Christopher Connelly (September 8, 1941 – December 7, 1988) was an American actor best known for his role as Norman Harrington in the successful prime time ABC soap opera Peyton Place. He stayed with the series during its entire five-year run, from 1964 to 1969.
Early life
Connelly Academy Saba
Career
In addition to his aforementioned series-long run on ABC’s Peyton Place, Connelly guest-starred in 1973 on Lorne Greene’s short-lived ABC crime drama Griff, and in 1974, he starred in the television series Paper Moon, with a young Jodie Foster playing his daughter. The series was based on the film of the same name, but was cancelled after only a few months. The film version had starred Connelly’s former Peyton Place costar Ryan O’Neal — who had played Connelly’s brother in the serial — and O’Neal’s daughter Tatum O’Neal.
In 1964, he appeared in an episode of Gunsmoke with George Kennedy. In 1977, Connelly portrayed Kit Carson in the episode “Kit Carson and the Mountain Man” of NBC’s Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Gregg Palmer portrayed Jim Bridger in the two-part segment, and Robert Reed played John C. Frémont. Gary Lockwood also appeared in the program. Connelly also starred in the films Corky (1972), They Only Kill Their Masters (1972), Benji (1974) and Liar’s Moon (1982).
He also released a long-playing record of his singing, titled “The Boy from Peyton Place” on Phillips Records.
Later career and death
In the 1980s, Connelly made numerous appearances in Italian cult B-movies such as Lucio Fulci’s Manhattan Baby, Enzo G. Castellari’s 1990: The Bronx Warriors, Ruggero Deodato’s The Atlantis Interceptors, and Antonio Margheriti’s Jungle Raiders. He also made guest appearances on dozens of television series, such as The Brian Keith Show, the miniseries The Martian Chronicles, Martin Eden, Airwolf, CHiPs, and the television movie Return of the Rebels.
Following a two-year battle with lung cancer, Connelly died at home in December 1988, and was buried at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills.
