Dennis Christopher (born Dennis Carrelli; December 2, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Breaking Away'' (1979), '' Fade to Black'' (1980), '' Chariots of Fire'' (1981), '' It'' (1990) and ''

Django Unchained ''Django Unchained'' () is a 2012 American revisionist Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson, with Walton Goggins, Dennis C ...

'' (2012). He has appeared in nearly 40 movies and made-for-television films since 1975.

Early life

Christopher was born Dennis Carrelli on December 2, 1955 in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, to an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

father and an Irish mother. He graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 1973.

Career

A chance encounter in 1972 with

Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most ...

, who was filming in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

at the time, led to the director casting Christopher in the uncredited role of " The Hippie" in his movie ''

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: Places Australia * Roma, Queensland, a town ** Roma Airport ** Roma Courthouse ** Electoral district of Roma, defunct ** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council * Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...

''. After that, Christopher worked as an assistant to the fashion designer

Halston Roy Halston Frowick (April 23, 1932 – March 26, 1990), known mononymously as Halston, was an American fashion designer who rose to international fame in the 1970s. His minimalist, clean designs, often made of cashmere or ultrasuede, were ...

Pat Ast, Dennis Christopher, and Shelley Duvall (1975)

Christopher's breakthrough role was as Dave Stohler in the coming-of-age classic '' Breaking Away'' (1979). His performance won him the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer and the Youth in Film Award for Best Juvenile Actor in a Motion Picture, as well as garnering a

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

nomination. Christopher's other roles include American

track Track or Tracks may refer to: Routes or imprints * Ancient trackway, any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity * Animal track, imprints left on surfaces that an animal walks across * Desire path, a line worn by people taking the shorte ...

star Charlie Paddock in '' Chariots of Fire'' (1981), as well as tragic film-buff psychopath Eric Binford in '' Fade to Black'' (1980), Damon in '' The Falling'' (1985), Nathan Flowers in '' A Sinful Life'' (1989) and Leech in '' Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II'' (1994). Television roles include "Jack of All Trades" in the '' Profiler'' TV series, Eddie Kaspbrak in

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

's ''It'' (1990), Desmond Floyd in '' Jake Speed'' (1986) and in the HBO series '' Deadwood''. Christopher has guest starred in two ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'' episodes: the ''

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication from ...

'' episode "

The Search ''The Search'' is a 1948 American film directed by Fred Zinnemann that tells the story of a young Auschwitz survivor and his mother who search for each other across post-World War II Europe. It stars Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Jarmila Novotn ...

(Part II)" and the '' Star Trek: Enterprise'' episode " Detained". He guest-starred as the demon-sorcerer Cyvus Vail in three episodes of ''

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...

''. He reunited with his ''Breaking Away'' "father"

Paul Dooley Paul Dooley (born Paul Brown; February 22, 1928) is an American character actor, writer and comedian. He is known for his roles in '' Breaking Away'', '' Sixteen Candles'', and ''Popeye''. Early life Dooley was born Paul Brown on February 22, ...

, playing Dooley's son for a third time, in a 2003 episode of '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent''. The two had first played father and son in Robert Altman's '' A Wedding'' (1978). In December 2006, he played Dr. Martin Ruber in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries ''

The Lost Room ''The Lost Room'' is a 2006 science fiction television miniseries that aired on the Syfy Channel in the United States. The series revolves around the titular room and some of the everyday items from that room which possess unusual powers. The sh ...

''. Christopher was cast as Leonide Moguy in

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, dark humor, non-linear storylines, cameos, ensembl ...

's ''

'' (2012). He learned through his agent that the screenplay had been re-written to accommodate him. Furthermore, Tarantino later told Christopher that he had seen every one of his films the week that they were released, even ''Dead Women in Lingerie'' (which Christopher considers his worst). Production of the film made a very positive impact on Christopher, who stated, "...a lot of my idea of happiness came from working on this film...".

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

References

External links

* * *
Dennis Christopher Twitter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christopher, Dennis 1955 births Living people 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American people of Irish descent American people of Italian descent BAFTA Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles winners Male actors from Philadelphia