Dennis Christopher
About
Biography
Biography
This once boyishly handsome, stage-trained character player enjoyed a brief stint as a Hollywood leading man in the late 1970s and early 80s after the surprising success of "Breaking Away" (1979). Christopher proved extremely likable as a young Italophile cyclist in middle America coming to grips with growing up. Though he was already 24 at the time, Christopher was so convincing at conveying the anxieties of youth that he won a Youth in Film Award. This could have been a career transforming role but he faltered with his next two projects, "Fade to Black" (1980) and "Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder" (1982). The former was a gory thriller in which he went over-the-top as a movie-obsessed serial killer. Christopher shifted gears with the latter, playing a sensitive American GI paired with a dedicated doctor (Susan Saint James) during the Vietnam War. While his notices were respectable, the film failed to register at the box office. After a five year hiatus from the big screen, Christopher returned as a supporting player in genre movies beginning with the action comedy misfire "Jake Speed" (1986). This was followed by dubious (almost) direct-to-video titles and obscure international co-productions.
Christopher had established himself in NYC, Los Angeles and regional theater before shifting to films in the 70s. He also spent some time in Paris as a member of the Living Theatre, performing in street theater and experimental films. While overseas he has a part in Fellini's experimental documentary on Federico Fellini's "Roma" (1972). Back stateside, Christopher appeared in "9/30/55" (1977) and Robert Altman's "A Wedding" (1978), as the brother of the bride and son of Carol Burnett and Paul Dooley.
Christopher also has appeared in several worthy indies with gay themes. He was a maligned homosexual teacher in "The Disco Years" segment of the omnibus film "Boys Life" (1995) and one of the guests in Randal Kleiser's "It's My Party" (1996). Christopher has remained active on the stage, winning kudos for his portrayal of gay mathematician Alan Turing in the Los Angeles production of "Breaking the Code." He also provided the calming off-stage voice of an AIDS project doctor in a Los Angeles production of "A Quiet End."
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1971
Made film acting debut in "Blood and Lace", a low-budget horror film starring Gloria Grahame
1971
Moved to California
1972
Moved to Italy; cast in "Fellini's Roma"
1974
Moved to New York; made stage debut in "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy" at the Chelsea Theater Center at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
1976
Made TV acting debut in NBC's "The Oregon Trail"
1979
Breakthrough feature lead, "Breaking Away"
1980
Starred opposite Farrah Fawcett in a Florida production of "Butterflies Are Free"
1981
Played the role of Leo Hubbard in stage revival of "The Little Foxes" in Florida, Washington DC and ultimately on Broadway opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton
1981
Featured in sport drama "Chariots of Fire"
1982
Last starring role in a feature, "Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder", as an American GI opposite Susan Saint James as a doctor in Vietnam
1986
Last role in a big-budget mainstream Hollywood film, "Jake Speed"
1989
TV acting debut, "Christabel", a four-part "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation
1990
Played seedy criminal Leech in the low-budget sci-fi actioner "Circuitry Man"; reprised role for "Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II" (1994)
1990
Network TV miniseries debut, "Stephen King's 'IT'" (ABC)
1996
TV series debut, recurring role (uncredited voice) as an enigmatic serial killer on NBC's crime drama "Profiler"
1996
Joined impressive ensemble for Randal Kleiser's AIDS comedy-drama "It's My Party"
1998
Returned to NYC stage in off-Broadway play "Retribution"
2000
Returned to series TV as co-star of Fox drama "FreakyLinks"
2001
Earned good notices as the distant musician father in Pasadena Playhouse production of "Side Man"
2006
Guest starred on HBO's "Deadwood"
2012
Featured opposite Jamie Foxx in "Django Unchained," a Western drama set in Mississippi; film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
