Question: what actor played ralphie in a christmas story
Answer: Peter Billingsley ( born April 16 , 1971 ) , also known as Peter Michaelsen and Peter Billingsley - Michaelsen , is an American actor , director , and producer , best known for his role as Ralphie in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story and as `` Messy Marvin '' in the Hershey 's Chocolate Syrup commercials during the 1970s .