# Christopher Dark

Christopher Dark (born Alfred Francis DeLeo, April 21, 1920 – October 10, 1971) was an American actor. He graduated from Cornell University and did post graduate work at Columbia University. He served as an army medic in the Philippines during WWII, and received honors. He began his career in theater in NY, and then moved to Hollywood in 1952. He was a member of the Foreign Film Committee for SAG for most of his career. As well as acting, he also wrote many scripts, including collaborations with Ida Lupino and Christopher Cary.

## Biography

Dark was born in New York.
In 1954, Dark played in an episode of the TV series, The Lone Ranger, entitled Texas Draw. In 1955, Dark was cast in an episode of the NBC Western anthology series, Frontier, hosted by Walter Coy. Dark guest starred on two episodes of the ABC religion anthology series, Crossroads, as Irving Green in "The Unholy Trio (1955) and as Frank Corletto in "Circus Priest" (1956).
In 1956, Dark appeared in two episodes of Science Fiction Theatre, S2E6 "Bullet Proof," and S2E9 "End of Tomorrow."
In 1957 and 1958, Dark guest starred in two episodes of David Janssen's crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, as the lead in "The Mickey Farmer Case" and then as Rudi Trekhala in "Widow's Walk". About this time, he also guest starred on John Bromfield's crime drama, U.S. Marshal. In 1957, he played Sgt. Al Zavala in four episodes of the syndicated crime drama, Code 3, with Richard Travis in the lead role of assistant Sheriff Rodger Barnett. He also guest-starred a number of times on the CBS situation comedy Mr. Adams and Eve during its two-season run in 1957–1958.
In 1958, Dark appeared as Don Ramon in "Decoy" on the ABC/Warner Brothers Western series, Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston. That same year, Dark played the main villain, William Swanson, in the episode "The Young Gun" in Robert Culp's Western series, Trackdown.
In 1959, Dark guest starred in the first episode of NBC's Bonanza in "A Rose for Lotta". Besides the pilot, he would also guest star in other three episodes of the Western series: "The Fear Merchants" (1960), "Calamity Over the Comstock" (1963) and "Showdown at Tahoe" (1967).
Dark appeared in 1959 as Juan Carlos Morita in the episode "Death of a Gunfighter" on CBS' "Have Gun Will Travel" and as Trevor Jackson in the episode "Reunion" of CBS's The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun; his fellow co-stars were Bethel Leslie and Robert F. Simon. That same year, he was cast as Henri Gaspard in "Double Fee" of Steve McQueen's CBS Western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive.$^{:458}$
In 1960, Dark was cast with Richard Rust in the episode "An Hour to Kill" of the half-hour syndicated crime drama, The Brothers Brannagan, and he played a teacher falsely accused of murder in the Peter Gunn episode "Death Watch". Another 1960 role was that of Dante in "Talent for Danger" on the ABC adventure series, The Islanders, set in the South Pacific.
In 1960, he was cast as Miguel Avarado in the episode "Bandido" of the syndicated Western series, Pony Express, starring Grant Sullivan. His fellow guest stars in the segment were Douglas Kennedy and Robert Ivers.
In 1962 Dark appeared as Walt Gleason on The Virginian in the episode titled "The Accomplice."$^{:427}$ and in 1963 as Benny Caboose in the episode entitled "Brother Thaddeus".$^{:429}$
Dark played the role of Pike in the three-part 1964 episode, "The Tenderfoot", of NBC's Disney's The Wonderful World of Color.
Dark also appeared in 1965 on the fourth season of Combat! as a German agent in the episode "9 Place Vendee".
In 1965 he appeared as Quadero in season 8, episode 5, "Escort to Doom" of the television show Rawhide.
In 1970 Dark appeared as Mort in the TV Western "The Men From Shiloh" (the rebranded name of The Virginian) in the episode titled "Jenny."

## Personal life

Dark died from a heart attack on October 10, 1971 and was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | September Affair | Passport Clerk | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Raiders of the Seven Seas | Pablo | |
| 1953 | Loretta Young Show | Joe Stone | Season 1 Episode 37: "Trained for Murder" |
| 1953 | The Steel Lady | Ibrahim | |
| 1954 | Suddenly | Bart Wheeler | |
| 1956 | Diane | Giancarlo | |
| 1956 | World Without End | Henry 'Hank' Jaffe | |
| 1956 | Johnny Concho | Walker | |
| 1957 | The Halliday Brand | Jivaro Burris | |
| 1957 | Mr. Adams and Eve | Sherwood | Season 1 Episode 10: "The Torn-Shirt School of Acting" |
| 1957 | Mr. Adams and Eve | Rajah Ahmed Khan | Season 2 Episode 3: "International Affair" |
| 1957 | Baby Face Nelson | Jerry | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Day of the Badman | Rudy Hayes | |
| 1958 | Mr. Adams and Eve | Max Cassolini | Season 2 Episode 20: "The Big Top" |
| 1958 | Wild Heritage | Brazos, Trail Drive Cowhand | |
| 1959 | The Rabbit Trap | Gerry | |
| 1960 | Gundown at Sandoval | | (archive footage) |
| 1960 | Platinum High School | Vince Perley | |
| 1961 | Gold of the Seven Saints | Frank | Uncredited |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Poker Player with Cleve | Uncredited |
| 1962 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Ainsley Crowder | Season 7 Episode 35: "The Children of Alda Nuova" |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV series) | Walt Gleason | Season 1 Episode 13: "The Accomplice" |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV series) | Benny Caboose | Season 2 Episode 7: "Brother Thaddeus" |
| 1963 | Son of Flubber | Police Captain / TV Broadcaster | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Manuel Sanchez | Season 1 Episode 17: "Forecast: Low Clouds and Coastal Fog" |
| 1965 | None But the Brave | Private Searcy | |
| 1967 | Family Affair | Orson | Season 1 Episode 30: "The Butler Method" |
| 1968 | The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell | Private George Strongbow | |
| 1970 | The Virginian (TV series) | Mort | Season 9 Episode 3: "Jenny" |
| 1971 | Scandalous John | Card Dealer | |