Christopher Pettiet

Christopher Pettiet
Born Christopher Lee Pettiet
February 12, 1976(1976-02-12)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died April 12, 2000(2000-04-12) (aged 24)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names Chris Pettiet
Christopher L. Pettiet
Occupation Actor
Years active 1990–1999

Christopher Lee Pettiet (February 12, 1976 – April 12, 2000) was an American television and film actor best known for his role as Jesse James in the Western TV series The Young Riders and as Zach Crandell in the cult comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991).

Contents

Career

Pettiet began his career as a child actor making appearances in television series such as seaQuest DSV, Star Trek: The Next Generation, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, Picket Fences and Undressed. He also appeared in several films such as Point Break (1991), and Boys (1996). In 1991, he won the role of a young Jesse James on The Young Riders.

After the cancellation of The Young Riders in 1992, Pettiet's career began to wane. According to his manager, Bob Villard, Pettiet was "just about impoverished", living on "small residual check[s]". Villard's open letter also notes that Pettiet's problem with drugs had been a long standing one and that he had tried "for over two years" to get Pettiet into treatment. Despite attending "a couple" of AA meetings, he refused to admit that he had a substance abuse problem.[1] Pettiet made his last onscreen appearance in a 1999 episode of Judging Amy.

Death

Pettiet died of a drug overdose on April 12, 2000, in Los Angeles at the age of 24.[2][3] After his death, his acting coach, Kevin McDermott, founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors attend Center Stage LA where he had trained.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1990 An Enemy of the People Morton Stockman Television film
1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation Boy Episode: "The High Ground"
1990 Doogie Howser, M.D Gregory Pelzman Episode: "Revenge of the Teenage Dead"
1990 The Dreamer of Oz Teenage Frank, Jr. Television film
1991 Fatal Exposure Drew Television film
1991 L.A. Law Corey Walker Episode: "On the Toad Again"
1991 Empty Nest Little Harry Episode: "The Way We Are"
1991 My Life and Times Michael Miller Episode: "The Collapse of '98"
1991 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Zach Crandell
1991 Point Break 15
1991 to 1992 The Young Riders Jesse James 21 episodes
1992 Sandman Jesse
1992 Danger Island Brian Television film
1992 Baywatch Hawaii Beaver Episode: "Tequila Bay"
1993 The Goodbye Bird Francis "Frank" Phillips
1993 seaQuest DSV Zachery Thomas Episode: "Brothers and Sisters"
1994 Horses and Champions Joe
1994 Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes Cory Dietz
1995 Picket Fences Michael Hynes Episode: "The Song of Rome"
1996 Carried Away Robert Henson
1997 Against the Law Tommy
1996 Boys Jon Heinz
1997 Touched by an Angel Luke Brewer Episode: "Crisis of Faith"
1998 Chicago Hope Kevin Dicker Episode: "Viagra-Vated Assault"
1999 Undressed Dean 6 episodes
1999 Judging Amy Paul Dexter Episode: "An Impartial Bias"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title of work Result
1991 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series Doogie Howser, M.D Winner
1992 Young Artist Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
(Shared with cast)		 Nominated
1992 Young Artist Awards Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series The Young Riders Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "Manager Remembers Chris". geocities.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20080320060906/http://www.geocities.com/theyoungriders2_tv/PLAINS/chrismemorial2.html. 
  2. ^ "Remembering Christopher Pettiet". geocities.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20080102025929/http://www.geocities.com/theyoungriders2_tv/PLAINS/chrismemorial.html. 
  3. ^ Screen World 2001 By John Willis, Barry Monush. Hal Leonard Corporation. p.45

External links