Bio

Born: November 25, 1937 in Redwood City, California, USA

Height: 5' 11" (1.8 m)

Spouse: Sherri Mattison (1963 - 1965)  (1 child)

Early Years

The acting bug bit CHRISTOPHER early in his life. Starting at the age of four, CHRISTOPHER began appearing on stage in the San Francisco Bay area. A chance meeting with MGM Studios executive LESLIE PETERSON was a pivotal moment in CHRISTOPHER'S early career. MR. PETERSON gave him his card and told him to "look him up" if he ever made it down to Hollywood.

Calling On Hollywood (1956-1962)

At the age of 18, CHRISTOPHER left home with less than $40 in his pocket, purchased a one-way train ticket to Los Angeles and never looked back. The first order of business: A visit to LESLIE PETERSON at MGM. 

Amazingly, MR. PETERSON remembered CHRISTOPHER from their earlier meeting and CHRISTOPHER received an immediate offer to work on the film Somebody Up There Likes Me, starring PAUL NEWMAN. Additional work at MGM soon followed with an appearance in Raintree County, starring ELIZABETH TAYLOR and MONTGOMERY CLIFT. 

In between movie and television work, CHRISTOPHER appeared in several plays in Los Angeles during this time, including the lead role in Dracula for which he was nominated in the Best Actor category.

Towards the end of this period, CHRISTOPHER added appearances in Las Vegas to his resume. In 1962, he joined the cast of the show Gotta Get To Vegas which played nightly at The Dunes hotel.

"You ARE a Dancer" (1962)

HERMES PAN, the renowned choreographer and "The man who danced with FRED ASTAIRE" (there's a whole book devoted to their collaboration), was looking for a young guy to partner MR. ASTAIRE'S last dancing partner, BARRIE CHASE, and to join her in her Las Vegas debut at The Sahara Hotel. The date was March 12, 1962 when CHRISTOPHER auditioned for the job (which consisted mostly of him doing warm up routines while MR. PAN and MR. ASTAIRE looked on). After a few minutes, MR. ASTAIRE called CHRISTOPHER over. Fearing the worst and not wanting to disappoint MR ASTAIRE, CHRISTOPHER said "Well you know, I'm not really a dancer." MR ASTAIRE responded," Kid, you ARE a Dancer!" and CHRISTOPHER was hired on the spot.

My Fair Lady (1963)

One day in early 1963, CHRISTOPHER received a call from HERMES PAN asking if he was available to help him work on the Ascot Gavotte scene for the film My Fair Lady that was going to start shooting at the Warner Brothers studios. CHRISTOPHER accepted the job, eager to work on what would likely be one of the major films of the year.

The film's director, GEORGE CUKOR, was impressed with CHRISTOPHER'S work in the Ascot Gavotte scene and asked him to stay on to work in the Covent Garden scene. After THAT scene was completed, MR. CUKOR once again requested that CHRISTOPHER remain on the film to work in the Embassy Ball scene! What originally was supposed to be just a few weeks of work turned into a 6 month job.

And of course, everyone knows the film turned out to be a masterpiece.

Elvis' Favorite Dancer

Lamar Fike, a close, long-time aide of ELVIS remarked about CHRISTOPHER "Oh God, yes, he was ELVIS' favorite. That kid was the best dancer in the pictures."

CHRISTOPHER appeared with ELVIS in the films Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout, Tickle Me, Spinout, Double Trouble and Clambake, on television in The '68 Comeback Special and in multiple ELVIS documentaries.

ELVIS had an address book where he kept the names and contact information of those he had worked with in the past that he would look up whenever a new project came along. It was rumored that CHRISTOPHER was included in that address book along with many of the other male and female dancers who worked on the Elvis film. 

In actuality, CHRISTOPHER was the ONLY male dancer in the book!

TV, Film and Stage (1964 - 1971)

These years were by far CHRISTOPHER'S busiest time. During this period, CHRISTOPHER appeared in dozens of films and several HUNDRED television episodes. In addition, CHRISTOPHER was active in the Los Angeles theater scene and won BOTH the Best Supporting Actor and the Best Actor awards in 1966 for his work in the plays Light Up The Sky and Rope, respectively.

Changing Times (1972 - 1993)

Hollywood was changing in the 70s and so too was CHRISTOPHER'S career focus. During this time CHRISTOPHER was offered parts that were very similar to those he had in the previous decade. He turned them down and instead spent much of this time working in the theatre.

In the early 1990s, CHRISTOPHER moved to Ashland, Oregon, the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, for what he thought would be retirement. It wasn't long though until he accepted the position of Artistic Director at the Lyric Theatre. In 1993, CHRISTOPHER directed the play Don Juan In Hell with a cast that included GEORGE CHAKIRIS of West Side Story fame.

Back in Hollywood - Sort of (1994 - 2007)

By the mid-1990s CHRISTOPHER was back in Hollywood and had roles in several films and television shows, including the pilot episode of the series Models, Inc. After this, CHRISTOPHER attempted another retirement, this time in Puerto Vallarta, starting in late November of 1996. While in "Vallarta" CHRISTOPHER performed at the jazz club, Garbo.

2008 - Present

Upon returning to the United States, CHRISTOPHER appeared on the popular TV series Ugly Betty portraying the role of The Collector. This was the beginning of a very busy period of television work. CHRISTOPHER was part of the regular cast on the series Outsourced, and made guest appearances on episodes of Black-ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Real O'Neals. Most recently, CHRISTOPHER was again a member of the regular cast, this time on the long-running NBC-TV series Superstore.

In addition to his television work, CHRISTOPHER continues to make regular appearances at ELVIS festivals, autograph shows and regularly attends (and is one of the featured speakers every few years at) the annual RUDOLPH VALENTINO Memorial service in Hollywood.

 Being presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Los Angeles Motion Picture Council, October 13, 2014.