[1] Peters was born in Werlitzsch, Kreis Delitzsch, Prussian Saxony, and died of a heart attack on a promotion tour for his latest film in Wiesbaden, Germany.

His film career started with the lead in Wolfgang Staudte's Der Untertan, produced in the young German Democratic Republic.

He also established himself in the European and international film industry by frequently playing sinister German or Nazi characters.

Peters appeared in two episodes of the 1966 American television espionage drama Blue Light.

These were edited together with two other episodes to create the theatrical film I Deal in Danger, released in December 1966, which included his role.