molina in 2006. During the production, a producer asked him to come and audition for the pilot of ABC's Notes from the Underbelly, in which he was cast starring opposite Jennifer Westfeldt. The series was picked up that summer, and ran on ABC for two seasons. Peter was next cast in CBS's drama NCIS:Los Angeles as Operations Psychologist Nate Getz. He still appears as Nate as a recurring cast member. Peter recently starred in the TBS comedy Wedding Band which aired in the fall of 2012. He just wrapped up shooting the NBC pilot Assistance starring Krysten Ritter, Alfred Molina, Zach Cregger, and Vinette Robinson.