Eric Christmas
A character actor with a delightfully pinched face who stole scenes for decades, most memorably as the flustered high school principal in 'Porky's'.
1916–2000 (age 84)·English actor·Birthday: March 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
With a face that seemed perpetually caught between mild alarm and weary disapproval, Eric Christmas enjoyed a long and varied career playing bureaucrats, clerics, and other figures of dubious authority. The English-born actor honed his craft on the stage before moving to Canada and then Hollywood, where his distinctive presence became a reliable asset in comedies and dramas alike. While he appeared in everything from 'The Andromeda Strain' to 'Harold and Maude,' he found pop-culture immortality in the early 1980s as the perpetually exasperated Principal Carter in the 'Porky's' film series, trying and failing to contain the hormonal chaos of his students. Christmas had a gift for making even the smallest role memorable, imbuing his characters with a fussy, precise humanity that made them instantly recognizable and often hilariously out of their depth.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Eric was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2000Died at 84
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic role of Principal Carter in the hit comedy film series 'Porky's'.
- Appeared in over 40 films, including notable parts in 'The Andromeda Strain' and 'Harold and Maude'.
- Played Reverend Diddymoe in the popular NBC sitcom 'Amen' across multiple seasons.
- Had an extensive stage career, including performances at the Stratford Festival in Canada.
Did You Know?
He served in the British Army during World War II as a captain in the Royal Artillery.
He was a founding member of the Canadian Theatre Centre.
His first major film role was in the 1967 British comedy 'The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom.'
He often played much older than his actual age early in his film career.
“I've played so many vicars, I'm surprised I haven't been ordained by accident.”
