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Peter Weller may be best known as "RoboCop," the cyborg crime fighter that he portrayed in the 1987 film and its 1990 sequel, but the actor also could qualify as a Renaissance man. He directs (his 1993 short, "Partners," was Oscar-nominated), plays trumpet, is a professor ad hoc at Syracuse University in Florence, studies French poetry, and moderates the History Channel's "Engineering Empires." Says Weller, "I try to do it all."

How did Frank's Home come about? "They sent me the play in Italy [where he spends part of each year]. It sort of fit in with my métier, which is modern architecture — a pretentious hobby. I thought: 'This is marvelous, but I don't know if I want to go broke in the theatre.' But my wife had never seen me on the stage," and so her Mr. Right is playing the architect.

Was he aware that he'd be performing on a raked stage? "No. It's not easy at first, but you get used to it." Of course, he knew that the role contained several monologues. "They're entertaining as hell for me, 'cause I'm long-winded anyway." His research for the part of Wright (1867-1959) included reading "four or five books; spending days in his homes in L.A. and Chicago; and meeting with his grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright. I had entrée to all of his major works."

Born in Stevens Point, WI, Weller is the younger of two sons of an Army helicopter pilot and a pianist. Notes Weller, "Stevens Point is close to where Frank Lloyd Wright was born [Richland Center, WI]."

At ten, Weller was on the stage, "thanks to Robert Jani, who was in the Army with my father. [Jani] was in Special Services and wrote some musicals with my mother. He worked for Walt Disney and for Radio City Music Hall, but he also revamped the Rose Bowl Parade, started the Super Bowl's half-time entertainment, and coordinated Ronald Reagan's campaign for governor. He was a modern P.T. Barnum." An acting career became "the natural thing to do." However, like many who start young in show business, Weller would not want a child of his to begin a career so early.

Soon after his arrival in New York, Weller got a role in David Rabe's Sticks and Bones, and later appeared in the playwright's Streamers. "What a great writer. David Rabe was like a brother to me, although I haven't seen him in ten years."

Also among Weller's credits are two Tennessee Williams works: as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire (at the Long Wharf) and as Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Hartford Stage), his most recent stage appearance prior to Frank's Home. "And I worked with two great actresses, Shirley Knight [Blanche] and Christine Lahti [Maggie]."

On season five of "24," Weller appeared in 18 episodes as Christopher Henderson, a nemesis to Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer. Not having seen the series, I inquire if Henderson was killed. "Yeah, yeah. They all get killed." I suggest that it's similar to "Murder, She Wrote" (1984-96), in which friends of Angela Lansbury's Jessica Fletcher seemed not long for the world. "I met Angela Lansbury at the Theatre Hall of Fame [2007 ceremony ]. She's great! She presented to George Hearn, and I presented to Patti LuPone, whom I've known for years and years."

Is his most popular role, to date, Alex J. Murphy, who becomes "RoboCop"? "Without a doubt. I loved doing it. I'm happy I did [the two movies], and I'm happy I left." The filming of "Naked Lunch" conflicted with the making of "RoboCop 3."

Which roles have given Weller the most satisfaction? "Frank's Home gives me tremendous satisfaction. The movies ‘New Age' [1994], ‘Contaminated Man' and ‘Shadow Hours' [both 2000] gave me a lot of satisfaction. Directing gives me more satisfaction than anything else." Besides the short "Partners," Weller has directed episodic TV and "Tangled Up in Blue," which is scheduled for a fall release.

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