Farrelly decided to pursue writing full-time, which prompted him to quit his job and relocate to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he got a job as a waiter. On one of the tables he was waiting, Farrelly struck up a conversation with a writing professor from UMass Amherst, who encouraged Farrelly to apply to graduate school. Farrelly said he did not think his chances were good, considering he did poorly in college but the professor said not everything is judged by grades. With what would later be Outside Providence, Farrelly submitted the work and was pleasantly surprised that he was accepted. He studied writing for a time at UMass Amherst, but was ultimately dissatisfied with the program, and transferred to Columbia University in New York City, which Farrelly said he found very satisfying. He later became interested in screenwriting, which led him to directing. He made this career decision after many of his screenplays sold, but were not produced.
As a director
Together with his brother, Bobby Farrelly, he has written, directed, and produced several comedy films including There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, Shallow Hal, Me, Myself & Irene, Stuck on You, and Fever Pitch. They also conceived the Seinfeld episode "The Virgin". In 2006, Farrelly directed the Man Laws series of television commercials for the Miller Lite beer brand, which featured actor Burt Reynolds, American football playerJerome Bettis, climber Aron Ralston, and professional wrestlerTriple H. Peter worked on a film entitled, Movie 43, which was released in 2013 and produced by the siblings' long-time producer Charles B. Wessler. He produced the anthology film and directed two of its segments. In 2012, Peter and his brother announced that the filming of Dumb and Dumber To would begin in 2013. The film was released on November 14, 2014, to negative reviews. In 2016, Audience announced that Loudermilk, a new half-hour scripted comedy co-created by Farrelly and Bobby Mort, would receive a straight-to-series order. In 2018, the show was renewed for season 2. In 2018, Farrelly directed Green Book, which won the Toronto International Film Festival's People Choice Award. At the 91st Academy Awards, he won the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. In 2020, Farrelly directed alongside his brother, and co-wrote the Quibi comedy series The Now, starring Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Daryl Hannah, and Jimmy Tatro.
Other pursuits
He is a published novelist, with works including Outside Providence and The Comedy Writer. Farrelly is a board member of Direct Sports Network. He lives in Los Angeles, while Bobby remains in Massachusetts. Farrelly has frequently flashed his penis to colleagues. He showed his penis to Cameron Diaz the first time he met her and more than 500 times to others, according to his estimates. Farrelly says the act was received comically, not as an act of sexual aggression, and that he would not do it today. In 1998, Farrelly told Newsweek magazine that he and his friends would play "dick jokes" on each other, including to his friend Cameron Diaz. Farrelly has stated that he wouldn't do that today and he cringes in embarrassment about it. Farrelly is a long-time supporter of disability rights. In 2020, he and his brother Bobby received the Morton E. Ruderman Award for Inclusion of People with Disabilities. Past winners include Michael Phelps and Marlee Matlin.
