'Peter Pan,' past and present

December 4, 2014

"Peter Pan," J.M. Barrie's 1904 play and 1911 novel, has endured for more than a century in several stage productions and films. As "Girls" actress Allison Williams gears up for the starring role in NBC's "Peter Pan Live!" airing Thursday, Dec. 4 from Long Island's Grumman Studios, take a look back at other actors who have played the boy who wouldn't grow up -- plus Peter Pan's influence in pop culture, peanut butter and more.

The original

Credit: AP

Mary Martin starred in the original 1954 Broadway production of "Peter Pan," as well as NBC telecasts of the show in 1955, 1956, and 1960. Here, she flies through the air during a rehearsal with director Jerome Robbins for the 1955 TV program as her daughter, Heller Halliday, watches in the foreground.

The peanut butter

Credit: AP / Dr. Scott M. Lieberman

Do you prefer Skippy, Jif or Peter Pan peanut butter?

The Olympian

Credit: Craig Schwartz Photography

Olympic gold medalist Cathy Rigby first played Peter Pan in a 1974 off-Broadway revival, a year after she retired from gymnastics at age 20. She reprised her role, on Broadway, in 1990, and several times after that, earning two Tony nominations. Rigby played Peter Pan as recently as 2013, when she starred off-Broadway again at age 61.

The Long Island diner

Credit: Elaine Vuong

The Peter Pan Diner (off Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore) has been a Long Island mainstay for more than 40 years.

The all-American darling

At age 33, perky, pixie-haired Sandy Duncan (of CBS' "Funny Face") took the lead of the Broadway revival, opposite Marsha Kramer as Wendy. She earned a 1980 Tony nomination, and continued her role through 1981.

The bus line

Peter Pan Bus Line is a long-distance motor-coach service operating in the northeastern United States.

The funnyman

Credit: TriStar Pictures / Photofest

Robin Williams played Peter Banning/Peter Pan opposite Dustin Hoffman as Captain James S. Hook in 1991's "Hook," directed by Steven Spielberg.

The real boy

Credit: AP

In Universal Studios' 2003 "Peter Pan" movie, the lead was finally played by an actual 12-year-old, Jeremy Sumpter.

The collar

Credit: Kate Young for Target

A Peter Pan collar on a sweater, shirt or dress is perfect for the girl who doesn't want to grow up.

The 'Girls' girl

Credit: NBC / Nino Munoz

"Girls" star Allison Williams (daughter of "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams) stars in NBC's "Peter Pan Live!" airing Thursday, Dec. 4 from Long Island's Grumman Studios.