Christine White (actress)

Christine Lamson White (May 4, 1926 – April 14, 2013)[1] was an American actress, most noted for her role in "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", a 1963 episode of the anthology television series The Twilight Zone.[2]

Christine White
White in the series Ichabod and Me, 1962
Born
Christine Lamson White

(1926-05-04)May 4, 1926
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedApril 14, 2013(2013-04-14) (aged 86)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Catholic University
OccupationActress
Years active1952–1976

Early life

White was born in Washington, D.C., one of two children of Lucia W. and James Andrew White.[1] Following her graduation from high school, Christine attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in English and also began acting in stage productions of the Carolina Playmakers.[2] After obtaining her undergraduate degree in English in Chapel Hill,[3] she returned to Washington, D.C., to study and earn a master's degree in speech and drama at Catholic University.[2]

She also studied at the Actors Studio[4] and eventually moved to New York to further her theatrical career.[3]

Stage

White was active in summer stock theatre, including work at the Cape Cod Playhouse. She was named Most Outstanding Actress at CCP for her portrayal of Millie in Picnic.[4]

In 1956, she replaced Shelley Winters in the Broadway production of A Hatful of Rain after Winters broke her ankle.[5]

Television
Christine White guest-stars with Richard Boone in a 1958 episode of Have Gun – Will Travel.

By the 1950s, White had left her home in New York City and relocated to Los Angeles,[1] where she began to appear in television shows. Her first role was in 1952 in the series The Web,[6] and she also starred in the horror film Macabre (1958), directed by William Castle.

Over the course of her 24-year career, she performed in over 50 television series, including Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Rifleman, The Loretta Young Show, The Untouchables, Father Knows Best, The Fugitive, and in three episodes of Perry Mason: "The Case of the Blushing Pearls", "The Case of the Curious Bride", and "The Case of the Demure Defendant".[2][6]

In 1961, White was cast as Kitty in The Twilight Zone episode "Prime Mover", and later that same year she began performing as a regular character, Abigail Adams, in the situation comedy Ichabod and Me, which CBS broadcast for only one season.[7] In 1963, White returned to work again on The Twilight Zone in the series' iconic episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet". Serving as the main supporting character in that episode, she portrays Julia Wilson, the wife of a terrified airplane passenger (William Shatner).

Author Gore Vidal noted in his memoir Palimpsest that White, "almost invariably got the (television) parts that my friend Joanne Woodward wanted." He continued, "When Joanne received the Academy Award (1957 - The Three Faces of Eve), I wired her, 'Where is Chris White tonight?'"[8]

Film

White's acting was not limited to the stage and television series, as she also appeared in various feature films. Among these was a co-starring role in Man Crazy, produced and released by Security Pictures in 1953 and, in a smaller role, portraying the wife of a motorcycle cop in the 1973 "Dirty Harry" film Magnum Force.[9]

Personal life

White reportedly had "a brief love affair" with actor James Dean.[10]

Death

White died on April 14, 2013, at a nursing home in Washington D.C.[1] Her survivors included a number of nieces and nephews.[3] Upon learning of her death, William Shatner stated on the social-networking service Twitter that he was thinking of her family.

Selected filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1953Vice SquadMiss EastonUncredited
1953Man CrazyGeorgia Daniels
1957Panama SalPatricia Sheldon
1958MacabreNancy Wetherby Tyloe
1960One Step BeyondNancy"The Haunting", Season 2, Episode 21
1961Twilight ZoneKitty Cavanaugh"The Prime Mover", Episode 57
1963Twilight ZoneJulia Wilson"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", Episode 123
1973Magnum ForceCarol McCoy
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References
  1. "Christine L. White". Carroll County Times. May 11, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  2. Randee Dawn (May 19, 2013). "Christine White, seatmate to William Shatner in iconic 'Twilight Zone' dies at 86". Today.com. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. Yardley, William (May 18, 2013). "Christine White, Actress in a Classic 'Twilight Zone,' Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. "'The Comedia' To Be Shown At Santa Clara". The Times. California, San Mateo. March 4, 1959. p. 43. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Actress Injured". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon, Eugene. United Press. January 15, 1956. p. 6B. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  6. "Christine White". IMDB. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  7. Finnegan, Joe (September 23, 1961). "Cowbells Calling". Tucson Daily Citizen. Arizona, Tucson. p. 23. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Palimpsest", Gore Vidal, page 27, Random House New York, (1995)
  9. "Twin-Vue advertisement". The Odessa American. Texas, Odessa. March 22, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Henniger, Paul (February 15, 1976). "Film on James Dean to be aired this week". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Gannett News Service. p. 52. Retrieved May 20, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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