Christopher Pettiet


Christopher Lee Pettiet 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.

Career

Pettiet began his career as a child actor making appearances in television series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, and Doogie Howser, M.D.. He played the middle brother in the 1991 comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Also in 1991, Pettiet appeared in the hit film Point Break alongside actors Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, and in the same year joined the final season of The Young Riders as a teenage version of Jesse James.
Pettiet would star in other popular tv shows such as Baywatch in 1992, and science fiction tv series seaQuest DSV in 1993, and on the tv series Picket Fences in 1994, he would also star on the tv show Touched By An Angel in 1995, and Chicago Hope in 1998 and he would star in independent films like Danger Island in 1992, The Sandman in 1992, The Goodbye Bird in 1993, he would also star in the movie Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes in 1993 and in the movie Horses and Champions in 1994.
Most of his subsequent career was in episodic television and independent films, including Boys and Carried Away, both released in 1996. He had a brief recurring role on the first season of MTV's Undressed. Pettiet's last appearance was in a 1999 episode of Judging Amy.

Death

Pettiet died of an accidental drug overdose on April 12, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 24. His autopsy report listed that the probable combined effect of cocaine, dextropropoxyphene, and diazepam had caused his death. His autopsy also attributed his death to "probable cardiomyopathy" but it was only a contributing condition and not an immediate cause. Pettiet was cremated; his ashes were scattered at sea off of Topanga Canyon Road in Santa Monica, California. After his death, his acting coach, Kevin McDermott, founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors to attend Center Stage LA where he had trained.

Filmography

Film

Television

Accolades