Pete Downey

*"You know you're doing a good job when people hate you." - Peter John Downey*

P.J

Peter

Jeanine (Divorced)

**Peter 'Pete' John Downey** (played by Ethan Phillips) was one of the main characters from Seasons 2-5 as the press secretary for Governor Gatling on the ABC sitcom, *Benson*.

## About Pete

### Before the Mansion

Pete would be drafted into the US Military where he would learn jungle training in preparation for Vietnam. Following which, he would be shipped out and stationed at Rhode Island.

Pete attended a forestry school before dropping out and graduating from Reynolds University of Florida. Following graduation, he worked as a journalist for a local paper. He would eventually move out of Florida, with it being stated that he worked as a press secretary in New Jersey at some point.

### Position at the Governor's Mansion

Pete eventually landed a position as the executive press secretary for Governor Gatling. He was responsible for various press coverage regarding Gatling during his first term and throughout the first half of his second term. In 1982, he notably prevented a robbery at a jewelry store, assisting in the arrest of the two armed felons. The following year, Peter would get married to Denise Stevens, a co-worker of his at the Governor's mansion.

The two held a small wedding in the woods and had a son in 1984. Later that year, Peter would quit his job as press secretary and move to Texas with his wife, Denise, after she landed a job at NASA.

## Relationships

### Denise

Pete was fond of Denise soon after she was hired for state budget director, Benson DuBois. Though slightly rocky at first, Pete quickly hit it off with Denise as great friends, and eventually to partners. Pete was occasionally annoyed by Denise looking after him however, saying that she was a lot like her mother. Despite this though, the two would get married and have a child together later on and move to Texas.

### Others

Pete was a unique staff member at the Governor's Mansion, with some of his colleagues being in awe at his irresponsibility. Governor Gatling and Benson, while cooperated with some of his more efficient press ideas, weren't too shy to admit when Pete wasn't operating at his best.

Marcy Hill took a particular interest in Pete's relationship with his ex wife Jeanine, while Clayton Endicott took pleasure in bad-mouthing Pete's sense of style and his 'macho moments'. Katie Gatling, however, would develop a temporary crush on Pete but would quickly grow out of it.

Pete Downey, despite bringing a cloud of bad luck, generally got along with his co-workers and was met with a heartfelt farewell when he made his exit out the mansion.

## Trivia

* He stated once that he cracks under pressure.
* He was once arrested at a demonstration for protesting against raising prices in the cafeteria. He was in jail for a few hours before being released.
* Pete once stated that he eats when he gets upset.
* He has a severe fear of baseball after he had to take accordion lessons as a kid and learn '*Take Me Out to the Ball Game'*.

## Quotes

* "You know you're doing a good job when people hate you."
* "Am I a slovenly ignorant pig with no justifiable reason for living?"
* "She's very sensitive for a girl with thick ankles."
* "I wish I told my ex-wife about this. I'd like her to share the disappointment."
* "A forfeits better than getting beat; more dignity!"
* "We're talking big coverage! We're talking the people's section of *Time* and the time's section of *People*."