Christopher Connelly (actor)

Christopher Connelly (September 8, 1941 – December 7, 1988) was an American actor, best known for his role as Norman Harrington in the successful prime time ABC soap opera '' Peyton Place''. He stayed with the series during its entire five-year run, from 1964 to 1969.

Early life

Connelly graduated from Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri.

Career

In addition to his aforementioned series-long run on ABC's ''Peyton Place'', Connelly guest-starred in 1973 on Lorne Greene's short-lived ABC crime drama ''Griff'', and in 1974, he starred in the television series '' Paper Moon'', with a young Jodie Foster playing his daughter. The series was based on the film of the same name but was cancelled after only a few months. The film version starred Connelly's former ''Peyton Place'' costar Ryan O'Neal — who had played Connelly's brother in the serial — and O'Neal's daughter Tatum O'Neal.

In 1964, he appeared in an episode of '' Gunsmoke'' with George Kennedy. In 1977, Connelly portrayed Kit Carson in the episode "Kit Carson and the Mountain Man" of NBC's ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color''. Gregg Palmer portrayed Jim Bridger in the two-part segment, and Robert Reed played John C. Frémont. Gary Lockwood also appeared in the program. Connelly also starred in the films '' Corky'' (1972), ''They Only Kill Their Masters'' (1972), ''Benji'' (1974) and ''Liar's Moon'' (1982).

He also released a long-playing record of his singing, titled ''The Boy from Peyton Place'' on Phillips Records.

Later career and death

In the 1980s, Connelly made numerous appearances in Italian cult B-movies such as Lucio Fulci's ''Manhattan Baby'', Enzo G. Castellari's '' 1990: The Bronx Warriors'', Ruggero Deodato's ''The Atlantis Interceptors'', and Antonio Margheriti's '' Jungle Raiders''. He also made guest appearances on dozens of television series, such as ''The Brian Keith Show'', the miniseries ''The Martian Chronicles'', ''Martin Eden'', ''Airwolf'', ''CHiPs'', and the television movie '' Return of the Rebels''.

Following a two-year battle with lung cancer, Connelly died at home in December 1988, and was buried at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills.

Partial filmography

*''Move Over, Darling'' (1963), as Ranking Seaman (uncredited)
*''What a Way to Go!'' (1964), as Ned (uncredited)
*'' Gunsmoke'' (1964)
*'' Peyton Place'' (1964–1969), as Norman Harrington
*''Love American Style'' (1969), segment "Love and Mother", as Paul
*'' Corky'' (1972), as Billy
*''They Only Kill Their Masters'' (1972), as John
*''Benji'' (1974), as Henry
*''The Invasion of Carol Enders'' (1974), as Adam Reston
*'' Paper Moon'' (1974), as "Moze" Pray (13 episodes)
*''Hawmps!'' (1976), as Uriah Tibbs
*''Fantasy Island'' (1978), ep. The funny girl/Butch and Sundance
*'' The Norseman'' (1978), as Rolf
*''Crash'' (1978), as Mike Tagliarino
*''The Love Boat'' (1979) S3E12 as Rory Daniels
*'' Earthbound'' (1981), as Zef
*''Liar's Moon'' (1982), as Alex Peterson
*''Manhattan Baby'' (1982), as Professor George Hacker
*'' 1990: The Bronx Warriors'' (1982), as Hot Dog
*''The Atlantis Interceptors'' (1983), as Mike Ross
*'' Jungle Raiders'' (1985), as Captain Yankee
*''Foxtrap'' (1986), as J.T.
*''Le miniere del Kilimangiaro'' (1986), as Professor Thomas Smith / Schmidt
*''Operation Nam'' (1986), as Roger Carson
*''The Messenger'' (1986), as FBI Agent Parker
*'' Strike Commando'' (1987), as Col. Radek
*''Django 2'' (1987), as "El Diablo" Orlowsky
*''Night of the Sharks'' (1988), as Father Mattia (final film role)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Connelly, Christopher
1941 births
1988 deaths
American male television actors
American male film actors
20th-century American male actors
Male actors from Kansas
Deaths from lung cancer in California
Actors from Wichita, Kansas
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)