1984:
North is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and attended J. L. Ilsley High School. He moved to California, U.S. in 1982. Currently resides in Newport Coast, CA. He states that he "entered the adult business in the spring of 1984 by accident. I was approached to do it but never really contemplated it or even thought I would be in the adult business". Peter North is better known as the "facial cumshot extraordinaire." Early in his career, North performed in homosexual pornography under the name Matt Ramsey.

Physique impresses:
In a 1996 interview North stated that he was "discovered" at the age of 24 while modeling athletic wear at a private party in Los Angeles in the early '80s. A man within the adult industry, whom North did not name, attended the party, was impressed by North's physique, and gave him his business card.

Scenes from The Best of Amber Lynn with Peter North:

Northern roots:
The name "North" may refer to his Canadian or northern roots. Writer Steven Strager speculated that North's stage name, like that of many other male pornographic actors, "expresses the controlling man-as-penis metaphor while precisely articulating the masturbator's big-dick fantasies." Peter got famous also for his powerful cumshots.

North became involved in the government's 1986 investigation of Traci Lords' involvement in the industry, including some sex scenes with North. The government eventually dropped the investigation.

Veteran pornstar Christy Canyon confirmed a longstanding rumor in her 2003 autobiography Lights, Camera, SEX!, revealing that North does not like to have his hair touched during a scene, as it causes him to lose his concentration.