Eric Christmas

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Cuthbert Christmas (born March 19, 1916 in London , England , † July 22, 2000 in Camarillo , California ) was a British actor.

life and career

Eric Christmas studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He then played a bigger role in Noël Coward's piece Bitter Sweet at the West End . During the Second World War he was in service with the Royal Air Force , where he also continued to work as an actor and organized several performances. In 1948 Christmas moved from England to Canada, where he first had to work as a photographer in order to stay afloat. In the 1950s he played in theater shows and television programs alongside comedians Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, while Christmas embodied the role of Madam Hooperdink. He also had his own show called Christmas is Coming , which he toured Canada with. Eventually he got a foothold in Canada and played in some of the country's most prestigious theaters. For three decades he also played theater in productions at Canada's Stratford Festival.

Although Christmas had previously played roles on television, his film and television career did not take off until the early 1970s. As a result, the white-haired, little character actor again and again embodied dignified figures such as pastors, judges, priests or fathers in supporting roles. His best-known cinema roles include the indignant priest in the classic film Harold and Maude (1971) alongside Ruth Gordon ; the scientist Dr. Longstreet in the science fiction film The Philadelphia Experiment (1984); the old lawyer in the 1997 comedy movie Mouse Hunt ; as well as the serious but righteous judge Cranfield in the children's film Air Bud - Champion on Four Paws (1997). In the three-part teenage comedy film series Porky’s , Christmas played the headmaster Mr. Carter. In addition to his film appearances, he also starred in series such as Bonanza , The People of Shiloh Ranch , Columbo , Alf and The X Files . In the television series Cheers , he took on the role of Father Barry in some episodes between 1988 and 1991. In 1998 he retired from the acting business.

In later years, Eric Christmas also taught acting as a teacher at the University of California at San Diego . The actor was married three times and had four children. He died in California in 2000 at the age of 84.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Christmas, Eric
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Christmas, Eric Cuthbert (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor
DATE OF BIRTH March 19, 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH London , England
DATE OF DEATH July 22, 2000
Place of death Camarillo , California