Quick Facts
Biography
Christopher Lee Pettiet (February 12, 1976 – April 12, 2000) was an American television and film actor best known for his role as Jesse James in the Western TV series The Young Riders and as Zach Crandell in the cult comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991).
Career
Pettiet began his career as a child actor making appearances in television series such as seaQuest DSV, Star Trek: The Next Generation, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, Picket Fences and Undressed. In 1991 he played Christina Applegate's younger brother in the comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. He had small roles in films such as Point Break (1991) and Boys (1996).
From 1991 to 1992 he played the role of a young Jesse James on the TV series The Young Riders. From the rest of his career, he played small roles in television series. He made his last onscreen appearance in a 1999 episode of Judging Amy.
Death
Pettiet died of an accidental drug overdose on April 12, 2000, in Los Angeles at the age of 24. After his death, his acting coach, Kevin McDermott, founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors attend Center Stage LA where he had trained.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | An Enemy of the People | Morton Stockman | Television film |
| 1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Boy | Episode: "The High Ground" |
| 1990 | Doogie Howser, M.D | Gregory Pelzman | Episode: "Revenge of the Teenage Dead" |
| 1990 | The Dreamer of Oz | Teenage Frank, Jr. | Television film |
| 1991 | Fatal Exposure | Drew | Television film |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Corey Walker | Episode: "On the Toad Again" |
| 1991 | Empty Nest | Little Harry | Episode: "The Way We Are" |
| 1991 | My Life and Times | Michael Miller | Episode: "The Collapse of '98" |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Zach Crandell | |
| 1991 | Point Break | 15 | |
| 1991–1992 | The Young Riders | Jesse James | 21 episodes |
| 1992 | Sandman | Jesse | |
| 1992 | Danger Island | Brian | Television film |
| 1992 | Baywatch Hawaii | Beaver | Episode: "Tequila Bay" |
| 1993 | The Goodbye Bird | Francis "Frank" Phillips | |
| 1993 | seaQuest DSV | Zachery Thomas | Episode: "Brothers and Sisters" |
| 1994 | Horses and Champions | Joe | |
| 1994 | Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes | Cory Dietz | |
| 1995 | Picket Fences | Michael Hynes | Episode: "The Song of Rome" |
| 1996 | Carried Away | Robert Henson | |
| 1997 | Against the Law | Tommy | |
| 1996 | Boys | Jon Heinz | |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Luke Brewer | Episode: "Crisis of Faith" |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope | Kevin Dicker | Episode: "Viagra-Vated Assault" |
| 1999 | Undressed | Dean | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Paul Dexter | Episode: "An Impartial Bias" |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Won | |
| 1992 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (Shared with cast) | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series | The Young Riders | Nominated |