[1] He was a literature and film studies professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
[2] Petrie was born in Penang, British Malaya, to Scottish parents and was raised and educated primarily in Scotland.
[1] He initially joined McMaster University as a professor of English,[3] with his academic focus evolving toward film during his time with the institution.
In addition to his academic works, Petrie published the novel Seahorse in 1980,[4] and was a shortlisted nominee for the Books in Canada First Novel Award in 1981.
[1] He also published the short story "Village Theatre" in John Robert Colombo's 1981 anthology Not to Be Taken at Night.