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Eric Cuthbert Christmas (19 March 1916 – 22 July 2000) was a British actor, with over 40 films and numerous television roles to his credit. He is probably best known for his role as Mr. Carter, the principal of Angel Beach High School, in the 1981 comedy films '' Porky's'', the 1983 sequel '' Porky's II: The Next Day'', and the 1985 sequel '' Porky's Revenge!''. He was also known for his sporadic role as Reverend Diddymoe in the
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are ...
sitcom, ''
Amen Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, an ...
''.


Life and career

Christmas was born in London, England, and later emigrated to Canada. His role as a priest in the 1971 film ''
Harold and Maude ''Harold and Maude'' is a 1971 American romantic black comedy–drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen ...
'' includes a memorable monologue to an off-camera Harold, in which he discusses, with increasing nausea and disgust, how the thought of Harold's sexual affair with a much older woman "makes imwant...to vomit." His also had film roles in '' Monte Walsh'' (1970), ''
The Andromeda Strain ''The Andromeda Strain'' is a 1969 techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton, his first novel under his own name and his sixth novel overall. It is written as a report documenting the efforts of a team of scientists investigating the outbreak of ...
'' (1971), '' Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971), ''
The Last Tycoon ''The Last Tycoon'' is an unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1941, it was published posthumously under this title, as prepared by his friend Edmund Wilson, a critic and writer. According to ''Publishers Weekly,'' the novel is "generally ...
'' (1976), ''
An Enemy of the People ''An Enemy of the People'' (original Norwegian title: ''En folkefiende''), an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, followed his previous play, ''Ghosts'', which criticized the hypocrisy of his society's moral code. That response incl ...
'' (1978), ''
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes ''Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'' is a 1978 American parody film produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon. The screenplay was written by Dillon, Peace, and DeBel ...
'' (1978), '' The Changeling'' (1980), ''
Middle Age Crazy ''Middle Age Crazy'' is a 1980 American-Canadian comedy film directed by John Trent, and starring Bruce Dern and Ann-Margret. The film was nominated for two awards (Worst Director and Worst Screenplay) at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards. Plot B ...
'' (1980), '' The Philadelphia Experiment'' (1984), and '' All of Me'' (1984). He also appeared in the episode, "When I'm 64", in the TV series'' " ALF'' as Bernie, one of the residents of a retirement home, ''
Bugsy ''Bugsy'' is a 1991 American biographical crime drama film chronicling the life of American mobster Bugsy Siegel and his relationship with Virginia Hill. It is directed by Barry Levinson, written by James Toback, and stars Warren Beatty as Siege ...
'' (1991), ''Almost Dead'' (1994), ''
Air Bud ''Air Bud'' is a 1997 sports comedy film directed by Charles Martin Smith. The film was financially successful, grossing $4 million in its opening weekend and totaling $27.8 million in its run against an estimated $3 million budget. Plot Afte ...
'' (1997), and his final feature film ''
Mouse Hunt ''Mouse Hunt'' is a 1997 American slapstick black comedy film written by Adam Rifkin and directed by Gore Verbinski in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Maury Chaykin, and Christopher Walken. The film follow ...
'' (1997). Christmas also made guest appearances on many television shows, including ''
Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...
'' (as a sardonic Jeweler in "A Friend in Deed"), ''
Adventures in Rainbow Country ''Adventures in Rainbow Country'' was a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television in the 1970-71 TV season. Reruns were later shown on the American children's cable channel Nickelodeon during the early 1980s. A half hour family ...
'', '' Due South'', '' ER'', ''
Misfits of Science ''Misfits of Science'' is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by James D. Parriott that aired on NBC from October 4, 1985, to February 21, 1986. Plot The series discussed super-powered humans and their madcap a ...
'', '' Night Court'', '' The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'', '' Wiseguy'' (as Harry "The Hunch" Shanstra), '' Seinfeld'' (as Jeffrey Harharwood in "The Gum"—Episode 120, first airing on 14 December 1995), ''
Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...
'' (season 7; episode 2), '' Home Improvement'' (as Sir Larry the Magician), ''
Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...
'' (as Brian Currie), ''
The Golden Palace ''The Golden Palace'' is an American sitcom television series produced as a sequel to ''The Golden Girls,'' a continuation without Bea Arthur (though she did guest star in a double episode) that originally aired on CBS from September 1992 to Ma ...
'', ''
The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'', '' Booker'', '' Matlock'', ''
Walker Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film ''Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both this series and that film starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Te ...
'', ''
Roseanne ''Roseanne'' is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Rosea ...
'', ''
L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...
'' (as Buzz Carr), ''
Major Dad ''Major Dad'' is an American sitcom television series created by Richard C. Okie and John G. Stephens, developed by Earl Pomerantz, that originally ran from September 17, 1989, to May 17, 1993 on CBS, starring Gerald McRaney as Major John D. M ...
'', and '' Ally McBeal''. And a appearance on "Amen". From 1995-96 he played Father Francis on ''
Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. The soap, which aired on ...
'', a key role in the infamous possession of
Marlena Evans Marlena Evans is a fictional character on the NBC daytime drama, ''Days of Our Lives'', a long-running serial about working life in the fictional town of Salem. She has been played by actress Deidre Hall since 1976, but the character was absent f ...
. He went to San Diego to teach and to revive the La Jolla Playhouse, for which he directed ''The Man Who Came to Dinner'' in temporary space at La Jolla High School, with equity actor Larry Seaman in the lead role, and also starring Robert Zimmerman (BHP-San Francisco Faculty) as the reporter and James Pearson as Banjo (Harpo Marx role).''La Jolla Light'', 12 November 1981. Christmas also acted in and directed productions of San Diego, California's Old Globe Theatre's Shakespeare Festivals for many years. During the 1970s and 1980s, Christmas was a drama professor at the
University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego or colloquially, UCSD) is a public land-grant research university in San Diego, California. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is t ...
, and made theatrical presentations at local high schools, including La Jolla Country Day School.


Death

He died on 22 July 2000, from natural causes at the age of 84. He was interred at the Santa Barbara Cemetery at Santa Barbara, California.


Filmography

*''
Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...
'' (1969, Episode: " Dead Wrong") .... Bobby Dan *'' Monte Walsh'' (1970) .... Colonel Wilson *''
The Andromeda Strain ''The Andromeda Strain'' is a 1969 techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton, his first novel under his own name and his sixth novel overall. It is written as a report documenting the efforts of a team of scientists investigating the outbreak of ...
'' (1971) .... Senator from Vermont *'' Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971) .... Corporal Timlon *"The Men From Shiloh" (rebranded name of '' The Virginian'' 1971, TV series) .... Parker *''
Harold and Maude ''Harold and Maude'' is a 1971 American romantic black comedy–drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen ...
'' (1971) .... Priest *''
Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...
'' (1974, Episode: "A Friend in Deed") .... Bruno Wexler *''
The Last Tycoon ''The Last Tycoon'' is an unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1941, it was published posthumously under this title, as prepared by his friend Edmund Wilson, a critic and writer. According to ''Publishers Weekly,'' the novel is "generally ...
'' (1976) .... Norman *'' Code Name: Diamond Head'' (1977) .... Father Murphy *''
An Enemy of the People ''An Enemy of the People'' (original Norwegian title: ''En folkefiende''), an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, followed his previous play, ''Ghosts'', which criticized the hypocrisy of his society's moral code. That response incl ...
'' (1978) .... Morten Kiil *''
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes ''Attack of the Killer Tomatoes'' is a 1978 American parody film produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello, and directed by John DeBello based upon an original idea by Costa Dillon. The screenplay was written by Dillon, Peace, and DeBel ...
'' (1978) .... Senator Polk *'' The Changeling'' (1980) .... Albert Harmon *''
Middle Age Crazy ''Middle Age Crazy'' is a 1980 American-Canadian comedy film directed by John Trent, and starring Bruce Dern and Ann-Margret. The film was nominated for two awards (Worst Director and Worst Screenplay) at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards. Plot B ...
'' (1980) .... Tommy *'' Porky's'' (1981) .... Mr. Carter *'' Porky's II: The Next Day'' (1983) .... Mr. Carter *'' The Philadelphia Experiment'' (1984) .... Dr. James Longstreet *'' All of Me'' (1984) .... Fred Hoskins *'' Porky's Revenge!'' (1985) .... Mr. Carter *''Happy Hour'' (1986) .... Harry The Guard *''Home Is Where the Hart Is'' (1987) .... Martin Hart *''
Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...
'' (1988, TV series) .... Father Barry *''
Amen Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, an ...
'' (1989) .... Reverend Diddymoe Night Court (TV series) (Jan. 17, 1990) Night Court (Razing Bull) ....Pops Durkin *'' Whispers'' (1990) .... Joshua Rinehart *''
Bugsy ''Bugsy'' is a 1991 American biographical crime drama film chronicling the life of American mobster Bugsy Siegel and his relationship with Virginia Hill. It is directed by Barry Levinson, written by James Toback, and stars Warren Beatty as Siege ...
'' (1991) .... Ronald the Butler *'' Home Improvement'' (Oct. 1, 1991) .... Sir Larry Houdini *'' Dead in the Water'' (1991) .... Judge Griffin *'' Ed and His Dead Mother'' (1993) .... Mr. Abner *'' Naked Gun : The Final Insult'' (1994) .... Prison Chaplain (scenes deleted) *''Almost Dead'' (1994) .... Father Ambrose *''The X-Files'' (1994) .... Stan *'' Seinfeld'' (1995, TV series) .... Geoffrey Haarwood *''
Air Bud ''Air Bud'' is a 1997 sports comedy film directed by Charles Martin Smith. The film was financially successful, grossing $4 million in its opening weekend and totaling $27.8 million in its run against an estimated $3 million budget. Plot Afte ...
'' (1997) .... Judge Cranfield *''
Mouse Hunt ''Mouse Hunt'' is a 1997 American slapstick black comedy film written by Adam Rifkin and directed by Gore Verbinski in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Maury Chaykin, and Christopher Walken. The film follow ...
'' (1997) .... Ernie and Lars' Lawyer


References


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Christmas, Eric 1916 births 2000 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors British expatriate male actors in the United States English emigrants to Canada 20th-century English male actors Male actors from London University of California, San Diego faculty Burials at Santa Barbara Cemetery