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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....
Full Bio , Awards & Milestones

Filmography

It's My Party - ( Douglas Reedy / 1996 / Released / )
The Silencers - ( Comdor / 1995 / Released / )
H.P. Lovecraft's Necronomicon - ( Dale Porker / 1994 / Released / )
Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II - ( Leech / 1994 / Released / )
The Disco Years - ( Mr Reese / 1994 / Released / )
Circuitry Man - ( Leech / 1990 / Released / )
Dead Women in Lingerie - ( Lapin / 1990 / Released / )
A Sinful Life - ( Nathan Flowers / 1989 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Alien Predator - ( Damon / 1987 / Released / TWE )
Friends - ( John / 1987 / Released / )
Flight of the Spruce Goose - ( Friend / 1986 / Released / )
Jake Speed - ( Desmond Floyd / 1986 / Released / )
Chariots of Fire - ( Charles Paddock / 1981 / Released / )
Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder - ( Brian / 1981 / Released / Sanrio Communications )
Fade to Black - ( Eric / 1980 / Released / American Cinema Releasing )
Breaking Away - ( Dave / 1979 / Released / )
California Dreaming - ( T T / 1979 / Released / )
The Last Word - ( Ben Travis / 1979 / Released / )
A Wedding - ( Hughie Brenner / 1978 / Released / )
9/30/55 - ( Eugene / 1977 / Released / )
Roma - ( / 1972 / Released / )
Blood and Lace - ( Pete / 1971 / Released / AIP )
TV Credits
The Lost Room ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
Criminal Minds ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Deadwood ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
Amateur Night ( 2006 )
TV Episode Cast

Leviathan Smiles ( 2006 )
TV Episode Cast

Unauthorrized Cinnamon ( 2006 )
TV Episode Cast

A Two-Headed Beast ( 2006 )
TV Episode Cast

Crossing Jordan ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Enterprise ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Kate Brasher ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Law & Order: Criminal Intent ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Six Feet Under ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
18 Wheels of Justice ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Freakylinks ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Anthony Perkins: A Life in the Shadows ( 1999 / Released ): Actor
Skeletons ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
Tarzan's Return ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
The Burning Zone ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
Aurora: Operation Intercept ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Watcher ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Cosby Mysteries ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
Winnetka Road ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
Curacao ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Doppelganger ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
NYPD Blue ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story ( 1992 / Released ): Actor
False Arrest ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Stephen King's It ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Christabel ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Angel ( Released ): Actor
Not Fade Away ( 2004 )
TV Episode Cyvus Vail

Power Play ( 2004 )
TV Episode Cyvus Vail

Origin ( 2004 )
TV Episode Cyvus Vail

Civil Wars ( Released ): Actor
Faerie Tale Theatre ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
New York Undercover ( Released ): Actor
Profiler ( Released ): Actor
Roswell ( Released ): Actor
The Sentinel ( Released ): Actor
Full Biography (Back to top)

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".


Profession(s):
Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
Dennis Carelli

Horizontal Line
Education
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Awards (Back to top)
Drama-Logue Award Outstanding Achievement-Performance "Breaking the Code" 1997
L.A. Weekly Award Best Leading Male Performance "Breaking the Code" 1997
Los Angles Drama Critics Award Lead Performance "Breaking the Code" 1996 - 1997
Taormina International Film Festival Bronze Mask "Fade to Black" 1980
BAFTA Award Most Promising Newcomer "Breaking Away" 1979
Drama-Logue Award "Balm in Gilead" 1979

Milestones (Back to top)
2001 Earned good notices as the distant musician father in the Pasadena Playhouse production of "Side Man"
2000 Returned to series TV as co-star of the Fox drama "FreakyLinks"
1998 Returned to the NYC stage in the off-Broadway play "Retribution"
1996 Joined the impressive ensemble for Randal Kleiser's AIDS comedy-drama "It's My Party"
1996 - 1998 TV series debut, recurring role (uncredited voice) as an enigmatic serial killer on NBC's crime drama "Profiler"
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'", a popular ABC miniseries
1989 TV acting debut, "Christabel", a four-part "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation
1986 Last role in a big-budget mainstream Hollywood film, "Jake Speed"
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 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
1979 Breakthrough feature lead, "Breaking Away"
1976 TV acting debut, "The Oregon Trail", an NBC TV-movie
1974 Moved to New York; stage debut at the Chelsea Theater Center at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy"
1972 Moved to Italy; cast in "Fellini's Roma"
1971 Moved to California
1971 Film acting debut, "Blood and Lace", a low-budget horror film starring Gloria Grahame
Moved to Paris; joined the Living Theater through which he acted in street theater and experimental films
Moved to California
Starred opposite Farrah Fawcett in a Florida production of "Butterflies Are Free"
Gained acclaim for his performance in Los Angeles production of "Balm in Gilead"

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