As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the worlds of TV and film, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia at the passing of Thom Christopher. This man was a true chameleon, seamlessly transforming from the ruthless mobster Carlo Hesser to the meek Mortimer Bern on One Life to Live, and even donning wings as the stoic, half-man, half-bird alien Hawk in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Actor Thom Christopher, known for his role as both the menacing mobster Carlo Hesser and his mild-mannered twin brother, Mortimer Bern, on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live, passed away at the age of 84.
On Thursday, Christopher passed away at a hospital in New York following a prolonged sickness, according to his friend, the photographer Steven Bergman.
This New York native was famously recognized for his role as the stoic, half-human, half-avian alien character Hawk (similar to Mr. Spock from Star Trek). He featured in the second season of the 1979-81 NBC show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, frequently appearing alongside Felix Silla’s robot character Twiki in various scenes.
Back in 1990, I found myself stepping onto the set of “One Life to Live” as the notorious drug dealer Carlo. Initially, it was just meant to be a one-day gig for this daytime drama, but fate had other plans. My character’s son, Johnny, played by Anthony Crivello, met an untimely end at the hands of Viki Buchanan (Erika Slezak). This tragic event ignited a burning desire within me to seek revenge against the Buchanan family.
In 1992, Carlo was tragically killed. However, Christopher continued to stay, disguised as Mortimer, a character who closely resembled Carlo’s appearance, thanks to the assistance of Carlo’s widow, Alex Olanov, portrayed by Tonja Walker, in maintaining the deception.
Indeed, Carlo had cleverly staged his own demise. After Mortimer departed from Llanview, Christopher resumed his original persona for brief periods between 1996 and 1997, only to be mistaken for another murder victim. He made reappearances again in 2005 and 2008 before finally taking his leave permanently.
In a 2005 conversation with Soap Opera Digest, Christopher expressed his admiration for Carlo’s lack of complete wickedness.
He stated, ‘What’s compelling is the display of human vulnerability, regardless of its nature, because it signifies the presence of humanity.’ I believe this is what captivates and intrigues an audience, making them want to observe.
Later on, the authors created a family situation for Carlo. They introduced his character’s daughter, Charlotte, portrayed by Audry Landers, which sparked a series of events. This has consistently followed the narrative framework throughout the story.
On Facebook, Crivello said Christopher was “always a gentleman, always supportive.”
Christopher earned a Daytime Emmy award for best supporting actor in 1992, and he was nominated again in the following year. In 1994, he received another Daytime Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the villain Dante Partou on ABC’s “Loving.” He also played Colonel Dax, the security officer, on CBS’ “Guiding Light” from 1999 to 2002.
Christopher, who was born on October 5, 1940, in Queens, received his education at Ithaca College. He honed his acting skills at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and made his Broadway debut in the 1970s, featuring in productions such as Emperor Henry IV, Noël Coward in Two Keys, and Caesar and Cleopatra.
Simultaneously, he began his acting career on daytime soap operas such as CBS’s “The Edge of Night” in 1974 and “Love of Life” in 1977. He also appeared in numerous prime-time dramas like “Bronk”, “Cannon”, “The Rookies”, “Harry O” and “Kojak”.
Apart from his other experiences, he had a role as Aristotle Onassis in the 2001 NBC miniseries titled “Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot“, where Jill Hennessy portrayed Jackie Kennedy. Additionally, he made appearances on shows like “Hunter“, “T.J. Hooker“, “Simon and Simon“, “Murder, She Wrote“, and “L.A. Law“.
From 1971 right up to her passing in 2019 at the age of 88, he was wedded to Judith Leverone, who was a theatrical agent, personal manager, and playwright by profession.
Following the passing of his wife, Christopher decided to delve into her old writings from years past, compile them into a book, and have it published, as Bergman observed. He often expressed that she hadn’t truly left him; instead, she was simply in another room, and he believed one day he would reunite with her there.
Rhett Bartlett contributed to this report.
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2024-12-06 20:24