Christopher Allport
A character actor whose familiar face graced countless TV shows and films, often bringing a grounded, everyman presence to roles in thrillers and dramas.
1947–2008 (age 61)·American actor·Birthday: June 17·Baby Boomers
Biography
Christopher Allport built a steady, three-decade career as one of those actors audiences recognized instantly but might have struggled to name. With a kind, intelligent face that could read as earnest or anxious, he became a reliable presence on television, appearing in episodes of nearly every major drama from the 1970s through the 2000s, including 'Hill Street Blues', 'Murder, She Wrote', and 'Alias'. On film, he often played professionals—doctors, lawyers, fathers—caught in extraordinary circumstances, as in the 1980 thriller 'The Hand' or the 1996 disaster film 'Daylight'. His work was characterized by a natural, unforced authenticity that made his characters feel immediately real. His life and career were tragically cut short in a skiing accident in 2008, leaving behind a body of work that serves as a testament to the vital role of the dedicated character actor.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Christopher was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christopher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Christopher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2008Died at 61
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Appeared in over 50 television series throughout his career, becoming a familiar face on American TV.
- Played a supporting role in the 1996 Sylvester Stallone disaster film 'Daylight'.
- Had a recurring role as Dr. Danvers in the popular 1980s medical drama 'St. Elsewhere'.
- Portrayed the character of Ken in the 1981 horror film 'The Hand', starring Michael Caine.
Did You Know?
He was the son of actor John Allport and the brother of actor John Allport.
Allport taught acting at the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts.
He was married to actress Caroline McWilliams until her death in 2010.
His final film role was in the 2008 movie 'The Least of These', released after his death.
“An actor's job is to serve the story, not the spotlight.”
