Chris Drake

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Chris Drake

Born December 23, 1923(1923-12-23)
Richmond, Virginia
Died July 9, 2006 (aged 82)
Occupation Television, film actor

Chris Drake (Christian Drake) (December 23, 1923 - July 9, 2006) was an American actor best known for his co-star role of the 1950s television series Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Chris co-starred with Actress Irish McCalla in the Sheena series. Drake was interviewed by Charles P. Mitchell for Ultra Filmfax. "Looking back at my life and career, I believe I am the luckiest guy who ever lived," Christian Drake says with great conviction. "I never wanted to be an actor, yet I had appeared in over a hundred roles, in films and on television, and I had a great time doing every one."

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[edit] Early life

Drake was born on December 11, 1923, in a small town eight miles outside of Richmond, Virginia. He can trace his family's roots in Virginia back to 1638. When he was 10-years-old, he moved with his family to California, after his father had developed an incurable skin condition. They settled in Manhattan Beach. Eleven years later, he found himself working as a contract player for RKO. During World War II Drake joined the Marines. He was one of Carlson's Raiders at Guadalcanal where they were surrounded by the Japanese and lost 40,000 men. Drake was wounded and was sent home to operate on his knee at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. At the end of 1943 he was transferred to Long Beach Naval Hospital.

[edit] Film career

Drake's motion picture credits include The Falcon in Hollywood(1944), A Walk in the Sun(1945), Strangler of the Swamp(1945), Fear in the Night(1947), The Lost Moment(1947), This Time for Keeps(1947), Battleground(1949), Father of the Bride(1950), Operation Pacific(1951), and Them!(1954). He even got to star in one feature: Forever My Love(1952), which was made in Japan. Drake was also quite active on television, including shows like Mystery Theater, The Lone Ranger, My Little Margie, and Have Gun Will Travel. But he most recognized today for his only regular series, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle(1955), which has become a cult classic even though only 26 episodes were made. Drake portrayed Bob Rayburn, a "white hunter" who was Sheena's friend and confidant in the Jungles of Kenya.

[edit] References

  • Ultra Filmfax   April 1988, Iss.66, pg. 79-82, by Charles P. Mitchell, "Christian Drake, Sheena Days with White Hunter Bob"

[edit] External links